RSMo 386.890 Explained: Missouri's Net Metering and Easy Connection Act.
Missouri's net metering law was enacted on August 28, 2007 and remains one of the more solar-friendly residential frameworks in the United States in 2026. This guide walks through what RSMo 386.890 actually says, who it covers, what it requires, and how Missouri compares to neighboring Kansas. Written for homeowners by a licensed Missouri solar installer.
By Joshua Hayeslip · Solar Assure
The opening text of RSMo 386.890.
Solar marketing copy often paraphrases or oversimplifies what the law actually requires. Here is the statute's foundational language verbatim, with citation.
This section shall be known and may be cited as the Net Metering and Easy Connection Act.
That single sentence opens a 13-subsection statute that has shaped Missouri residential solar economics for nearly two decades. The law was passed in 2007 with the goal of standardizing how Missouri utilities handle small-scale renewable energy systems on customer premises. Before this statute, each utility could refuse interconnection or impose punitive fees on solar customers; after enactment, the floor for treatment of customer-generators was set in state law.
For Missouri homeowners considering solar in 2026, the parts of RSMo 386.890 that matter most are the system-size cap (100 kW), the compensation structure (1:1 retail rate), the simplified process for systems 10 kW and under, and the requirement that all retail electric suppliers in Missouri offer net metering on a first-come, first-served basis. Each of these provisions has direct economic implications that shape what a solar system on a Missouri home is worth over its 25-year lifespan.
All three Missouri utility types are covered by RSMo 386.890.
The statute defines a "retail electric supplier" as any of three entity types that provide retail electric service in Missouri. The substantive net metering requirements apply equally across all three, but the enforcement and rate-setting bodies differ. This is an important nuance that affects how customers interact with their utility.
Investor-owned utilities
Privately owned, publicly traded electric corporations regulated by the Missouri Public Service Commission under Chapter 386. Rate cases are filed with and approved by the PSC. Net metering rules and tariffs are subject to PSC oversight.
- Ameren Missouri (eastern MO, including STL metro)
- Evergy Missouri Metro (KC proper)
- Evergy Missouri West (Lee's Summit, Blue Springs, St. Joseph, Sedalia)
- Liberty Utilities (southwest MO including Joplin area)
Municipal utilities
City-owned electric utilities operating under Chapter 91. Rate cases and net metering implementation are handled through ordinances passed by the elected city council, not through the PSC. The substantive RSMo 386.890 requirements still apply, but the enforcement body is local.
- Independence Power and Light (IPL), Independence
- Columbia Water and Light, Columbia
- Springfield City Utilities (CU), Springfield
- Marshall Municipal Utilities, Hannibal BPW, others statewide
Rural electric cooperatives
Member-owned utilities operating under Chapter 394, primarily serving rural Missouri. Governed by an elected board of member-customers. Net metering implementation is set by the cooperative board, with the same statutory floor as investor-owned and municipal utilities.
- Cuivre River Electric Cooperative (Lincoln County)
- Crawford Electric Cooperative
- White River Valley Electric Cooperative
- 30+ other cooperatives statewide
What RSMo 386.890 actually requires.
Stripped of legal language, the statute imposes seven substantive requirements on every Missouri retail electric supplier. These are the rules that determine whether residential solar pencils out for a given Missouri home.
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Net metering must be offered
Every retail electric supplier shall make net metering available to customer-generators on a first-come, first-served basis. Utilities cannot refuse to offer net metering until the cumulative net metering capacity exceeds 5 percent of the utility's previous-year peak load.
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1:1 retail rate compensation
Excess generation during a billing period is credited at the same retail rate the utility charges. No separate "wholesale" rate, no reduction for distribution charges. This is notably better than Kansas (partial rate) and most California customers under NEM 3.0.
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100 kW maximum system size
Customer-generator systems up to 100 kW capacity qualify for net metering. Most residential homes need 5 to 12 kW, so the cap is rarely binding for homes. For comparison, Kansas caps residential at 15 kW under K.S.A. 66-1263.
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Free interconnection for systems 10 kW and under
Systems 10 kW and under cannot be required to install additional controls, perform additional tests, pay for additional distribution equipment, or carry additional liability insurance beyond what other customers in the same rate class face. Application process uses a simplified all-in-one document.
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Excess credits roll forward, true-up annually
If your solar produces more than you consume in a billing period, the excess credits roll forward to the next month at full retail rate. At your annual true-up date set by the utility, any remaining excess credits are paid at the lower avoided fuel cost rate.
