Rio Grande Electric Cooperative and solar
Rio Grande Electric Cooperative is an electric cooperative serving about 9,603 homes in Texas, 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.)
- 19.0¢19% above Texas average
- Typical bill
- $173911 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- ~32%No statewide net metering
- Typical payback
- 12.3 yrs3.5 kW, cash
Export rules for Rio Grande Electric Cooperative customers
No statewide net metering (Texas rule).
Texas has no statewide net metering. In the deregulated ERCOT market you pick a retail electricity provider, and a few offer 'solar buyback' plans (typically 3-9 c/kWh, some match retail). Municipal utilities and co-ops set their own rules, e.g., Austin Energy's Value of Solar credit.
Solar for a typical Rio Grande Electric Cooperative home
| System | 3.5 kW (51% of 911 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $10,850 |
| First-year savings | $860 |
| Payback | 12.3 years |
| 25-year net | $15,061 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- —
- Share of customers
- —
- Residential solar capacity
- —
- Residential customers
- 9,603
EIA-861, 2025.
Cities served
Questions about Rio Grande Electric Cooperative and solar
Does Rio Grande Electric Cooperative have net metering?
Rio Grande Electric Cooperative follows Texas's rules: Texas has no statewide net metering. In the deregulated ERCOT market you pick a retail electricity provider, and a few offer 'solar buyback' plans (typically 3-9 c/kWh, some match retail). Municipal utilities and co-ops set their own rules, e.g., Austin Energy's Value of Solar credit.
How much does electricity cost with Rio Grande Electric Cooperative?
Residential customers paid an average of 18.3¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 19.0¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 911 kWh a month, a bill of about $173.
Is solar worth it with Rio Grande Electric Cooperative?
For a typical customer, solar is worth it: a 3.5 kW system costing about $10,850 pays back in about 12.3 years, with $15,061 net over 25 years.
How many Rio Grande Electric Cooperative customers have solar?
Rio Grande Electric Cooperative did not report residential net-metered solar to EIA for 2025.
Legal name: Rio Grande Electric Coop, Inc (EIA ID 16057). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.