Salem Electric and solar
Salem Electric is an electric cooperative serving about 18,499 homes in Oregon. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is not worth it.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 10.9¢29% below Oregon average
- Typical bill
- $96874 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- RetailFull retail net metering
- Typical payback
- 20.4 yrs4.4 kW, cash
Export rules for Salem Electric customers
Full retail net metering (Oregon rule).
Oregon's big utilities (PGE, Pacific Power, Idaho Power) offer true 1:1 net metering. Extra credits roll forward month to month, but anything left at the annual true-up is donated to low-income assistance rather than paid out.
Solar for a typical Salem Electric home
| System | 4.4 kW (51% of 874 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $13,620 |
| First-year savings | $580 |
| Payback | 20.4 years |
| 25-year net | $4,532 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- 151
- Share of customers
- 0.8%
- Residential solar capacity
- 1 MW
- Residential customers
- 18,499
EIA-861, 2025.
Cities served
Questions about Salem Electric and solar
Does Salem Electric have net metering?
Salem Electric follows Oregon's rules: Oregon's big utilities (PGE, Pacific Power, Idaho Power) offer true 1:1 net metering. Extra credits roll forward month to month, but anything left at the annual true-up is donated to low-income assistance rather than paid out.
How much does electricity cost with Salem Electric?
Residential customers paid an average of 10.9¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 10.9¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 874 kWh a month, a bill of about $96.
Is solar worth it with Salem Electric?
For a typical customer, solar is not worth it: a 4.4 kW system costing about $13,620 pays back in about 20.4 years, with $4,532 net over 25 years.
How many Salem Electric customers have solar?
About 151 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 0.8% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: Salem Electric - (OR) (EIA ID 16555). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.