PUD No 3 of Mason County and solar
PUD No 3 of Mason County is a public power district serving about 34,378 homes in Washington. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is a close call.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 15.5¢10% above Washington average
- Typical bill
- $1741,125 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- RetailFull retail net metering
- Typical payback
- 14.6 yrs9.8 kW, cash
Export rules for PUD No 3 of Mason 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 3 of Mason County home
| System | 9.8 kW (80% of 1,125 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $26,530 |
| First-year savings | $1,681 |
| Payback | 14.6 years |
| 25-year net | $28,542 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- 282
- Share of customers
- 0.8%
- Residential solar capacity
- 3 MW
- Residential customers
- 34,378
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about PUD No 3 of Mason County and solar
Does PUD No 3 of Mason County have net metering?
PUD No 3 of Mason 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 3 of Mason County?
Residential customers paid an average of 14.4¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 15.5¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 1,125 kWh a month, a bill of about $174.
Is solar worth it with PUD No 3 of Mason County?
For a typical customer, solar is a close call: a 9.8 kW system costing about $26,530 pays back in about 14.6 years, with $28,542 net over 25 years.
How many PUD No 3 of Mason County customers have solar?
About 282 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 0.8% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: PUD No 3 of Mason County (EIA ID 15419). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.