Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative and solar
Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative is an electric cooperative serving about 14,603 homes in Minnesota. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is a close call.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 17.9¢11% above Minnesota average
- Typical bill
- $133743 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- RetailFull retail net metering
- Typical payback
- 15.3 yrs6 kW, cash
Export rules for Mille Lacs Energy 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 Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative home
| System | 6 kW (90% of 743 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $23,000 |
| First-year savings | $1,434 |
| Payback | 15.3 years |
| 25-year net | $18,990 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- 65
- Share of customers
- 0.5%
- Residential solar capacity
- 1 MW
- Residential customers
- 14,603
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative and solar
Does Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative have net metering?
Mille Lacs Energy 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 Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative?
Residential customers paid an average of 17.5¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 17.9¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 743 kWh a month, a bill of about $133.
Is solar worth it with Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative?
For a typical customer, solar is a close call: a 6 kW system costing about $23,000 pays back in about 15.3 years, with $18,990 net over 25 years.
How many Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative customers have solar?
About 65 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 0.5% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative (EIA ID 12546). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.