Otero County Electric Cooperative and solar
Otero County Electric Cooperative is an electric cooperative serving about 16,517 homes in New Mexico. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is worth it.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 20.2¢32% above New Mexico average
- Typical bill
- $113560 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- ~20%Varies by utility
- Typical payback
- 10.3 yrs4.2 kW, cash
Export rules for Otero County Electric Cooperative customers
Varies by utility (New Mexico rule).
For systems up to 10 kW, New Mexico utilities either carry forward excess kWh credits or pay for them at avoided cost; most small residential systems effectively get retail offset for self-use and monthly netting. Larger systems get avoided cost for excess.
Solar for a typical Otero County Electric Cooperative home
| System | 4.2 kW (111% of 560 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $13,580 |
| First-year savings | $1,340 |
| Payback | 10.3 years |
| 25-year net | $22,772 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- 1,239
- Share of customers
- 7.5%
- Residential solar capacity
- 4 MW
- Residential customers
- 16,517
EIA-861, 2025.
Cities served
Questions about Otero County Electric Cooperative and solar
Does Otero County Electric Cooperative have net metering?
Otero County Electric Cooperative follows New Mexico's rules: For systems up to 10 kW, New Mexico utilities either carry forward excess kWh credits or pay for them at avoided cost; most small residential systems effectively get retail offset for self-use and monthly netting. Larger systems get avoided cost for excess.
How much does electricity cost with Otero County Electric Cooperative?
Residential customers paid an average of 19.6¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 20.2¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 560 kWh a month, a bill of about $113.
Is solar worth it with Otero County Electric Cooperative?
For a typical customer, solar is worth it: a 4.2 kW system costing about $13,580 pays back in about 10.3 years, with $22,772 net over 25 years.
How many Otero County Electric Cooperative customers have solar?
About 1,239 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 7.5% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: Otero County Electric Coop Inc (EIA ID 14224). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.