Stearns Cooperative Electric Association and solar
Stearns Cooperative Electric Association is an electric cooperative serving about 26,275 homes in Minnesota. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is not worth it.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 14.4¢11% below Minnesota average
- Typical bill
- $1821,261 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- RetailFull retail net metering
- Typical payback
- 19 yrs5.7 kW, cash
Export rules for Stearns Cooperative Electric Association customers
Full retail net metering (Minnesota rule).
Minnesota requires utilities to net meter systems under 40 kW; monthly excess is paid or credited at the 'average retail utility energy rate', which is close to retail (excludes fixed charges). This applies to IOUs, co-ops and munis, although co-ops/munis may add a monthly DG fee.
Solar for a typical Stearns Cooperative Electric Association home
| System | 5.7 kW (50% of 1,261 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $22,025 |
| First-year savings | $1,096 |
| Payback | 19.0 years |
| 25-year net | $9,104 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- 227
- Share of customers
- 0.9%
- Residential solar capacity
- 3 MW
- Residential customers
- 26,275
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about Stearns Cooperative Electric Association and solar
Does Stearns Cooperative Electric Association have net metering?
Stearns Cooperative Electric Association follows Minnesota's rules: Minnesota requires utilities to net meter systems under 40 kW; monthly excess is paid or credited at the 'average retail utility energy rate', which is close to retail (excludes fixed charges). This applies to IOUs, co-ops and munis, although co-ops/munis may add a monthly DG fee.
How much does electricity cost with Stearns Cooperative Electric Association?
Residential customers paid an average of 14.1¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 14.4¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 1,261 kWh a month, a bill of about $182.
Is solar worth it with Stearns Cooperative Electric Association?
For a typical customer, solar is not worth it: a 5.7 kW system costing about $22,025 pays back in about 19 years, with $9,104 net over 25 years.
How many Stearns Cooperative Electric Association customers have solar?
About 227 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 0.9% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: Stearns Cooperative Elec Assn (EIA ID 18019). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.