Two things to get right about APCo solar
Current residential rates
APCo residential rates are shown below, from the utility's published tariffs and the public Utility Rate Database. Rates vary by plan, season, and usage and change over time.
| Plan | Energy charge | Fixed / basic |
|---|---|---|
| Schedule R.S. Residential Service (standard) | About 7.6c per kWh base energy charge (generation about 3.8c plus distribution about 3.8c); the all-in bill runs higher with fuel and riders | $7.96 per month basic service charge |
| Smart Time of Use and Smart Demand (time-varying options) | Smart Time of Use: on-peak about 10.7c, off-peak about 5.1c, critical peak about 17.5c per kWh | $7.96 per month |
The Schedule R.S. figures are base energy charges. Fuel and riders bring the all-in price to about 17 cents per kWh; Appalachian Power's own current-bill example puts a 1,000 kWh month at about $168 (effective May 2026). A 2024 biennial review (Case PUR-2024-00024) raised a typical residential bill by about $10 per month effective January 2025, and a new triennial review (PUR-2025-00049) is pending before the SCC. Confirm current figures on Appalachian Power's rate pages.
The steepest climb outside California
Appalachian Power (Virginia)'s average residential electricity price has risen from 11.23 cents per kWh in 2015 to 17.02 cents in 2024, an increase of about 52 percent, or roughly 4.7 percent per year. The chart shows APCo's average residential price by year. Hover any point for the exact figure.
What rising APCo rates could cost you
APCo rates have risen about 4.7% per year. Enter your bill to see what that pace of increase could compound to over time, and what you have likely already absorbed. This is an estimate, not a guarantee.
Estimate only. Projects your current bill forward at APCo's historical average rate increase (4.7% per year, from EIA data); it assumes your usage stays the same except for any add-ons you select. Actual rates depend on your usage, rate plan, and the utility's future filings, and are not guaranteed. This is general information, not financial advice.
1:1 netting, with an annual catch
Virginia keeps retail-rate net metering under Va. Code 56-594, and Appalachian Power credits exported solar on a 1:1 basis, each exported kWh offsets a kWh you would otherwise buy. As a Phase I utility, APCo lets a residential system be sized up to 100 percent of your expected annual consumption, with a statutory cap of 25 kW for residential. Unlike Dominion, Appalachian Power does not impose residential standby charges, which Phase I utilities are barred from doing. Accounts are reconciled once a year: any net excess remaining is forfeited unless you elect a power purchase agreement in writing before the 12-month period begins, in which case the accumulated bank is purchased at the annual review. APCo has seen the steepest rate climb of any utility we cover outside California, about 52 percent over the past decade, which strengthens the case for using your own solar on site. Whether solar makes sense depends on your usage, roof, and rate plan, so get a site-specific quote.
A rate-hike case with fine print
Appalachian Power is a rate-hike story: a 52 percent climb over ten years, the steepest of any utility we cover outside California, with an all-in price near 17 cents and a fresh rate case pending. Every kWh you generate and use replaces increasingly expensive power, which is the cleanest version of the solar case.
The design detail that protects value is the annual reconciliation. Because leftover excess is forfeited unless you have elected a power purchase agreement in advance, the smart move is sizing to your own annual usage, not beyond it, and making the PPA election if you might overproduce. Get a site-specific quote.
APCo service area
APCo serves central and southwestern Virginia, about 34 counties across an 11,000 square mile territory, including the Roanoke area.
To confirm whether a specific address is served by APCo, check your electricity bill. A ZIP lookup tool is coming to this site.
Full data and sources
Per-utility prices are computed from EIA Form 861 (bundled residential revenue divided by sales), which reconciles to the EIA's published figures. These are public-domain U.S. government data.
| Year | APCo (c/kWh) |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 11.23 |
| 2016 | 11.35 |
| 2017 | 11.44 |
| 2018 | 11.18 |
| 2019 | 10.97 |
| 2020 | 10.81 |
| 2021 | 11.15 |
| 2022 | 13.03 |
| 2023 | 15.88 |
| 2024 | 17.02 |
Sources: EIA Form 861 annual data (Sales_Ult_Cust files, 2015-2024) · EIA Electric Sales, Revenue, and Average Price (Table 6) · Virginia Code 56-594 (net energy metering) · Appalachian Power Virginia net metering FAQ · Appalachian Power Virginia rates (Tariff 28)
FAQ
How fast have Appalachian Power rates risen?
About 4.7 percent per year over the past decade, from roughly 11.2 cents per kWh in 2015 to about 17 cents in 2024, the steepest climb of any utility we cover outside California. APCo's own current-bill example puts a 1,000 kWh month near $168.
Does APCo offer net metering in Virginia?
Yes, under Virginia Code 56-594, with exported solar credited on a 1:1 basis against retail. As a Phase I utility, Appalachian Power caps residential sizing at 100 percent of your expected annual consumption and does not charge residential standby fees.
What happens to my unused solar credits?
APCo reconciles net metering accounts once a year. Net excess generation remaining at the annual review is forfeited unless you elect a power purchase agreement in writing before the 12-month period begins, in which case the accumulated bank is purchased at that review.
Is solar worth it on Appalachian Power?
The steep rate climb strengthens the case, since self-consumed solar offsets power that has been rising fast. Size to your own annual usage to avoid forfeiting excess, and get site-specific numbers rather than relying on a general estimate.