Tallapoosa River Electric Cooperative and solar
Tallapoosa River Electric Cooperative is an electric cooperative serving about 30,157 homes in Alabama. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is not worth it.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 15.1¢8% below Alabama average
- Typical bill
- $1761,160 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- ~20%No statewide net metering
- Typical payback
- 20 yrs4.9 kW, cash
Export rules for Tallapoosa River Electric Cooperative customers
No statewide net metering (Alabama rule).
Alabama has no net metering law. Alabama Power buys any electricity you send to the grid at a low wholesale (avoided-cost) price. It also charges solar customers a monthly 'capacity reservation' fee of about $5.41 per kW of system size, which a federal judge let stand in March 2026.
Solar for a typical Tallapoosa River Electric Cooperative home
| System | 4.9 kW (50% of 1,160 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $18,690 |
| First-year savings | $829 |
| Payback | 20.0 years |
| 25-year net | $6,495 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- —
- Share of customers
- —
- Residential solar capacity
- —
- Residential customers
- 30,157
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about Tallapoosa River Electric Cooperative and solar
Does Tallapoosa River Electric Cooperative have net metering?
Tallapoosa River Electric Cooperative follows Alabama's rules: Alabama has no net metering law. Alabama Power buys any electricity you send to the grid at a low wholesale (avoided-cost) price. It also charges solar customers a monthly 'capacity reservation' fee of about $5.41 per kW of system size, which a federal judge let stand in March 2026.
How much does electricity cost with Tallapoosa River Electric Cooperative?
Residential customers paid an average of 14.8¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 15.1¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 1,160 kWh a month, a bill of about $176.
Is solar worth it with Tallapoosa River Electric Cooperative?
For a typical customer, solar is not worth it: a 4.9 kW system costing about $18,690 pays back in about 20 years, with $6,495 net over 25 years.
How many Tallapoosa River Electric Cooperative customers have solar?
Tallapoosa River Electric Cooperative did not report residential net-metered solar to EIA for 2025.
Legal name: Tallapoosa River Elec Coop Inc (EIA ID 18203). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.