Tri-State Electric Member and solar
Tri-State Electric Member is an electric cooperative serving about 17,633 homes in Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is not worth it.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 15.3¢2% above Georgia average
- Typical bill
- $1571,024 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- ~47%Reduced export credit
- Typical payback
- 17.2 yrs4.3 kW, cash
Export rules for Tri-State Electric Member customers
Reduced export credit (Georgia rule).
Georgia has no full net metering for new customers. Georgia Power credits solar you use at home at retail, and pays about 7.2 cents/kWh in 2026 for power sent to the grid (its solar avoided cost plus a 4-cent adder). Its monthly net metering program is full and closed. Electric membership cooperatives (EMCs) generally pay avoided cost.
Solar for a typical Tri-State Electric Member home
| System | 4.3 kW (50% of 1,024 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $13,820 |
| First-year savings | $808 |
| Payback | 17.2 years |
| 25-year net | $7,854 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- —
- Share of customers
- —
- Residential solar capacity
- —
- Residential customers
- 17,633
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about Tri-State Electric Member and solar
Does Tri-State Electric Member have net metering?
Tri-State Electric Member follows Georgia's rules: Georgia has no full net metering for new customers. Georgia Power credits solar you use at home at retail, and pays about 7.2 cents/kWh in 2026 for power sent to the grid (its solar avoided cost plus a 4-cent adder). Its monthly net metering program is full and closed. Electric membership cooperatives (EMCs) generally pay avoided cost.
How much does electricity cost with Tri-State Electric Member?
Residential customers paid an average of 15.0¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 15.3¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 1,024 kWh a month, a bill of about $157.
Is solar worth it with Tri-State Electric Member?
For a typical customer, solar is not worth it: a 4.3 kW system costing about $13,820 pays back in about 17.2 years, with $7,854 net over 25 years.
How many Tri-State Electric Member customers have solar?
Tri-State Electric Member did not report residential net-metered solar to EIA for 2025.
Legal name: Tri-State Electric Member Corp (EIA ID 19154). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.