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Standard tariff treatment
Net metering customers must be offered a tariff or contract that is identical in electrical energy rates, rate structure, and monthly charges to the contract or tariff that other customers in the same rate class face. No solar-specific surcharges, no customer-generator demand charges.
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Industry-standard safety codes
Customer-generator systems must meet IEEE, NEC (National Electrical Code), NESC (National Electrical Safety Code), and UL (Underwriters Laboratories) standards. Utilities can require a manual disconnect switch in immediate proximity to the meter, but cannot impose proprietary or non-standard equipment requirements.
The five-step interconnection process.
RSMo 386.890 standardizes the interconnection workflow across all Missouri utilities. From application submission to an energized system on net metering, expect 30 to 90 days depending on system size and your utility's processing speed. Solar Assure handles every step on behalf of customers.
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Step 01
Verify eligibility
Confirm your utility is a Missouri retail electric supplier and your planned system is under 100 kW. Most residential homes need 5 to 12 kW, well within the cap. Systems 10 kW and under qualify for the simplified application. -
Step 02
Submit application
Your installer submits the net metering interconnection application to your utility. Investor-owned utilities use online portals; municipal utilities like IPL go through the city's permit office. Cooperative customers apply directly to the cooperative. -
Step 03
Pre-installation review
The utility reviews the application against IEEE, NEC, NESC, and UL standards. Systems 10 kW and under: typically 30-day fast-track. Systems 10 to 100 kW: standard 90-day process. Approval granted once standards are confirmed. -
Step 04
Install & inspect
Solar system is installed and inspected by your local building authority. Once inspection passes, the utility swaps your standard meter for a bi-directional meter that measures both energy consumed and energy exported back to the grid. -
Step 05
Energize & net metering begins
Utility issues permission to operate. Your system energizes and net metering begins immediately. Monthly bill shows energy consumed minus energy exported, with excess credits rolled forward. Annual true-up at avoided fuel cost rate.
How RSMo 386.890 compares to the Kansas equivalent.
Solar Assure serves both Missouri and Kansas, and the two states have notably different net metering frameworks. Missouri (RSMo 386.890) is among the more solar-friendly residential frameworks in the country. Kansas (K.S.A. 66-1263) is more restrictive. Here are the side-by-side numbers.
| Provision | Missouri (RSMo 386.890) | Kansas (K.S.A. 66-1263) |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum residential system size | 100 kW | 15 kW |
| Maximum commercial system size | 100 kW | 200 kW |
| Excess credit rate | 1:1 retail rate | Partial rate (separate grid charges) |
| Free interconnection threshold | 10 kW and under | No statutory free tier |
| Annual true-up | Avoided fuel cost | Excess forfeited annually |
| Coverage | Investor-owned, municipal, cooperative | Investor-owned only (Evergy KS) |
| First-come capacity cap | 5% of utility peak load | 1% of utility peak load |
| Year enacted | 2007 | 2009 |
The 100 kW vs 15 kW residential cap is the headline difference. In practice, the Kansas cap is binding for some larger homes (5,000+ sq ft with electric heat, pool, EV charging), while the Missouri cap rarely matters for residential. The 1:1 retail rate vs partial rate is the second key difference: Kansas customers see lower-value credits when their solar produces excess.
For homeowners in border cities (Kansas City MO vs Kansas City KS, for example), the choice of which side of the state line to live on actually affects long-term solar economics. A typical 8 kW system on a Missouri home will typically generate $5,000-10,000 more in lifetime value than the same system on a Kansas home, primarily due to the better excess-credit treatment.
Common questions about Missouri net metering.
What is RSMo 386.890?
What is the maximum solar system size allowed under RSMo 386.890?
How are excess generation credits handled under RSMo 386.890?
Does RSMo 386.890 apply to municipal utilities like Independence Power and Light?
Is interconnection free under RSMo 386.890?
What rate do I get paid for net metering in Missouri?
Can my utility refuse my net metering application?
Does RSMo 386.890 apply to commercial solar systems?
Has RSMo 386.890 been changed recently?
What happens to my net metering agreement if I sell my home?
How does RSMo 386.890 interact with the Midas Wealth 25% program?
Is community solar covered by RSMo 386.890?
RSMo 386.890 in your Missouri city.
Each Missouri city page covers how RSMo 386.890 net metering works with your specific utility, including local rate schedules, permit processes, and recent rate-case updates.
Have questions about net metering for your home?
Solar Assure handles every step of the RSMo 386.890 interconnection process for Missouri homeowners. Free quote, no credit pull, no pressure. Josh or Tori responds personally.
Find your city & get a quote