Southern Rivers Energy and solar
Southern Rivers Energy is an electric cooperative serving about 20,770 homes in Georgia. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is a close call.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 16.8¢11% above Georgia average
- Typical bill
- $2131,269 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- ~43%Reduced export credit
- Typical payback
- 15.2 yrs5.4 kW, cash
Export rules for Southern Rivers Energy customers
Reduced export credit (Georgia rule).
Georgia has no full net metering for new customers. Georgia Power credits solar you use at home at retail, and pays about 7.2 cents/kWh in 2026 for power sent to the grid (its solar avoided cost plus a 4-cent adder). Its monthly net metering program is full and closed. Electric membership cooperatives (EMCs) generally pay avoided cost.
Solar for a typical Southern Rivers Energy home
| System | 5.4 kW (50% of 1,269 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $16,460 |
| First-year savings | $1,092 |
| Payback | 15.2 years |
| 25-year net | $13,282 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- 134
- Share of customers
- 0.7%
- Residential solar capacity
- 1 MW
- Residential customers
- 20,770
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about Southern Rivers Energy and solar
Does Southern Rivers Energy have net metering?
Southern Rivers Energy follows Georgia's rules: Georgia has no full net metering for new customers. Georgia Power credits solar you use at home at retail, and pays about 7.2 cents/kWh in 2026 for power sent to the grid (its solar avoided cost plus a 4-cent adder). Its monthly net metering program is full and closed. Electric membership cooperatives (EMCs) generally pay avoided cost.
How much does electricity cost with Southern Rivers Energy?
Residential customers paid an average of 16.4¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 16.8¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 1,269 kWh a month, a bill of about $213.
Is solar worth it with Southern Rivers Energy?
For a typical customer, solar is a close call: a 5.4 kW system costing about $16,460 pays back in about 15.2 years, with $13,282 net over 25 years.
How many Southern Rivers Energy customers have solar?
About 134 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 0.7% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: Southern Rivers Energy (EIA ID 10624). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.