Washington Electric Member and solar
Washington Electric Member is an electric cooperative serving about 15,170 homes in Georgia. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is not worth it.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 15.8¢4% above Georgia average
- Typical bill
- $1611,021 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- ~46%Reduced export credit
- Typical payback
- 16.8 yrs4.3 kW, cash
Export rules for Washington 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 Washington Electric Member home
| System | 4.3 kW (50% of 1,021 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $13,820 |
| First-year savings | $826 |
| Payback | 16.8 years |
| 25-year net | $8,444 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- 30
- Share of customers
- 0.2%
- Residential solar capacity
- 0 MW
- Residential customers
- 15,170
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about Washington Electric Member and solar
Does Washington Electric Member have net metering?
Washington 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 Washington Electric Member?
Residential customers paid an average of 15.4¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 15.8¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 1,021 kWh a month, a bill of about $161.
Is solar worth it with Washington Electric Member?
For a typical customer, solar is not worth it: a 4.3 kW system costing about $13,820 pays back in about 16.8 years, with $8,444 net over 25 years.
How many Washington Electric Member customers have solar?
About 30 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 0.2% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: Washington Elec Member Corp (EIA ID 20146). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.