Sunprint
The short answer
Glades Electric Cooperative pays well below its retail rate for solar power you send to the grid, based on the cooperative's own filings with state regulators. Using your own solar power is worth far more than exporting it.
At about 16.6 cents per kWh, one of the higher rates we cover, 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. Glades Electric serves parts of Glades, Hendry, Highlands and Okeechobee counties around Lake Okeechobee.
How Glades Electric's solar credit works
- Excess energy your system delivers to Glades Electric's grid is credited or paid monthly, based on the cooperative's net metering reporting to the Florida Public Service Commission.
- In a 2014 filing, the cooperative reported a net metering credit rate of 4.458 cents per kWh, well below its retail energy charge.
- By 2022, Glades Electric reported 113 member-owned solar and other renewable interconnections totaling about 823 kW, up sharply from 20 interconnections in 2014, so its solar program has grown.
The 4.458 cents per kWh figure is from Glades Electric's 2014 compliance filing, the clearest documented rate we could find. It is likely out of date. Ask Glades Electric for its current net metering credit rate before you size a system.
Fees to know
| Charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| Net-Meter Engineering and Interconnection Fee | $150 |
| Facilities Use Charge (if applicable) | 1.5% of plant investment benefiting a single member |
| Meter testing, upon request | $75 |
The Facilities Use Charge is not specific to solar. It applies whenever the cooperative makes a direct investment that benefits one member, so ask whether your interconnection would trigger it.
What a monthly Glades Electric bill needs
The sizes below use 16.6 cents per kWh and cover roughly 75 to 95 percent of a year's use. Savings and the bill left over use the PSC's December 2025 figures for Glades Electric, including a customer charge of about $45 a month.
| Monthly bill | System size | Savings a year if you use it all at home | Bill left each month |
|---|---|---|---|
| $200 a month | 7.1 to 9.0 kW | $1,410 to $1,770 | $53 to $82 |
| $300 a month | 10.8 to 13.7 kW | $2,380 to $2,920 | $56 to $102 |
| $400 a month | 14.6 to 18.4 kW | $3,350 to $4,080 | $60 to $121 |
| $500 a month | 18.3 to 23.2 kW | $4,320 to $5,230 | $64 to $140 |
Treat these as the top end, not a quote; bills are before taxes and local fees. Glades Electric's last published credit for power sent to the grid, 4.458 cents in its 2014 filing, is far below the 12.8 to 16.6 cents a kWh on your bill, so every 1,000 kWh credited at that rate instead of offsetting your bill is worth roughly $84 to $121 less.
How to connect solar to Glades Electric
- Choose a licensed contractor and contact Glades Electric for its current net metering application and interconnection agreement.
- Budget for the $150 Net-Meter Engineering and Interconnection Fee.
- Ask about the Facilities Use Charge and Glades Electric's current export credit rate before you finalize your system size.
Which utility do I have?
Your bill names your utility. Glades Electric Cooperative serves parts of Glades, Hendry, Highlands and Okeechobee counties. Compare every utility we cover at solar by utility, or read our LCEC guide for another Southwest Florida co-op.
Your estimate in three steps
- Enter your billYour ZIP code, your utility and last month's bill.
- See your estimateA yearly savings range based on your utility's rates and Florida sun.
- Choose what's nextAsk for a quote call if you want real pricing, or just keep the number.
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Common questions
How much solar do I need with Glades Electric Cooperative?
At about 16.6 cents per kWh, one of the higher rates we cover, 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 Glades Electric Cooperative?
It depends on how much of your solar power you use at home. Glades Electric credits exports well below the retail rate, closer to 4 to 5 cents per kWh in past filings, so power you use yourself is worth much more than power you send to the grid. Compare our estimate, which is a top end at Glades Electric, with each quote. The federal tax credit ended on December 31, 2025.
What does Glades Electric Cooperative pay for solar power sent to the grid?
Glades Electric's own filing with the Florida Public Service Commission for 2014 shows a net metering credit rate of 4.458 cents per kWh, applied monthly to excess energy delivered to the cooperative. That figure is now more than a decade old, so ask Glades Electric for its current rate before you size a system.
What does it cost to apply for solar at Glades Electric?
The cooperative's tariff lists a Net-Meter Engineering and Interconnection Fee of $150 for net meters.
What is the Facilities Use Charge at Glades Electric?
Glades Electric's tariff allows a monthly facilities use charge equal to 1.5 percent of total plant investment when the cooperative makes a direct investment that specifically benefits a single member. Ask whether a solar interconnection could trigger this charge in your case.
How many solar systems does Glades Electric have connected?
In a 2022 compliance filing, Glades Electric reported 113 member-owned renewable generation interconnections totaling about 823 kW, up from 20 interconnections and about 117 kW in 2014.
How do I connect solar to Glades Electric Cooperative?
Contact Glades Electric directly for its current net metering application and interconnection agreement, and budget for the $150 engineering and interconnection fee.
Which utility do I have if I live near Glades Electric territory?
Your bill names your utility. Glades Electric Cooperative serves parts of Glades, Hendry, Highlands and Okeechobee counties around Lake Okeechobee, and nearby addresses may be on a different co-op or Duke Energy Florida, so check your bill or compare every utility we cover at solar by utility.
Related guides
- How much solar do I need for a $300 to $700 electric bill?
- Florida solar incentives: what is still available
- Florida net metering explained: why credits vary so much
- How to check a solar company in Florida
- Solar battery backup in Florida: costs and runtime
- Is solar worth it in Florida in 2026?
Sources: Glades Electric Cooperative's tariff, filed with the PSC (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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