Typical customer: Close call

San Bernard Electric Cooperative and solar

San Bernard Electric Cooperative is an electric cooperative serving about 32,557 homes in Texas. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is a close call.

Average price (2026 est.)
14.6¢8% below Texas average
Typical bill
$1831,255 kWh a month
Exports credited
~41%No statewide net metering
Typical payback
14.7 yrs5 kW, cash

Export rules for San Bernard 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.

Texas net metering details

Solar for a typical San Bernard Electric Cooperative home

System5 kW (50% of 1,255 kWh/month)
Cost$14,000
First-year savings$941
Payback14.7 years
25-year net$13,000

Uses the utility's average price.

Solar adoption

Homes with solar (2025)
—
Share of customers
—
Residential solar capacity
—
Residential customers
32,557

EIA-861, 2025.

Questions about San Bernard Electric Cooperative and solar

Does San Bernard Electric Cooperative have net metering?

San Bernard 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 San Bernard Electric Cooperative?

Residential customers paid an average of 14.1¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 14.6¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 1,255 kWh a month, a bill of about $183.

Is solar worth it with San Bernard Electric Cooperative?

For a typical customer, solar is a close call: a 5 kW system costing about $14,000 pays back in about 14.7 years, with $13,000 net over 25 years.

How many San Bernard Electric Cooperative customers have solar?

San Bernard Electric Cooperative did not report residential net-metered solar to EIA for 2025.

Legal name: San Bernard Electric Coop, Inc (EIA ID 16638). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.