Kootenai Electric Cooperative and solar
Kootenai Electric Cooperative is an electric cooperative serving about 31,097 homes in Idaho, Washington. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is a close call.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 14.4¢14% above Idaho average
- Typical bill
- $1611,123 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- ~31%Varies by utility
- Typical payback
- 15.5 yrs4.7 kW, cash
Export rules for Kootenai Electric Cooperative customers
Varies by utility (Idaho rule).
Idaho has no statewide net metering law; each utility's rules are set by the PUC. Idaho Power moved new customers to real-time net billing, paying time-varying export rates (for June 2025-May 2026 roughly 15.7 cents on summer peak but about 3 cents most of the year). Avista still offers net metering; Rocky Mountain Power's Idaho terms have been under review.
Solar for a typical Kootenai Electric Cooperative home
| System | 4.7 kW (50% of 1,123 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $17,365, $10,419 after incentives |
| First-year savings | $744 |
| Payback | 15.5 years |
| 25-year net | $7,283 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- 240
- Share of customers
- 0.8%
- Residential solar capacity
- 2 MW
- Residential customers
- 31,097
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about Kootenai Electric Cooperative and solar
Does Kootenai Electric Cooperative have net metering?
Kootenai Electric Cooperative follows Idaho's rules: Idaho has no statewide net metering law; each utility's rules are set by the PUC. Idaho Power moved new customers to real-time net billing, paying time-varying export rates (for June 2025-May 2026 roughly 15.7 cents on summer peak but about 3 cents most of the year). Avista still offers net metering; Rocky Mountain Power's Idaho terms have been under review.
How much does electricity cost with Kootenai Electric Cooperative?
Residential customers paid an average of 13.4¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 14.4¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 1,123 kWh a month, a bill of about $161.
Is solar worth it with Kootenai Electric Cooperative?
For a typical customer, solar is a close call: a 4.7 kW system costing about $10,419 pays back in about 15.5 years, with $7,283 net over 25 years.
How many Kootenai Electric Cooperative customers have solar?
About 240 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 0.8% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: Kootenai Electric Cooperative (EIA ID 10454). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.