Wild Rice Electric Cooperative and solar
Wild Rice Electric Cooperative is an electric cooperative serving about 14,001 homes in Minnesota. 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¢7% below Minnesota average
- Typical bill
- $1861,237 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- RetailFull retail net metering
- Typical payback
- 18.2 yrs5.6 kW, cash
Export rules for Wild Rice Electric Cooperative customers
Full retail net metering (Minnesota rule).
Minnesota requires utilities to net meter systems under 40 kW; monthly excess is paid or credited at the 'average retail utility energy rate', which is close to retail (excludes fixed charges). This applies to IOUs, co-ops and munis, although co-ops/munis may add a monthly DG fee.
Solar for a typical Wild Rice Electric Cooperative home
| System | 5.6 kW (50% of 1,237 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $21,700 |
| First-year savings | $1,124 |
| Payback | 18.2 years |
| 25-year net | $10,452 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- 80
- Share of customers
- 0.6%
- Residential solar capacity
- 2 MW
- Residential customers
- 14,001
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about Wild Rice Electric Cooperative and solar
Does Wild Rice Electric Cooperative have net metering?
Wild Rice Electric Cooperative follows Minnesota's rules: Minnesota requires utilities to net meter systems under 40 kW; monthly excess is paid or credited at the 'average retail utility energy rate', which is close to retail (excludes fixed charges). This applies to IOUs, co-ops and munis, although co-ops/munis may add a monthly DG fee.
How much does electricity cost with Wild Rice Electric Cooperative?
Residential customers paid an average of 14.7¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 15.1¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 1,237 kWh a month, a bill of about $186.
Is solar worth it with Wild Rice Electric Cooperative?
For a typical customer, solar is not worth it: a 5.6 kW system costing about $21,700 pays back in about 18.2 years, with $10,452 net over 25 years.
How many Wild Rice Electric Cooperative customers have solar?
About 80 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 0.6% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: Wild Rice Electric Coop, Inc (EIA ID 20639). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.