Southeastern Electric Cooperative and solar
Southeastern Electric Cooperative is an electric cooperative serving about 20,959 homes in South Dakota. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is not worth it.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 13.8¢3% below South Dakota average
- Typical bill
- $1621,167 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- ~22%No statewide net metering
- Typical payback
- 21.4 yrs4.9 kW, cash
Export rules for Southeastern 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 Southeastern Electric Cooperative home
| System | 4.9 kW (50% of 1,167 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $15,750 |
| First-year savings | $765 |
| Payback | 21.4 years |
| 25-year net | $3,063 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- 14
- Share of customers
- 0.1%
- Residential solar capacity
- 0 MW
- Residential customers
- 20,959
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about Southeastern Electric Cooperative and solar
Does Southeastern Electric Cooperative have net metering?
Southeastern 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 Southeastern Electric Cooperative?
Residential customers paid an average of 13.0¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 13.8¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 1,167 kWh a month, a bill of about $162.
Is solar worth it with Southeastern Electric Cooperative?
For a typical customer, solar is not worth it: a 4.9 kW system costing about $15,750 pays back in about 21.4 years, with $3,063 net over 25 years.
How many Southeastern Electric Cooperative customers have solar?
About 14 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 0.1% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: Southeastern Electric Coop Inc - (SD) (EIA ID 19293). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.