La Plata Electric Association and solar
La Plata Electric Association is an electric cooperative serving about 40,369 homes in Colorado. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is worth it.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 19.4¢17% above Colorado average
- Typical bill
- $124642 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- RetailFull retail net metering
- Typical payback
- 10.8 yrs4.9 kW, cash
Export rules for La Plata Electric Association customers
Full retail net metering (Colorado rule).
Colorado requires investor-owned utilities like Xcel Energy to credit solar exports at the full retail rate, with credits rolling over month to month indefinitely. Co-ops and large municipal utilities must also offer net metering, though their rules and size limits differ.
Solar for a typical La Plata Electric Association home
| System | 4.9 kW (100% of 642 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $15,995 |
| First-year savings | $1,430 |
| Payback | 10.8 years |
| 25-year net | $27,958 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- 3,105
- Share of customers
- 7.7%
- Residential solar capacity
- 21 MW
- Residential customers
- 40,369
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about La Plata Electric Association and solar
Does La Plata Electric Association have net metering?
La Plata Electric Association follows Colorado's rules: Colorado requires investor-owned utilities like Xcel Energy to credit solar exports at the full retail rate, with credits rolling over month to month indefinitely. Co-ops and large municipal utilities must also offer net metering, though their rules and size limits differ.
How much does electricity cost with La Plata Electric Association?
Residential customers paid an average of 18.3¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 19.4¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 642 kWh a month, a bill of about $124.
Is solar worth it with La Plata Electric Association?
For a typical customer, solar is worth it: a 4.9 kW system costing about $15,995 pays back in about 10.8 years, with $27,958 net over 25 years.
How many La Plata Electric Association customers have solar?
About 3,105 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 7.7% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: La Plata Electric Assn, Inc (EIA ID 10539). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.