Southwest Arkansas E C C and solar
Southwest Arkansas E C C is an electric cooperative serving about 26,288 homes in Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is worth it.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 14.5¢8% above Arkansas average
- Typical bill
- $1841,272 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- ~30%Avoided-cost export credit
- Typical payback
- 13.1 yrs9.8 kW, cash
Export rules for Southwest Arkansas E C C customers
Avoided-cost export credit (Arkansas rule).
Under Act 278 of 2023, new solar customers (applications after Sept 30, 2024) still offset their own usage at retail, but any excess electricity sent to the grid is credited only at the utility's avoided cost, often under half of retail. Customers who connected earlier keep 1:1 retail credit through 2039-2040.
Solar for a typical Southwest Arkansas E C C home
| System | 9.8 kW (90% of 1,272 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $25,550 |
| First-year savings | $1,940 |
| Payback | 13.1 years |
| 25-year net | $30,582 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- 123
- Share of customers
- 0.5%
- Residential solar capacity
- 1 MW
- Residential customers
- 26,288
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about Southwest Arkansas E C C and solar
Does Southwest Arkansas E C C have net metering?
Southwest Arkansas E C C follows Arkansas's rules: Under Act 278 of 2023, new solar customers (applications after Sept 30, 2024) still offset their own usage at retail, but any excess electricity sent to the grid is credited only at the utility's avoided cost, often under half of retail. Customers who connected earlier keep 1:1 retail credit through 2039-2040.
How much does electricity cost with Southwest Arkansas E C C?
Residential customers paid an average of 13.9¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 14.5¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 1,272 kWh a month, a bill of about $184.
Is solar worth it with Southwest Arkansas E C C?
For a typical customer, solar is worth it: a 9.8 kW system costing about $25,550 pays back in about 13.1 years, with $30,582 net over 25 years.
How many Southwest Arkansas E C C customers have solar?
About 123 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 0.5% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: Southwest Arkansas E C C (EIA ID 17671). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.