Orcas Power & Light Cooperative and solar
Orcas Power & Light Cooperative is an electric cooperative serving about 14,034 homes in Washington. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is worth it.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 20.4¢44% above Washington average
- Typical bill
- $192942 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- RetailFull retail net metering
- Typical payback
- 11.9 yrs9.2 kW, cash
Export rules for Orcas Power & Light Cooperative customers
Full retail net metering (Washington rule).
Washington utilities must offer 1:1 net metering until June 30, 2029 or until they hit a 4% capacity threshold. Credits roll over monthly but are forfeited at the annual reset (usually April 30). Pacific Power has proposed switching new customers to net billing from Feb 2027.
Solar for a typical Orcas Power & Light Cooperative home
| System | 9.2 kW (90% of 942 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $25,120 |
| First-year savings | $1,938 |
| Payback | 11.9 years |
| 25-year net | $43,602 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- 927
- Share of customers
- 6.6%
- Residential solar capacity
- 7 MW
- Residential customers
- 14,034
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about Orcas Power & Light Cooperative and solar
Does Orcas Power & Light Cooperative have net metering?
Orcas Power & Light Cooperative follows Washington's rules: Washington utilities must offer 1:1 net metering until June 30, 2029 or until they hit a 4% capacity threshold. Credits roll over monthly but are forfeited at the annual reset (usually April 30). Pacific Power has proposed switching new customers to net billing from Feb 2027.
How much does electricity cost with Orcas Power & Light Cooperative?
Residential customers paid an average of 19.0¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 20.4¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 942 kWh a month, a bill of about $192.
Is solar worth it with Orcas Power & Light Cooperative?
For a typical customer, solar is worth it: a 9.2 kW system costing about $25,120 pays back in about 11.9 years, with $43,602 net over 25 years.
How many Orcas Power & Light Cooperative customers have solar?
About 927 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 6.6% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: Orcas Power & Light Coop (EIA ID 14170). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.