Lower Valley Energy and solar
Lower Valley Energy is an electric cooperative serving about 24,835 homes in Wyoming, Idaho. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is not worth it.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 7.4¢47% below Wyoming average
- Typical bill
- $1371,858 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- RetailFull retail net metering
- Typical payback
- Never7.3 kW, cash
Export rules for Lower Valley Energy customers
Full retail net metering (Wyoming rule).
Wyoming requires all utilities to offer net metering for systems up to 25 kW. Excess credits roll over at retail month to month, and anything left at the end of the year is paid at avoided cost.
Solar for a typical Lower Valley Energy home
| System | 7.3 kW (50% of 1,858 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $21,750 |
| First-year savings | $819 |
| Payback | never within 25 years |
| 25-year net | −$3,405 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- 141
- Share of customers
- 0.6%
- Residential solar capacity
- 1 MW
- Residential customers
- 24,835
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about Lower Valley Energy and solar
Does Lower Valley Energy have net metering?
Lower Valley Energy follows Wyoming's rules: Wyoming requires all utilities to offer net metering for systems up to 25 kW. Excess credits roll over at retail month to month, and anything left at the end of the year is paid at avoided cost.
How much does electricity cost with Lower Valley Energy?
Residential customers paid an average of 7.0¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 7.4¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 1,858 kWh a month, a bill of about $137.
Is solar worth it with Lower Valley Energy?
For a typical customer, solar is not worth it: a 7.3 kW system costing about $21,750 does not pay back within 25 years, with −$3,405 net over 25 years.
How many Lower Valley Energy customers have solar?
About 141 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 0.6% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: Lower Valley Energy Inc (EIA ID 11273). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.