Northern Electric Cooperative and solar
Northern Electric Cooperative is an electric cooperative serving about 5,823 homes in South Dakota. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is not worth it.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 12.2¢14% below South Dakota average
- Typical bill
- $2552,094 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- ~25%No statewide net metering
- Typical payback
- 22.4 yrs8.9 kW, cash
Export rules for Northern Electric Cooperative customers
No statewide net metering (South Dakota rule).
South Dakota has no net metering law. Utilities generally let you use your own solar and buy the excess at their avoided cost (a few cents per kWh).
Solar for a typical Northern Electric Cooperative home
| System | 8.9 kW (50% of 2,094 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $25,750 |
| First-year savings | $1,229 |
| Payback | 22.4 years |
| 25-year net | $3,467 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- —
- Share of customers
- —
- Residential solar capacity
- —
- Residential customers
- 5,823
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about Northern Electric Cooperative and solar
Does Northern Electric Cooperative have net metering?
Northern Electric Cooperative follows South Dakota's rules: South Dakota has no net metering law. Utilities generally let you use your own solar and buy the excess at their avoided cost (a few cents per kWh).
How much does electricity cost with Northern Electric Cooperative?
Residential customers paid an average of 11.4¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 12.2¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 2,094 kWh a month, a bill of about $255.
Is solar worth it with Northern Electric Cooperative?
For a typical customer, solar is not worth it: a 8.9 kW system costing about $25,750 pays back in about 22.4 years, with $3,467 net over 25 years.
How many Northern Electric Cooperative customers have solar?
Northern Electric Cooperative did not report residential net-metered solar to EIA for 2025.
Legal name: Northern Electric Coop, Inc (EIA ID 13750). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.