Net metering customers
23,720
16.2 per 1,000 homes
Capacity
354.6 MW
15.0 kW per customer
Efficiency incentives per home
$5.06
35th of 50
Average price
13.62 cents
21% below the US average
Net metering in Iowa
Utilities in Iowa reported 23,720 residential customers on net metering in 2025, with 354.6 megawatts of capacity, which averages 15.0 kilowatts per customer. That is 16.2 customers per 1,000 homes. Among the 51 places that reported, Iowa ranks 28th, and the national ranking is on the net metering by state page.
| Utility | Net metering customers | Megawatts |
|---|---|---|
| Interstate Power and Light (Alliant Energy) | 12,379 | 100.1 |
| MidAmerican Energy | 5,523 | 48.6 |
| Corridor Energy Cooperative | 683 | 5.5 |
| Eastern Iowa Light and Power Cooperative | 330 | 3.4 |
| City of Ames | 215 | 1.0 |
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-861 (final 2025 data), net metering schedule, residential. The count covers net metering only. Solar homes on other export arrangements are tracked separately by EIA.
What an exported kWh is worth in Iowa
The value of a solar export depends on the credit your utility pays. As an illustration, take 7,000 kWh of solar power in a year, a made-up figure and not a forecast for any home. At the 2025 Iowa average price of 13.62 cents per kWh, that power is worth $954 if the utility credits it at the full retail price. If the utility credits exports at half that rate, it is worth $477.
The gap shows why the export credit matters so much. Ask the utility which applies to you, and use the solar savings calculator to set the retail and export prices separately.
Utility efficiency rebates in Iowa
In 2025, 14 Iowa utilities reported efficiency programs to EIA. Together they paid about $7,390,700 in incentives to residential customers, or $5.06 per home, which ranks 35th of 50. The programs reported 74,635 megawatt hours of first year residential savings, about 10.1 kWh for each dollar of incentive.
| Utility | Paid to residential customers |
|---|---|
| MidAmerican Energy | $4.1 million |
| Northwest Iowa Power Coop | $1.1 million |
| Interstate Power and Light (Alliant Energy) | $965 thousand |
| City of Ames | $249 thousand |
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-861 (final 2025 data), energy efficiency schedule. Paid incentives show what a utility spent, not what you can get. See efficiency rebates by state for the national ranking.
What the federal credits mean in Iowa
The IRS says the residential clean energy credit, which covered solar panels, does not apply to expenditures made after December 31, 2025, and the home improvement credit does not apply to property placed in service after that date. That is true in every state. What remains are state and utility offers, and the federal home energy rebates that states run. See solar incentives and home energy rebates.
Source: IRS FS-2025-05, read October 10, 2026. This is not tax advice.
Where to look for current Iowa offers
- Search the DSIRE database for Iowa incentives and net metering rules.
- Enter your ZIP code in the ENERGY STAR rebate finder.
- Ask your electric company about its net metering, export credit and rebate programs. Find it in the Iowa utility list.
- Read the rules at the Iowa Utilities Commission, which oversees investor-owned utilities.
Iowa solar and rebate questions
Does Iowa have net metering?
Iowa utilities reported 23,720 residential net metering customers and 354.6 megawatts in 2025. The credit for exports depends on the utility and the state rules, so ask yours.
Is there a federal solar tax credit in Iowa?
The IRS says the residential clean energy credit does not apply to expenditures made after December 31, 2025, so it does not apply in any state for new installs.
How much do Iowa utilities pay in efficiency rebates?
In 2025, Iowa utilities that reported to EIA paid about $7,390,700 in efficiency incentives to residential customers, about $5.06 per home.
Where do I find Iowa solar and rebate offers?
Search the DSIRE database and the ENERGY STAR rebate finder, then ask your electric company and your state energy office before you sign anything.