Utilities · Solar in Minnesota
Xcel Energy (Minnesota): how it credits the solar power you send to the grid
Retail net metering for systems under 40 kW; excess is paid at the average retail rate.
Checked November 12, 2026. Utilities change these rules; check the current tariff before you sign.
How it works
Exported power earns the full retail price, kWh for kWh.
Xcel's Minnesota company, Northern States Power, serves Minneapolis, St. Paul and much of the state.
Under 40 kW, net excess generation is bought at the average retail rate, close to full value.
Minnesota's winters cut output sharply from November to February; the monthly check accounts for that.
What it means for a typical Minnesota home
With full credit, a typical 6 kW system in Minnesota (about $15,420 at the 2026 median price) pays for itself in about 13 years and saves about $22,444 over 25 years after its price, paid in cash with no federal credit. It doesn't matter much whether you use the power as it's made or send it out, so a battery adds backup, not savings. Payback by system size in Minnesota.
Utilities in neighboring states
| Utility | State | Exported power | Credit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xcel Energy (Minnesota) | Minnesota | Full credit (net metering) | Full retail |
| We Energies | Wisconsin | Monthly netting | About 75% of retail |
All 55 utilities · Solar in Minnesota · Lease and PPA terms by company
Sources: Solar Energy Nerds: net metering by state, 2026; U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), final 2025 data: Annual State Historical Spreadsheets (Form EIA-861, released October 7, 2026) and Electric Power Annual (October 21, 2026); EnergySage: median quoted price, first half of 2026.