In short: Morgantown is served by Mon Power, which charged homes about 13.97¢ per kWh in 2024, below the state average, but whose customers still lost about 852 minutes of power each, over 14 hours. Morgantown also has the weakest sun in NASA’s data of the four West Virginia metros we cover, so backup comes before solar here.
This page covers Morgantown and Monongalia County. Statewide rules (Mon Power’s lower export credit for new solar customers and the 25-year grandfathering, licensing, state tax breaks we could not confirm) are on our West Virginia energy guide.
Morgantown at a glance
- Mon Power (Monongahela Power, a FirstEnergy company; all of Monongalia County): 13.97¢/kWh average for homes in 2024; outages 852 minutes per customer with major events and 462 without; about 2.9 interruptions a year (EIA-861).
- Home solar: 876 net-metered home systems on Mon Power at the end of 2024, 150 of them with a battery (EIA).
- Sun: about 3.79 kWh per square meter per day at Morgantown (NASA POWER, 2001 to 2020). Our rough estimate: about 1,110 kWh a year per kW of panels.
- Top hazards (FEMA National Risk Index): Monongalia County’s overall risk is “Relatively Low”; landslides, lightning, river flooding and strong wind are “Relatively Moderate”.
- Public charging: 34 ports at 14 locations in Morgantown (AFDC, October 3, 2026).
The statewide averages in 2024 were 1,166 outage minutes with major events and 486 without; the state’s average price was 15.78¢ in July 2026. Prices here are 2024 averages including fixed charges.
Your utility and what it means
- Cheaper power, still frequent outages: Mon Power’s 2024 price was below the West Virginia average, and its outage minutes were lower than the state’s. But about 7.7 hours without power on ordinary days and nearly three interruptions a year is still far more than most of the country.
- Solar credits: new Mon Power residential solar customers since 2025 are credited about 9.34¢ per kWh for exports, well below the retail price, while earlier customers keep retail credit for 25 years (details on our state page).
- Interconnection: FirstEnergy’s West Virginia rules cap net-metered home systems at 25 kW. A Level 1 application (inverter-based, 25 kW or less) costs $30, and you or your installer apply through an online portal with a site plan and a one-line diagram; aerial internet photos are not accepted as site plans. Inverters must use the company’s settings in force since January 1, 2024 (FirstEnergy West Virginia interconnection).
- EV programs: we found no Mon Power EV rate or charger rebate in West Virginia. Potomac Edison’s charger rebate applies in Maryland, not here.
Backup power in Morgantown
FEMA rates Monongalia County’s natural hazard risk low overall, yet Mon Power customers averaged more than 14 hours without power in 2024. In other words, outages here are frequent even without dramatic weather, so automatic, everyday backup pays off more than storm-only gear. Landslides and river flooding are the hazards to keep in mind when siting equipment on a hillside or near the Monongahela.
- Student rentals and apartments: a portable power station for laptops, internet and lights.
- Family homes: a home battery for silent switchover during the frequent short outages, or a standby generator on natural gas or propane for longer ones; a licensed electrician installs the transfer switch.
- Safety: portable generators outdoors only, at least 20 feet from the house, exhaust away from doors and windows, never in a garage or basement (CPSC), and carbon monoxide alarms on every level.
Size it with the generator sizing calculator or the battery backup calculator; see our backup power guide and generator installation.
Solar in Morgantown
A rough estimate: a 7 kW system at about 1,110 kWh per kW makes roughly 7,740 kWh a year. Used entirely at home at 13.97¢ it would be worth about $1,080 a year; with half exported at the 9.34¢ credit, about $900. Lower prices, weaker sun and a lower export credit make Morgantown the toughest solar math of the four West Virginia metros we cover, so self-use and a careful shading check matter. Try the solar potential calculator, then read solar panel cost and solar installation.
Batteries
Here a battery does two jobs: it covers the frequent outages and lets you use your own solar in the evening instead of exporting it at 9.34¢. Mon Power’s solar owners already lean that way: 150 of its 876 net-metered home systems, about one in six, had a battery at the end of 2024. See home battery installation and home battery cost.
EV charging
A labelled estimate at 30 kWh per 100 miles: about $4.19 per 100 miles at Mon Power’s 2024 average (roughly $500 a year for 12,000 miles). Hills and cold mornings raise use. A Level 2 charger needs a 240-volt circuit, a permit where your city or county requires one, and a licensed electrician. See EV charger installation and the EV charging cost calculator.
Drive on another fuel? See every alternative fuel station in Morgantown: hydrogen, propane, natural gas, E85 ethanol, biodiesel and renewable diesel.
Permits and inspections
- Inside Morgantown: building and electrical permits come from the City of Morgantown; outside the city, ask Monongalia County. Neither website loaded when we checked, so we cannot yet summarize their rules; call before you plan.
- Utility approval: solar and batteries need Mon Power’s interconnection approval through FirstEnergy’s portal before you switch them on.
- Who does the work: a licensed electrician and contractor (state lookups on our state page), a qualified gas fitter for generator fuel lines, and HOA approval where needed.
Cities we cover
- Morgantown
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Morgantown energy FAQ
Who is the electric utility in Morgantown?
Mon Power (Monongahela Power, part of FirstEnergy) serves all of Monongalia County, according to EIA. In 2024 its homes paid about 13.97¢ per kWh on average, below the West Virginia average.
How often does the power go out in Morgantown?
Mon Power customers averaged about 2.9 interruptions and 852 minutes without power in 2024 including major events, or 462 minutes on ordinary days (EIA-861). That is better than the state average but still frequent, so plan for several outages a year.
What does it cost to apply to connect solar to Mon Power?
FirstEnergy lists a $30 fee for a Level 1 application, which covers inverter-based systems of 25 kW or less, the usual home size. Larger systems pay $50 plus $1 per kW. Applications go through its online portal with a site plan and one-line diagram.
Is solar worth it in Morgantown?
It is harder than elsewhere in the state: our rough estimate for a 7 kW system is about $900 to $1,080 a year. Systems sized to what you use during the day, ideally with a battery for evening use and outages, get the most from the lower export credit.
Sources
Utility area, prices, outages, home solar and battery counts: EIA-861, 2024 data. Interconnection: FirstEnergy West Virginia interconnection page. Export credits: our West Virginia state page and its sources. Hazards: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025. Sun: NASA POWER, 2001 to 2020. Charging ports: AFDC Station Locator, October 3, 2026. Generator safety: CPSC. Checked October 3, 2026.