Steele-Waseca Cooperative Electric and solar
Steele-Waseca Cooperative Electric is an electric cooperative serving about 10,788 homes in Minnesota. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is a close call.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 16.9¢4% above Minnesota average
- Typical bill
- $165980 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- RetailFull retail net metering
- Typical payback
- 15.7 yrs7.9 kW, cash
Export rules for Steele-Waseca Cooperative Electric 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 Steele-Waseca Cooperative Electric home
| System | 7.9 kW (90% of 980 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $29,175 |
| First-year savings | $1,777 |
| Payback | 15.7 years |
| 25-year net | $22,444 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- 225
- Share of customers
- 2.1%
- Residential solar capacity
- 4 MW
- Residential customers
- 10,788
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about Steele-Waseca Cooperative Electric and solar
Does Steele-Waseca Cooperative Electric have net metering?
Steele-Waseca Cooperative Electric 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 Steele-Waseca Cooperative Electric?
Residential customers paid an average of 16.5¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 16.9¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 980 kWh a month, a bill of about $165.
Is solar worth it with Steele-Waseca Cooperative Electric?
For a typical customer, solar is a close call: a 7.9 kW system costing about $29,175 pays back in about 15.7 years, with $22,444 net over 25 years.
How many Steele-Waseca Cooperative Electric customers have solar?
About 225 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 2.1% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: Steele-Waseca Cooperative Electric (EIA ID 18047). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.