South Alabama Electric Cooperative and solar
South Alabama Electric Cooperative is an electric cooperative serving about 16,940 homes in Alabama. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is not worth it.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 16.2¢2% below Alabama average
- Typical bill
- $1631,006 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- ~19%No statewide net metering
- Typical payback
- 19.2 yrs4.2 kW, cash
Export rules for South Alabama Electric Cooperative customers
No statewide net metering (Alabama rule).
Alabama has no net metering law. Alabama Power buys any electricity you send to the grid at a low wholesale (avoided-cost) price. It also charges solar customers a monthly 'capacity reservation' fee of about $5.41 per kW of system size, which a federal judge let stand in March 2026.
Solar for a typical South Alabama Electric Cooperative home
| System | 4.2 kW (50% of 1,006 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $16,520 |
| First-year savings | $764 |
| Payback | 19.2 years |
| 25-year net | $6,994 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- —
- Share of customers
- —
- Residential solar capacity
- —
- Residential customers
- 16,940
EIA-861, 2025.
Cities served
Questions about South Alabama Electric Cooperative and solar
Does South Alabama Electric Cooperative have net metering?
South Alabama Electric Cooperative follows Alabama's rules: Alabama has no net metering law. Alabama Power buys any electricity you send to the grid at a low wholesale (avoided-cost) price. It also charges solar customers a monthly 'capacity reservation' fee of about $5.41 per kW of system size, which a federal judge let stand in March 2026.
How much does electricity cost with South Alabama Electric Cooperative?
Residential customers paid an average of 15.8¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 16.2¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 1,006 kWh a month, a bill of about $163.
Is solar worth it with South Alabama Electric Cooperative?
For a typical customer, solar is not worth it: a 4.2 kW system costing about $16,520 pays back in about 19.2 years, with $6,994 net over 25 years.
How many South Alabama Electric Cooperative customers have solar?
South Alabama Electric Cooperative did not report residential net-metered solar to EIA for 2025.
Legal name: South Alabama Elec Coop, Inc (EIA ID 17534). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.