South Central Ark El Cooperative and solar
South Central Ark El Cooperative is an electric cooperative serving about 9,447 homes in Arkansas. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is worth it.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 16.8¢25% above Arkansas average
- Typical bill
- $164981 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- ~30%Avoided-cost export credit
- Typical payback
- 11.9 yrs8.4 kW, cash
Export rules for South Central Ark El Cooperative customers
Avoided-cost export credit (Arkansas rule).
Under Act 278 of 2023, new solar customers (applications after Sept 30, 2024) still offset their own usage at retail, but any excess electricity sent to the grid is credited only at the utility's avoided cost, often under half of retail. Customers who connected earlier keep 1:1 retail credit through 2039-2040.
Solar for a typical South Central Ark El Cooperative home
| System | 8.4 kW (100% of 981 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $22,400 |
| First-year savings | $1,859 |
| Payback | 11.9 years |
| 25-year net | $32,789 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- —
- Share of customers
- —
- Residential solar capacity
- —
- Residential customers
- 9,447
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about South Central Ark El Cooperative and solar
Does South Central Ark El Cooperative have net metering?
South Central Ark El Cooperative follows Arkansas's rules: Under Act 278 of 2023, new solar customers (applications after Sept 30, 2024) still offset their own usage at retail, but any excess electricity sent to the grid is credited only at the utility's avoided cost, often under half of retail. Customers who connected earlier keep 1:1 retail credit through 2039-2040.
How much does electricity cost with South Central Ark El Cooperative?
Residential customers paid an average of 16.1¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 16.8¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 981 kWh a month, a bill of about $164.
Is solar worth it with South Central Ark El Cooperative?
For a typical customer, solar is worth it: a 8.4 kW system costing about $22,400 pays back in about 11.9 years, with $32,789 net over 25 years.
How many South Central Ark El Cooperative customers have solar?
South Central Ark El Cooperative did not report residential net-metered solar to EIA for 2025.
Legal name: South Central Ark El Coop, Inc (EIA ID 17540). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.