Xcel Energy Minnesota and solar
Xcel Energy Minnesota is an investor-owned utility serving about 1,420,807 homes in Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is not worth it.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 17.0¢5% above Minnesota average
- Typical bill
- $108634 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- RetailFull retail net metering
- Typical payback
- 16.4 yrs5.1 kW, cash
Export rules for Xcel Energy Minnesota customers
Full retail net metering, monthly netting.
Average retail utility energy rate for NEG; TOU optional.
Minnesota net metering (Minn. Stat. 216B.164) for systems <40 kW: monthly net excess compensated at the average retail utility energy rate (or kWh credit rollover)
Solar for a typical Xcel Energy Minnesota home
| System | 5.1 kW (90% of 634 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $20,075 |
| First-year savings | $1,161 |
| Payback | 16.4 years |
| 25-year net | $13,694 |
Uses the utility's average price; time-of-use plans can change this, so pick your plan in the calculator.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- 16,190
- Share of customers
- 1.1%
- Residential solar capacity
- 122 MW
- Residential customers
- 1,420,807
EIA-861, 2025.
Cities served
Questions about Xcel Energy Minnesota and solar
Does Xcel Energy Minnesota have net metering?
Average retail utility energy rate for NEG; TOU optional.
How much does electricity cost with Xcel Energy Minnesota?
Residential customers paid an average of 16.6¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 17.0¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 634 kWh a month, a bill of about $108.
Is solar worth it with Xcel Energy Minnesota?
For a typical customer, solar is not worth it: a 5.1 kW system costing about $20,075 pays back in about 16.4 years, with $13,694 net over 25 years.
How many Xcel Energy Minnesota customers have solar?
About 16,190 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 1.1% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: Northern States Power Co - Minnesota (EIA ID 13781). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026, utility tariff sheets.