North Alabama Electric Cooperative and solar
North Alabama Electric Cooperative is an electric cooperative serving about 13,121 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.)
- 14.1¢14% below Alabama average
- Typical bill
- $1801,273 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- ~21%No statewide net metering
- Typical payback
- 21 yrs5.4 kW, cash
Export rules for North Alabama 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 North Alabama Electric Cooperative home
| System | 5.4 kW (50% of 1,273 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $20,240 |
| First-year savings | $854 |
| Payback | 21.0 years |
| 25-year net | $5,366 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- —
- Share of customers
- —
- Residential solar capacity
- —
- Residential customers
- 13,121
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about North Alabama Electric Cooperative and solar
Does North Alabama Electric Cooperative have net metering?
North Alabama 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 North Alabama Electric Cooperative?
Residential customers paid an average of 13.8¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 14.1¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 1,273 kWh a month, a bill of about $180.
Is solar worth it with North Alabama Electric Cooperative?
For a typical customer, solar is not worth it: a 5.4 kW system costing about $20,240 pays back in about 21 years, with $5,366 net over 25 years.
How many North Alabama Electric Cooperative customers have solar?
North Alabama Electric Cooperative did not report residential net-metered solar to EIA for 2025.
Legal name: North Alabama Electric Coop (EIA ID 13669). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.