Sioux Valley SW Electric Cooperative and solar
Sioux Valley SW Electric Cooperative is an electric cooperative serving about 26,360 homes in South Dakota, Minnesota. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is not worth it.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 14.8¢4% above South Dakota average
- Typical bill
- $2031,370 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- ~20%No statewide net metering
- Typical payback
- 19.5 yrs5.8 kW, cash
Export rules for Sioux Valley SW Electric Cooperative customers
No statewide net metering (South Dakota rule).
South Dakota has no net metering law. Utilities generally let you use your own solar and buy the excess at their avoided cost (a few cents per kWh).
Solar for a typical Sioux Valley SW Electric Cooperative home
| System | 5.8 kW (50% of 1,370 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $18,000 |
| First-year savings | $960 |
| Payback | 19.5 years |
| 25-year net | $5,959 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- 66
- Share of customers
- 0.3%
- Residential solar capacity
- 1 MW
- Residential customers
- 26,360
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about Sioux Valley SW Electric Cooperative and solar
Does Sioux Valley SW Electric Cooperative have net metering?
Sioux Valley SW Electric Cooperative follows South Dakota's rules: South Dakota has no net metering law. Utilities generally let you use your own solar and buy the excess at their avoided cost (a few cents per kWh).
How much does electricity cost with Sioux Valley SW Electric Cooperative?
Residential customers paid an average of 13.9¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 14.8¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 1,370 kWh a month, a bill of about $203.
Is solar worth it with Sioux Valley SW Electric Cooperative?
For a typical customer, solar is not worth it: a 5.8 kW system costing about $18,000 pays back in about 19.5 years, with $5,959 net over 25 years.
How many Sioux Valley SW Electric Cooperative customers have solar?
About 66 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 0.3% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: Sioux Valley SW Elec Coop (EIA ID 17267). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.