McKenzie Electric Cooperative and solar
McKenzie Electric Cooperative is an electric cooperative serving about 5,392 homes in North Dakota, Montana. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is not worth it.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 8.4¢32% below North Dakota average
- Typical bill
- $1511,802 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- ~36%Avoided-cost export credit
- Typical payback
- Never8.2 kW, cash
Export rules for McKenzie Electric Cooperative customers
Avoided-cost export credit (North Dakota rule).
North Dakota's net metering rule only covers the three investor-owned utilities (Xcel, Otter Tail, Montana-Dakota) for systems up to 100 kW. Solar you use at home offsets retail power, but extra energy left over each month is bought at the utility's low avoided-cost rate (a few cents per kWh).
Solar for a typical McKenzie Electric Cooperative home
| System | 8.2 kW (50% of 1,802 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $24,000 |
| First-year savings | $906 |
| Payback | never within 25 years |
| 25-year net | −$3,520 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- —
- Share of customers
- —
- Residential solar capacity
- —
- Residential customers
- 5,392
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about McKenzie Electric Cooperative and solar
Does McKenzie Electric Cooperative have net metering?
McKenzie Electric Cooperative follows North Dakota's rules: North Dakota's net metering rule only covers the three investor-owned utilities (Xcel, Otter Tail, Montana-Dakota) for systems up to 100 kW. Solar you use at home offsets retail power, but extra energy left over each month is bought at the utility's low avoided-cost rate (a few cents per kWh).
How much does electricity cost with McKenzie Electric Cooperative?
Residential customers paid an average of 8.0¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 8.4¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 1,802 kWh a month, a bill of about $151.
Is solar worth it with McKenzie Electric Cooperative?
For a typical customer, solar is not worth it: a 8.2 kW system costing about $24,000 does not pay back within 25 years, with −$3,520 net over 25 years.
How many McKenzie Electric Cooperative customers have solar?
McKenzie Electric Cooperative did not report residential net-metered solar to EIA for 2025.
Legal name: McKenzie Electric Coop Inc (EIA ID 12087). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.