Southwestern Electric Cooperative and solar
Southwestern Electric Cooperative is an electric cooperative serving about 24,414 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.)
- 16.3¢13% below Illinois average
- Typical bill
- $1901,160 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- ~55%Reduced export credit
- Typical payback
- 14.2 yrs8.3 kW, cash
Export rules for Southwestern 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 Southwestern Electric Cooperative home
| System | 8.3 kW (80% of 1,160 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $27,570 |
| First-year savings | $1,784 |
| Payback | 14.2 years |
| 25-year net | $30,837 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- —
- Share of customers
- —
- Residential solar capacity
- —
- Residential customers
- 24,414
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about Southwestern Electric Cooperative and solar
Does Southwestern Electric Cooperative have net metering?
Southwestern 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 Southwestern Electric Cooperative?
Residential customers paid an average of 15.4¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 16.3¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 1,160 kWh a month, a bill of about $190.
Is solar worth it with Southwestern Electric Cooperative?
For a typical customer, solar is a close call: a 8.3 kW system costing about $27,570 pays back in about 14.2 years, with $30,837 net over 25 years.
How many Southwestern Electric Cooperative customers have solar?
Southwestern Electric Cooperative did not report residential net-metered solar to EIA for 2025.
Legal name: Southwestern Electric Coop Inc - (IL) (EIA ID 17697). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.