Rochester Public Utilities and solar
Rochester Public Utilities is a municipal utility serving about 55,728 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.)
- 19.0¢17% above Minnesota average
- Typical bill
- $111581 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- RetailFull retail net metering
- Typical payback
- 15 yrs5.2 kW, cash
Export rules for Rochester Public Utilities 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 Rochester Public Utilities home
| System | 5.2 kW (99% of 581 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $20,400 |
| First-year savings | $1,261 |
| Payback | 15.0 years |
| 25-year net | $18,083 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- 755
- Share of customers
- 1.4%
- Residential solar capacity
- 6 MW
- Residential customers
- 55,728
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about Rochester Public Utilities and solar
Does Rochester Public Utilities have net metering?
Rochester Public Utilities 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 Rochester Public Utilities?
Residential customers paid an average of 18.6¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 19.0¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 581 kWh a month, a bill of about $111.
Is solar worth it with Rochester Public Utilities?
For a typical customer, solar is a close call: a 5.2 kW system costing about $20,400 pays back in about 15 years, with $18,083 net over 25 years.
How many Rochester Public Utilities customers have solar?
About 755 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 1.4% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: Rochester Public Utilities (EIA ID 16181). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.