PUD No 1 of Cowlitz County and solar
PUD No 1 of Cowlitz County is a public power district serving about 48,849 homes in 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.)
- 9.9¢30% below Washington average
- Typical bill
- $1281,296 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- RetailFull retail net metering
- Typical payback
- 23.3 yrs7.3 kW, cash
Export rules for PUD No 1 of Cowlitz County 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 PUD No 1 of Cowlitz County home
| System | 7.3 kW (50% of 1,296 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $20,655 |
| First-year savings | $770 |
| Payback | 23.3 years |
| 25-year net | $2,180 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- 554
- Share of customers
- 1.1%
- Residential solar capacity
- 5 MW
- Residential customers
- 48,849
EIA-861, 2025.
Cities served
Questions about PUD No 1 of Cowlitz County and solar
Does PUD No 1 of Cowlitz County have net metering?
PUD No 1 of Cowlitz County 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 PUD No 1 of Cowlitz County?
Residential customers paid an average of 9.2¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 9.9¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 1,296 kWh a month, a bill of about $128.
Is solar worth it with PUD No 1 of Cowlitz County?
For a typical customer, solar is not worth it: a 7.3 kW system costing about $20,655 pays back in about 23.3 years, with $2,180 net over 25 years.
How many PUD No 1 of Cowlitz County customers have solar?
About 554 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 1.1% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: PUD No 1 of Cowlitz County (EIA ID 4442). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.