Marshall-De Kalb Electric Cooperative and solar
Marshall-De Kalb Electric Cooperative is an electric cooperative serving about 17,449 homes in Alabama. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is not worth it.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 13.4¢18% below Alabama average
- Typical bill
- $1701,263 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- ~22%No statewide net metering
- Typical payback
- 22 yrs5.4 kW, cash
Export rules for Marshall-De Kalb Electric Cooperative customers
No statewide net metering (Alabama rule).
Alabama has no net metering law. Alabama Power buys any electricity you send to the grid at a low wholesale (avoided-cost) price. It also charges solar customers a monthly 'capacity reservation' fee of about $5.41 per kW of system size, which a federal judge let stand in March 2026.
Solar for a typical Marshall-De Kalb Electric Cooperative home
| System | 5.4 kW (50% of 1,263 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $20,240 |
| First-year savings | $814 |
| Payback | 22.0 years |
| 25-year net | $3,900 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- —
- Share of customers
- —
- Residential solar capacity
- —
- Residential customers
- 17,449
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about Marshall-De Kalb Electric Cooperative and solar
Does Marshall-De Kalb Electric Cooperative have net metering?
Marshall-De Kalb Electric Cooperative follows Alabama's rules: Alabama has no net metering law. Alabama Power buys any electricity you send to the grid at a low wholesale (avoided-cost) price. It also charges solar customers a monthly 'capacity reservation' fee of about $5.41 per kW of system size, which a federal judge let stand in March 2026.
How much does electricity cost with Marshall-De Kalb Electric Cooperative?
Residential customers paid an average of 13.2¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 13.4¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 1,263 kWh a month, a bill of about $170.
Is solar worth it with Marshall-De Kalb Electric Cooperative?
For a typical customer, solar is not worth it: a 5.4 kW system costing about $20,240 pays back in about 22 years, with $3,900 net over 25 years.
How many Marshall-De Kalb Electric Cooperative customers have solar?
Marshall-De Kalb Electric Cooperative did not report residential net-metered solar to EIA for 2025.
Legal name: Marshall-De Kalb Electric Coop (EIA ID 11714). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.