Magic Valley Electric Cooperative and solar
Magic Valley Electric Cooperative is an electric cooperative serving about 129,596 homes in Texas. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is not worth it.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 10.9¢32% below Texas average
- Typical bill
- $1451,336 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- ~55%No statewide net metering
- Typical payback
- 18.4 yrs5.1 kW, cash
Export rules for Magic Valley Electric Cooperative customers
No statewide net metering (Texas rule).
Texas has no statewide net metering. In the deregulated ERCOT market you pick a retail electricity provider, and a few offer 'solar buyback' plans (typically 3-9 c/kWh, some match retail). Municipal utilities and co-ops set their own rules, e.g., Austin Energy's Value of Solar credit.
Solar for a typical Magic Valley Electric Cooperative home
| System | 5.1 kW (50% of 1,336 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $14,210 |
| First-year savings | $769 |
| Payback | 18.4 years |
| 25-year net | $6,679 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Questions about Magic Valley Electric Cooperative and solar
Does Magic Valley Electric Cooperative have net metering?
Magic Valley Electric Cooperative follows Texas's rules: Texas has no statewide net metering. In the deregulated ERCOT market you pick a retail electricity provider, and a few offer 'solar buyback' plans (typically 3-9 c/kWh, some match retail). Municipal utilities and co-ops set their own rules, e.g., Austin Energy's Value of Solar credit.
How much does electricity cost with Magic Valley Electric Cooperative?
Residential customers paid an average of 10.5¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 10.9¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 1,336 kWh a month, a bill of about $145.
Is solar worth it with Magic Valley Electric Cooperative?
For a typical customer, solar is not worth it: a 5.1 kW system costing about $14,210 pays back in about 18.4 years, with $6,679 net over 25 years.
How many Magic Valley Electric Cooperative customers have solar?
About 1,961 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 1.5% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: Magic Valley Electric Coop Inc (EIA ID 11501). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.