Minnesota Valley Electric Cooperative and solar
Minnesota Valley Electric Cooperative is an electric cooperative serving about 43,682 homes in Minnesota. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is not worth it.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 14.7¢9% below Minnesota average
- Typical bill
- $1491,012 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- RetailFull retail net metering
- Typical payback
- 19.1 yrs4.6 kW, cash
Export rules for Minnesota Valley Electric 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 Minnesota Valley Electric Cooperative home
| System | 4.6 kW (51% of 1,012 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $18,450 |
| First-year savings | $904 |
| Payback | 19.1 years |
| 25-year net | $7,316 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- 524
- Share of customers
- 1.2%
- Residential solar capacity
- 6 MW
- Residential customers
- 43,682
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about Minnesota Valley Electric Cooperative and solar
Does Minnesota Valley Electric Cooperative have net metering?
Minnesota Valley Electric 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 Minnesota Valley Electric Cooperative?
Residential customers paid an average of 14.4¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 14.7¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 1,012 kWh a month, a bill of about $149.
Is solar worth it with Minnesota Valley Electric Cooperative?
For a typical customer, solar is not worth it: a 4.6 kW system costing about $18,450 pays back in about 19.1 years, with $7,316 net over 25 years.
How many Minnesota Valley Electric Cooperative customers have solar?
About 524 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 1.2% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: Minnesota Valley Electric Coop (EIA ID 12651). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.