People's Cooperative Services and solar
People's Cooperative Services is an electric cooperative serving about 21,741 homes in Minnesota. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is a close call.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 17.6¢9% above Minnesota average
- Typical bill
- $162919 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- RetailFull retail net metering
- Typical payback
- 15.2 yrs7.5 kW, cash
Export rules for People's Cooperative Services customers
Full retail net metering (Minnesota rule).
Minnesota requires utilities to net meter systems under 40 kW; monthly excess is paid or credited at the 'average retail utility energy rate', which is close to retail (excludes fixed charges). This applies to IOUs, co-ops and munis, although co-ops/munis may add a monthly DG fee.
Solar for a typical People's Cooperative Services home
| System | 7.5 kW (90% of 919 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $27,875 |
| First-year savings | $1,754 |
| Payback | 15.2 years |
| 25-year net | $23,336 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- 314
- Share of customers
- 1.4%
- Residential solar capacity
- 6 MW
- Residential customers
- 21,741
EIA-861, 2025.
Cities served
Questions about People's Cooperative Services and solar
Does People's Cooperative Services have net metering?
People's Cooperative Services follows Minnesota's rules: Minnesota requires utilities to net meter systems under 40 kW; monthly excess is paid or credited at the 'average retail utility energy rate', which is close to retail (excludes fixed charges). This applies to IOUs, co-ops and munis, although co-ops/munis may add a monthly DG fee.
How much does electricity cost with People's Cooperative Services?
Residential customers paid an average of 17.2¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 17.6¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 919 kWh a month, a bill of about $162.
Is solar worth it with People's Cooperative Services?
For a typical customer, solar is a close call: a 7.5 kW system costing about $27,875 pays back in about 15.2 years, with $23,336 net over 25 years.
How many People's Cooperative Services customers have solar?
About 314 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 1.4% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: People's Cooperative Services (EIA ID 14468). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.