South Plains Electric Cooperative and solar
South Plains Electric Cooperative is an electric cooperative serving about 58,726 homes in Texas. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is not worth it.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 11.4¢28% below Texas average
- Typical bill
- $1191,041 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- ~53%No statewide net metering
- Typical payback
- 19.1 yrs4.1 kW, cash
Export rules for South Plains 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.
Solar for a typical South Plains Electric Cooperative home
| System | 4.1 kW (50% of 1,041 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $12,110 |
| First-year savings | $626 |
| Payback | 19.1 years |
| 25-year net | $4,942 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- 940
- Share of customers
- 1.6%
- Residential solar capacity
- 1 MW
- Residential customers
- 58,726
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about South Plains Electric Cooperative and solar
Does South Plains Electric Cooperative have net metering?
South Plains 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 South Plains Electric Cooperative?
Residential customers paid an average of 11.0¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 11.4¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 1,041 kWh a month, a bill of about $119.
Is solar worth it with South Plains Electric Cooperative?
For a typical customer, solar is not worth it: a 4.1 kW system costing about $12,110 pays back in about 19.1 years, with $4,942 net over 25 years.
How many South Plains Electric Cooperative customers have solar?
About 940 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 1.6% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: South Plains Electric Coop Inc (EIA ID 17561). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.