Federal solar credit ended Dec 31, 2025
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Net metering · Iowa

Iowa Net Metering and Solar Export Credits

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Updated Data verified Nov 5, 2026

Net metering. MidAmerican now offers new solar customers only inflow/outflow billing: exports are measured every 15 minutes but credited at the full retail per-kWh rate (locked for 20 years), and unused credits expire once a year with no payout. Under Iowa Code 476.49 (SF 583, 2020) the Iowa Utilities Commission must start a value-of-solar rate case when statewide solar reaches 5% (3.90% in the latest IUC report) or a utility petitions after July 1, 2027; that rate would only apply to systems interconnected afterwards.

On this page [ 5 ]

How MidAmerican Energy credits exported solar

MidAmerican Energy credits exports against what you use at the retail rate, but credits still unused at the end of each year are forfeited, not paid out[1]. Size the system to your yearly use rather than beyond it.

Other Iowa utilities, co-ops and municipal utilities set their own rates; check your utility's current tariff.

State rules that apply

  • What the rule says: “Prior to the commission’s approval of a value of solar methodology and rate, the outflow purchase rate for an eligible distributed generation facility shall be the applicable retail volumetric rate”[2]

What it means for sizing and batteries

When exports earn close to the retail price, sizing the system to cover your yearly use is usually the best value, and a battery is mainly for backup rather than savings.

The calculator uses the statewide rule until we add utility rates. See what solar costs in Iowa.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Does Iowa have net metering?

MidAmerican now offers new solar customers only inflow/outflow billing: exports are measured every 15 minutes but credited at the full retail per-kWh rate (locked for 20 years), and unused credits expire once a year with no payout. Under Iowa Code 476.49 (SF 583, 2020) the Iowa Utilities Commission must start a value-of-solar rate case when statewide solar reaches 5% (3.90% in the latest IUC report) or a utility petitions after July 1, 2027; that rate would only apply to systems interconnected afterwards.

sources

[ 2 ]

Every number on this page links to one of these sources. Dates show when we last checked each one.

  1. Customer Interconnection and Rates Information - MidAmerican Energy (read via web.archive.org snapshot of June 14, 2026; live site refused connection)midamericanenergy.com · checked Nov 5, 2026
  2. Iowa Code 2026 § 476.49 Billing methods for distributed generation customerslegis.iowa.gov · checked Nov 5, 2026

Tariffs last re-checked November 5, 2026.

Change log

  1. Monthly output per kW in Des Moines updated to [80.0, 89.9, 119.7, 126.2, 140.9, 149.7, 148.8, 135.8, 120.9, 105.1, 79.3, 70.7] kWh/kW/month (NREL/NLR PVWatts v8 (1 kW-DC, fixed roof mount, 20° tilt, south-facing, 14% losses, TMY weather)).
  2. Average solar radiation on the panels in Des Moines updated to 4.75 kWh/m2/day (NREL/NLR PVWatts v8 (1 kW-DC, fixed roof mount, 20° tilt, south-facing, 14% losses, TMY weather)).
  3. Solar output per kW in Iowa (PVWatts, Des Moines) updated to 1366.8 kWh/kW/yr (NREL/NLR PVWatts v8 (1 kW-DC, fixed roof mount, 20° tilt, south-facing, 14% losses, TMY weather)).
  4. What the rule says updated to “Prior to the commission’s approval of a value of solar methodology and rate, the outflow purchase rate for an eligible distributed generation facility shall be the applicable retail volumetric rate” (Iowa Code 2026 § 476.49 Billing methods for distributed generation customers).