South Kentucky Rural E C C and solar
South Kentucky Rural E C C is an electric cooperative serving about 65,494 homes in Kentucky, Tennessee. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is not worth it.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 14.4¢3% above Kentucky average
- Typical bill
- $1521,058 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- ~52%Net billing (reduced export credit)
- Typical payback
- 18.3 yrs4.7 kW, cash
Export rules for South Kentucky Rural E C C customers
Net billing (reduced export credit) (Kentucky rule).
Kentucky requires net metering for systems up to 45 kW, but since SB 100 (2019) the PSC sets the export credit in each utility's rate case. For the big investor-owned utilities, power you send to the grid earns a bill credit of roughly 7-10 cents/kWh, well below the retail rate.
Solar for a typical South Kentucky Rural E C C home
| System | 4.7 kW (50% of 1,058 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $14,545 |
| First-year savings | $797 |
| Payback | 18.3 years |
| 25-year net | $6,607 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- 164
- Share of customers
- 0.3%
- Residential solar capacity
- 2 MW
- Residential customers
- 65,494
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about South Kentucky Rural E C C and solar
Does South Kentucky Rural E C C have net metering?
South Kentucky Rural E C C follows Kentucky's rules: Kentucky requires net metering for systems up to 45 kW, but since SB 100 (2019) the PSC sets the export credit in each utility's rate case. For the big investor-owned utilities, power you send to the grid earns a bill credit of roughly 7-10 cents/kWh, well below the retail rate.
How much does electricity cost with South Kentucky Rural E C C?
Residential customers paid an average of 13.6¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 14.4¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 1,058 kWh a month, a bill of about $152.
Is solar worth it with South Kentucky Rural E C C?
For a typical customer, solar is not worth it: a 4.7 kW system costing about $14,545 pays back in about 18.3 years, with $6,607 net over 25 years.
How many South Kentucky Rural E C C customers have solar?
About 164 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 0.3% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: South Kentucky Rural E C C (EIA ID 17564). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.