Rollover or true-up?
Empire’s default settles your bank after April 30 at about 3.6¢/kWh. The alternative, indefinite rollover, keeps every surplus kWh worth a full retail offset for as long as you stay — but you give up any payout if you move or close the account. For a home that will stay in the family and sometimes over-produces, rollover is often the better deal; for one you might sell, it’s worth thinking twice.
Either way, Empire caps production at 120% of your average annual use, and net-metered members keep paying the grid access and distribution demand charges.
Time of use with a long window
Empire’s optional Time of Use + Demand rate has an unusually long on-peak window — 1 to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday — at $0.17027/kWh, against $0.04185 off-peak. Because it starts at 1 p.m., solar covers much of it on sunny days, and a battery handles the evening. The $2.74/kW distribution demand charge is the part to manage.
Four Corners sun, rising rates
Montezuma and Dolores counties get excellent sun, and Empire has filed a 4.72% increase for January 2027. Owned systems finished after 2025 don’t get the federal credit, so we price leases and PPAs alongside purchases for Cortez-area homes.
Empire Electric rules for businesses, farms and nonprofits
Empire Electric net-meters both residential and commercial members with systems limited to producing 120% of annual energy use; its public pages don't state kilowatt caps, so the statutory 25 kW commercial floor is the safe planning number and larger projects are a conversation with the co-op (generators over 25 kW must be three-phase). Banked kWh offset future use and the spring true-up pays the balance at the trailing 12-month average wholesale price, $0.03619/kWh in 2026. General-service accounts can choose an energy-only rate with no demand charge or a time-of-use-and-demand rate at $6.92–$8.00/kW; Large Power (over 75 kVA) is mandatory three-part demand billing. Empire buys nearly all its power from Tri-State and offers no rooftop-solar rebate.
Demand charges are the part of a commercial bill panels alone don't reliably cut, which is why our commercial proposals in Empire Electric territory usually model a peak-shaving battery alongside the array. County-by-county detail is on our commercial pages.
Rebates & programs
Programs change often. Status shown is what we could confirm on the date listed — always check with the program before you count on it.
EV charger and installation rebate
OpenAvailable to residential and commercial members with pre-qualification and a site visit; amount not published.
FAQ
Questions we hear
What is Empire Electric’s solar true-up rate?
Its FAQ lists $0.03619/kWh, paid once each spring for members on the default annual true-up.
What happens to my credits if I choose indefinite rollover?
They carry forward month to month and year to year, but nothing is paid out if you end service.
How big can my Empire Electric solar system be?
Up to 10 kW AC for homes, and no more than 120% of your average annual use.
What does it cost to apply?
Empire’s Distributed Energy Resource application fee is $200.