Southeastern IL Electric Cooperative and solar
Southeastern IL Electric Cooperative is an electric cooperative serving about 22,607 homes in Illinois. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is a close call.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 15.7¢16% below Illinois average
- Typical bill
- $1921,222 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- ~57%Reduced export credit
- Typical payback
- 14.6 yrs8.8 kW, cash
Export rules for Southeastern IL Electric Cooperative customers
Reduced export credit (Illinois rule).
For ComEd and Ameren customers who connected on or after Jan 1, 2025, solar exports only offset the energy supply part of the bill (about 8-12 cents/kWh), not delivery charges. To compensate, the state pays an upfront $300 per kW rebate for solar with a smart inverter, and Illinois Shines pays for solar renewable energy credits.
Solar for a typical Southeastern IL Electric Cooperative home
| System | 8.8 kW (80% of 1,222 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $29,020 |
| First-year savings | $1,822 |
| Payback | 14.6 years |
| 25-year net | $30,308 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- 320
- Share of customers
- 1.4%
- Residential solar capacity
- 5 MW
- Residential customers
- 22,607
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about Southeastern IL Electric Cooperative and solar
Does Southeastern IL Electric Cooperative have net metering?
Southeastern IL Electric Cooperative follows Illinois's rules: For ComEd and Ameren customers who connected on or after Jan 1, 2025, solar exports only offset the energy supply part of the bill (about 8-12 cents/kWh), not delivery charges. To compensate, the state pays an upfront $300 per kW rebate for solar with a smart inverter, and Illinois Shines pays for solar renewable energy credits.
How much does electricity cost with Southeastern IL Electric Cooperative?
Residential customers paid an average of 14.8¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 15.7¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 1,222 kWh a month, a bill of about $192.
Is solar worth it with Southeastern IL Electric Cooperative?
For a typical customer, solar is a close call: a 8.8 kW system costing about $29,020 pays back in about 14.6 years, with $30,308 net over 25 years.
How many Southeastern IL Electric Cooperative customers have solar?
About 320 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 1.4% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: Southeastern IL Elec Coop, Inc (EIA ID 17585). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.