West Florida Electric Solar: Avoided Cost, What You Save

Solar credit5.2 cents per kWh exportedWFEC's avoided cost, adjustable annually

Average rate16.65 cents per kWhFederal EIA average for residential customers

A $300 bill needs11 to 14 kWCovers roughly 75 to 95 percent of a year's use

Watch forCredit reverts if you leaveUnused credit is not paid out

The short answer

West Florida Electric Cooperative (WFEC) bills you 11.637 cents per kWh for power it supplies, but pays only 5.2 cents per kWh for power your system sends to the grid, its average avoided cost of purchased power. That gap means self-consumption matters more than export volume.

At about 16.65 cents per kWh, a $300 monthly bill needs roughly 11 to 14 kW of solar to cover most of your use, and a $400 bill needs roughly 15 to 18 kW. WFEC serves Jackson, Holmes, Washington and Calhoun counties.

How WFEC's solar credit works

The Residential Service Net Metering Rider (Rate RS-NM), effective May 1, 2022, charges the same rate as WFEC's standard residential rate: a $35 monthly customer facilities charge plus 11.637 cents per kWh.
The credit for electricity you generate and deliver to WFEC is $0.052 per kWh, WFEC's average avoided cost of purchased power as of August 1, 2021. WFEC may adjust this annually at its discretion.
If your credit exceeds your charges for a billing cycle, your bill is zero and the difference carries forward.
If you discontinue net metering service, any unused credit reverts to the Cooperative. It is not paid out.

WFEC: what you pay vs. what you earn

You pay per kWh delivered

11.637¢

You earn per kWh exported

5.200¢

WFEC's export credit is its avoided-cost rate, not the retail rate, so power you use at home is worth more than twice what power you send to the grid.

What a monthly WFEC bill needs

Sizes here use 16.65 cents per kWh, sized to cover 75 to 95 percent of a year's electricity. Savings and the bill left over use the PSC's December 2025 figures for WFEC, including the $35 Customer Facilities Charge that also applies on its net metering rider.

Monthly bill	System size	Savings a year if you use it all at home	Bill left each month
$200 a month	7.0 to 8.9 kW	$1,480 to $1,880	$43 to $76
$300 a month	10.8 to 13.6 kW	$2,380 to $3,020	$48 to $101
$400 a month	14.5 to 18.4 kW	$3,280 to $4,160	$53 to $127
$500 a month	18.2 to 23.1 kW	$4,180 to $5,300	$58 to $152

Planning figures, not a quote, before taxes and local fees. WFEC pays 5.2 cents for power you send to the grid, against about 13.4 cents a kWh on your bill with the power cost included, so every 1,000 kWh exported instead of used at home is worth about $82 less.

How to connect solar to WFEC

Choose a licensed contractor. Systems must be 25 kW AC or less to use the standard net metering rider.
Complete WFEC's standard Net Metering Interconnection Application and pay the $25 application fee.
Provide proof of a qualified installation, which a licensed electrician's certification satisfies, and proof of at least $100,000 in liability insurance.
Wait for WFEC's written confirmation, which it provides within 10 business days of receiving your application, before you begin parallel operation.

Which utility do I have?

Look at your bill for your utility's name. WFEC covers Jackson, Holmes, Washington and Calhoun counties in the Panhandle. Browse every utility we cover at solar by utility, or see our CHELCO guide for a neighboring co-op.

How it works

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Common questions

How much solar do I need with West Florida Electric Cooperative?

At about 16.65 cents per kWh, a $300 monthly bill needs roughly 11 to 14 kW of solar and a $400 bill needs roughly 15 to 18 kW.

Is solar worth it with West Florida Electric Cooperative?

It depends on how much of your solar power you use at home. WFEC's retail rate is 11.637 cents per kWh, but it pays only 5.2 cents per kWh for power you export, so using your own power is worth more than sending it to the grid. Compare our estimate, which is a top end at WFEC, with each quote. The federal tax credit ended on December 31, 2025.

What does West Florida Electric Cooperative pay for solar power sent to the grid?

Under its Residential Service Net Metering Rider (Rate RS-NM), effective May 1, 2022, WFEC credits exports at $0.052 per kWh, its average avoided cost of purchased power. The rate may be adjusted annually at the Cooperative's discretion.

Do West Florida Electric solar credits expire?

If your credit in a billing cycle is larger than your charges, your bill is zero and the extra carries to later bills. If you discontinue net metering service, any unused credit reverts to the Cooperative. It is not paid out.

What does it cost to apply for solar at West Florida Electric?

WFEC charges a $25 fee for processing the interconnection application, per its published net metering rider.

What insurance does West Florida Electric require for solar?

You must provide proof of homeowner's or other insurance covering at least $100,000 for liability arising from your net metering facility, maintained for as long as you stay interconnected.

How big a solar system can I install with West Florida Electric?

The net metering rider covers systems up to 25 kW AC. Larger systems, called Member-Owned Generation (MOG) facilities, follow a separate rate rider and the same $0.052 per kWh credit.

How do I connect solar to West Florida Electric?

Complete WFEC's standard Net Metering Interconnection Application, provide proof of a qualified installation (a licensed electrician's certification is accepted), and pay the $25 application fee. WFEC confirms receipt in writing within 10 business days, and you must wait for that notice before starting parallel operation.

Which utility do I have if I live near West Florida Electric?

Your bill names your utility. WFEC serves Jackson, Holmes, Washington and Calhoun counties, and some nearby addresses may be on Gulf Power or another Panhandle utility, so check your bill or compare every utility we cover at solar by utility.

Sources: WFEC tariff and net metering rider filed with the PSC, effective May 1, 2022 (PDF) · Florida PSC comparative rate statistics, December 31, 2025 (PDF) · U.S. EIA Form 861 utility data, 2024 and 2025 early release

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