West Central Electric Cooperative and solar
West Central Electric Cooperative is an electric cooperative serving about 15,556 homes in Missouri. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is a close call.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 13.6¢3% below Missouri average
- Typical bill
- $2001,473 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- ~33%Avoided-cost export credit
- Typical payback
- 15.3 yrs10 kW, cash
Export rules for West Central Electric Cooperative customers
Avoided-cost export credit (Missouri rule).
Missouri's net metering law nets usage and production within each monthly bill at full retail, but any net excess for the month is credited only at the utility's avoided fuel cost (a few cents/kWh), and unused credits expire after 12 months. Systems are capped at 100 kW.
Solar for a typical West Central Electric Cooperative home
| System | 10 kW (80% of 1,473 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $27,000 |
| First-year savings | $1,889 |
| Payback | 15.3 years |
| 25-year net | $19,627 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- 251
- Share of customers
- 1.6%
- Residential solar capacity
- 3 MW
- Residential customers
- 15,556
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about West Central Electric Cooperative and solar
Does West Central Electric Cooperative have net metering?
West Central Electric Cooperative follows Missouri's rules: Missouri's net metering law nets usage and production within each monthly bill at full retail, but any net excess for the month is credited only at the utility's avoided fuel cost (a few cents/kWh), and unused credits expire after 12 months. Systems are capped at 100 kW.
How much does electricity cost with West Central Electric Cooperative?
Residential customers paid an average of 12.9¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 13.6¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 1,473 kWh a month, a bill of about $200.
Is solar worth it with West Central Electric Cooperative?
For a typical customer, solar is a close call: a 10 kW system costing about $27,000 pays back in about 15.3 years, with $19,627 net over 25 years.
How many West Central Electric Cooperative customers have solar?
About 251 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 1.6% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: West Central Electric Coop Inc - (MO) (EIA ID 20363). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.