Wright-Hennepin Cooperative Electric Association and solar
Wright-Hennepin Cooperative Electric Association is an electric cooperative serving about 54,582 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.)
- 15.4¢5% below Minnesota average
- Typical bill
- $144936 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- RetailFull retail net metering
- Typical payback
- 18.7 yrs4.2 kW, cash
Export rules for Wright-Hennepin Cooperative Electric Association 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 Wright-Hennepin Cooperative Electric Association home
| System | 4.2 kW (50% of 936 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $17,150 |
| First-year savings | $861 |
| Payback | 18.7 years |
| 25-year net | $7,534 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- 345
- Share of customers
- 0.6%
- Residential solar capacity
- 4 MW
- Residential customers
- 54,582
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about Wright-Hennepin Cooperative Electric Association and solar
Does Wright-Hennepin Cooperative Electric Association have net metering?
Wright-Hennepin Cooperative Electric Association 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 Wright-Hennepin Cooperative Electric Association?
Residential customers paid an average of 15.0¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 15.4¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 936 kWh a month, a bill of about $144.
Is solar worth it with Wright-Hennepin Cooperative Electric Association?
For a typical customer, solar is not worth it: a 4.2 kW system costing about $17,150 pays back in about 18.7 years, with $7,534 net over 25 years.
How many Wright-Hennepin Cooperative Electric Association customers have solar?
About 345 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 0.6% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: Wright-Hennepin Coop Elec Assn (EIA ID 20996). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.