USBIA-San Carlos Project and solar
USBIA-San Carlos Project is a federal utility serving about 12,018 homes in Arizona. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is worth it.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 16.5¢7% above Arizona average
- Typical bill
- $143865 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- ~34%Net billing (reduced export credit)
- Typical payback
- 12.5 yrs3 kW, cash
Export rules for USBIA-San Carlos Project customers
Net billing (reduced export credit) (Arizona rule).
For APS, TEP and UNS customers, electricity you use directly saves you the full retail rate, but power you send to the grid is credited at a lower 'export rate' that is locked for 10 years from when you connect. The export rate drops up to 10% each year for new customers; it is about 5.55 cents for APS (Sept 2026 tranche) and 4.62 cents for TEP (Oct 2026 tranche). SRP, a public utility, has its own solar price plans.
Solar for a typical USBIA-San Carlos Project home
| System | 3 kW (51% of 865 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $9,800, $8,800 after incentives |
| First-year savings | $714 |
| Payback | 12.5 years |
| 25-year net | $10,827 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- —
- Share of customers
- —
- Residential solar capacity
- —
- Residential customers
- 12,018
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about USBIA-San Carlos Project and solar
Does USBIA-San Carlos Project have net metering?
USBIA-San Carlos Project follows Arizona's rules: For APS, TEP and UNS customers, electricity you use directly saves you the full retail rate, but power you send to the grid is credited at a lower 'export rate' that is locked for 10 years from when you connect. The export rate drops up to 10% each year for new customers; it is about 5.55 cents for APS (Sept 2026 tranche) and 4.62 cents for TEP (Oct 2026 tranche). SRP, a public utility, has its own solar price plans.
How much does electricity cost with USBIA-San Carlos Project?
Residential customers paid an average of 16.4¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 16.5¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 865 kWh a month, a bill of about $143.
Is solar worth it with USBIA-San Carlos Project?
For a typical customer, solar is worth it: a 3 kW system costing about $8,800 pays back in about 12.5 years, with $10,827 net over 25 years.
How many USBIA-San Carlos Project customers have solar?
USBIA-San Carlos Project did not report residential net-metered solar to EIA for 2025.
Legal name: USBIA-San Carlos Project (EIA ID 19604). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.