Lake Region Electric Cooperative and solar
Lake Region Electric Cooperative is an electric cooperative serving about 27,496 homes in Minnesota. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is not worth it.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 13.9¢14% below Minnesota average
- Typical bill
- $1471,052 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- RetailFull retail net metering
- Typical payback
- 20.1 yrs4.7 kW, cash
Export rules for Lake Region Electric Cooperative customers
Full retail net metering (Minnesota rule).
Minnesota requires utilities to net meter systems under 40 kW; monthly excess is paid or credited at the 'average retail utility energy rate', which is close to retail (excludes fixed charges). This applies to IOUs, co-ops and munis, although co-ops/munis may add a monthly DG fee.
Solar for a typical Lake Region Electric Cooperative home
| System | 4.7 kW (50% of 1,052 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $18,775 |
| First-year savings | $874 |
| Payback | 20.1 years |
| 25-year net | $5,904 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- 121
- Share of customers
- 0.4%
- Residential solar capacity
- 2 MW
- Residential customers
- 27,496
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about Lake Region Electric Cooperative and solar
Does Lake Region Electric Cooperative have net metering?
Lake Region Electric Cooperative follows Minnesota's rules: Minnesota requires utilities to net meter systems under 40 kW; monthly excess is paid or credited at the 'average retail utility energy rate', which is close to retail (excludes fixed charges). This applies to IOUs, co-ops and munis, although co-ops/munis may add a monthly DG fee.
How much does electricity cost with Lake Region Electric Cooperative?
Residential customers paid an average of 13.6¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 13.9¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 1,052 kWh a month, a bill of about $147.
Is solar worth it with Lake Region Electric Cooperative?
For a typical customer, solar is not worth it: a 4.7 kW system costing about $18,775 pays back in about 20.1 years, with $5,904 net over 25 years.
How many Lake Region Electric Cooperative customers have solar?
About 121 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 0.4% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: Lake Region Electric Cooperative - (MN) (EIA ID 10618). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.