Northern Lights and solar
Northern Lights is an electric cooperative serving about 22,890 homes in Idaho, Montana, Washington. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is not worth it.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 13.2¢4% above Idaho average
- Typical bill
- $1421,073 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- ~34%Varies by utility
- Typical payback
- 17 yrs4.5 kW, cash
Export rules for Northern Lights customers
Varies by utility (Idaho rule).
Idaho has no statewide net metering law; each utility's rules are set by the PUC. Idaho Power moved new customers to real-time net billing, paying time-varying export rates (for June 2025-May 2026 roughly 15.7 cents on summer peak but about 3 cents most of the year). Avista still offers net metering; Rocky Mountain Power's Idaho terms have been under review.
Solar for a typical Northern Lights home
| System | 4.5 kW (50% of 1,073 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $16,775, $10,065 after incentives |
| First-year savings | $662 |
| Payback | 17.0 years |
| 25-year net | $5,358 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- —
- Share of customers
- —
- Residential solar capacity
- —
- Residential customers
- 22,890
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about Northern Lights and solar
Does Northern Lights have net metering?
Northern Lights follows Idaho's rules: Idaho has no statewide net metering law; each utility's rules are set by the PUC. Idaho Power moved new customers to real-time net billing, paying time-varying export rates (for June 2025-May 2026 roughly 15.7 cents on summer peak but about 3 cents most of the year). Avista still offers net metering; Rocky Mountain Power's Idaho terms have been under review.
How much does electricity cost with Northern Lights?
Residential customers paid an average of 12.3¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 13.2¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 1,073 kWh a month, a bill of about $142.
Is solar worth it with Northern Lights?
For a typical customer, solar is not worth it: a 4.5 kW system costing about $10,065 pays back in about 17 years, with $5,358 net over 25 years.
How many Northern Lights customers have solar?
Northern Lights did not report residential net-metered solar to EIA for 2025.
Legal name: Northern Lights, Inc (EIA ID 13758). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.