Going Solar with Boone Electric Cooperative

Missouri's net metering law in brief

Missouri's Net Metering and Easy Connection Act (RSMo 386.890) requires electric utilities, including investor-owned utilities, municipal utilities and rural electric cooperatives, to offer net metering for qualifying renewable systems of 100 kW or less. In general, the energy your system sends to the grid is netted against what you use in a billing period. If you export more than you use, the excess is credited at the utility's avoided cost, which is much lower than the retail rate. Credits are applied to future bills and expire after 12 months. Monthly customer or service charges still apply.

In practical terms, solar pays best when it offsets the power you would otherwise buy at the retail rate. Oversizing a system to sell power back rarely pays off in Missouri.

Boone Electric Cooperative specifics

Boone Electric Cooperative serves members in Boone County and the surrounding area outside Columbia's city utility. Boone Electric supports net metering for member-owned renewable systems, including solar, under Missouri's Easy Connection Act. Its website has a page explaining how net metering works.

What to expect. As a cooperative member, you'll sign an interconnection and net metering agreement with Boone Electric before connecting. Excess generation is credited under the cooperative's net metering terms. Under state law, that's at avoided cost rather than retail. Ask Boone Electric for its current credit rate and application packet before you sign with any installer.

Sizing. Since exported energy earns much less than the energy you avoid buying, design the system around your own usage. Pull 12 months of bills first.

Batteries and generators. Rural members often care as much about outages as about bills. A battery can keep essential circuits running and store daytime solar, and a standby generator covers longer outages. We can help you weigh the options.

How Solar Sam can help Boone Electric Cooperative customers

Solar Sam is a Columbia, Missouri solar and electrical contractor serving mid-Missouri. We are not affiliated with Boone Electric Cooperative. The utility approves the interconnection and sets the meter, and we handle the work on your side of the meter:

• Sizing a new system based on your actual usage history, so you aren't overbuilding past what the utility will credit.
• Interconnection paperwork. We prepare the application, the one-line diagram and the equipment specifications the utility and your local permit office require.
• Batteries and backup. Storage lets you use more of your own solar at night and keep key circuits running during an outage. A generator is another option for longer outages.
• Service on existing systems, including systems installed by companies that have since closed: inspections, repairs, monitoring reconnection and detach-and-reset for roof replacements.
• Electrical upgrades, such as panel replacements, that a solar or battery project sometimes requires.

Call (573) 819-9623 to talk through your bills and your roof. We'll tell you honestly whether solar makes sense for your home under Boone Electric Cooperative's current rules.

A note on tax credits

The federal residential clean energy credit (Section 25D) ended for systems placed in service after December 31, 2025, so homeowners shouldn't plan on it for a new purchase. Ask a tax professional about your own situation.

This article is general information, not legal or financial advice. Company and utility details change, so check the linked sources and your own documents. Last reviewed October 2026.