Alpharetta, GA Solar Panels
Solar Power in Alpharetta
Alpharetta homeowners are discovering that solar energy offers a smart way to manage rising electricity costs. With Georgia electricity prices climbing 18% from 2020 to 2024, residents are exploring how solar panels for home use can provide long-term savings.
This guide walks you through everything you need to know about solar installation in Alpharetta—from understanding local incentives to choosing the right system for your home.
How Much Do Solar Panels Cost in Alpharetta, GA?
Our calculator uses real installation data from Alpharetta homes—including neighborhoods like Crabapple, Windward, and Milton—to show you accurate solar costs. Get personalized estimates based on what your neighbors actually paid, not national averages or guesswork.
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Savings
You can still access the solar tax credit through Palmetto. Talk to us today to find out how.
Key Takeaways
- Alpharetta receives 5.2 peak sun hours daily, making solar panels a practical choice for year-round energy production in Georgia’s climate.
- Georgia Power’s Net Billing program credits excess solar energy at approximately 8.5 cents per kWh, helping offset your monthly electricity costs.
- A typical 10 kW system in Alpharetta can save around $46,000 over 25 years as electricity rates continue rising.
Alpharetta Electricity Prices
Understanding your electricity costs is the first step toward making informed energy decisions for your Alpharetta home.
Georgia electricity rates have climbed from 12.5 cents per kWh in 2021 to 14.1 cents per kWh in 2024—a 12.8% increase in just three years that directly impacts your monthly budget.
Solar panels generate electricity at a fixed cost, protecting homeowners from future rate increases. Once installed, your system produces power at the same predictable rate for decades, regardless of utility price changes.
Over a 25-year period, solar panels can significantly reduce your total energy expenses. As utility rates continue rising, the savings gap between grid electricity and solar-generated power typically widens each year.
Price of Energy: Georgia vs National Average
Alpharetta Area Utility Providers
Alpharetta residents are served by four main utility providers—Georgia Power, Sawnee EMC, Cobb EMC, and GreyStone Power. According to 2023 data, local electricity rates ranged from 11.7¢ to 14.6¢ per kilowatt-hour across these providers.
These rates remain below the 2023 national average of 16.0¢ per kWh, though Georgia Power’s rates approach closer to that benchmark. All local providers stay near Georgia’s state average of 13.70¢ per kWh, reflecting the region’s competitive energy market.
While current rates seem reasonable, electricity costs typically rise over time. Home solar systems lock in predictable energy costs, helping Alpharetta homeowners maintain stable monthly expenses regardless of future utility rate changes.
Alpharetta Utilities Electricity Rates
Georgia Solar Incentives
Installing solar in Alpharetta, Georgia means access to valuable programs that reduce your upfront costs. Explore the solar incentives in Georgia available to homeowners today.
Georgia Power’s Net Billing program allows Alpharetta residents to offset electricity costs with solar production. While energy you use directly avoids retail rates, excess power sent to the grid earns credits at approximately half the retail price—reducing your monthly bills.
Incentive programs can change as policies evolve. Research current offerings thoroughly and consider acting while these programs remain available to maximize your solar investment in Alpharetta.
Georgia Power’s Net Billing program allows homeowners with solar panels to receive credits for excess electricity they send back to the grid. Unlike traditional net metering, this program separates how your solar energy is valued: electricity you use immediately in your home offsets your retail electricity rate, while any excess energy exported to the grid receives a lower credit rate. As of 2024, exported energy is credited at approximately 8.5 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh), which includes a 4.5-cent avoided cost of power plus an additional 4-cent credit.
The export credit rate changes annually and is not locked in, meaning the value you receive for exported energy will adjust each year based on Georgia Power’s current rates. Credits are applied directly to your current month’s bill with monthly settlement—there is no annual true-up period where excess credits carry forward. This means any exported energy is valued and credited within the same billing cycle. To participate, homeowners must be Georgia Power customers with an approved solar installation that meets the utility’s interconnection requirements.
Ready to start saving with solar?
Speak with a Palmetto solar expert to find out exactly how much you can save with Georgia incentives.
Get a Free QuoteAlpharetta Solar Irradiance
Solar panel production varies throughout the year based on daylight hours, weather patterns, and sun intensity. Understanding how seasons affect your solar system helps set realistic expectations for your investment.
Alpharetta’s humid subtropical climate brings hot summers ideal for solar production, while mild winters and occasional cloud cover still generate reliable year-round energy with properly designed systems.
Solar Production in Alpharetta by Month
What Can Your Solar System Power?
Summer Production (July)
In July, your 10 kW system could power:
- 3.6 average homes (15 kWh/day per home)
- or Run central AC for 18 hours AND power all other appliances
- or Fully charge 5.4 Tesla Model 3 electric vehicles
Winter Production (December)
In December, your 10 kW system could power:
- 2 average homes (15 kWh/day per home)
- or Keep your home heating system running for 15 hours
- or Fully charge 3 Tesla Model 3 electric vehicles
Annual Production
Over a year, your 10 kW system could:
- Offset 10 tons of carbon dioxide emissions
- or Equal the environmental benefit of planting 175 trees
- or Save approximately $4,234 in electricity costs
Want to know exactly how much solar can power your home?
Get a personalized solar analysis based on your actual home, energy usage, and roof characteristics.
Get My Custom EstimateSolar Panel Systems in Alpharetta
We’ve mapped every solar installation across the United States to help you explore solar adoption in your area. Check out which Alpharetta neighborhoods and communities have already made the switch to clean energy—you might be surprised by how many of your neighbors have gone solar!
Leasing Solar Panels
In Alpharetta, residents served by Georgia Power can access Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) through Palmetto’s LightReach program. With a PPA, you pay only for the electricity your solar panels generate at a set rate per kilowatt-hour—typically lower than your current utility rate—without purchasing the system outright.
However, if you’re served by Cobb EMC, Jackson EMC, Sawnee EMC, Walton EMC, or Greystone EMC, LightReach PPAs are not currently available in your service area. These customers can still go solar by purchasing a system through traditional financing or cash payment options.
The main advantage of a PPA over buying outright is eliminating upfront costs and maintenance responsibilities. Palmetto owns and maintains the system while you enjoy immediate energy savings. To explore whether buying or leasing makes sense for your situation, check your utility provider and speak with a Palmetto solar advisor about your options.
Go solar without the investment
With LightReach, there are no investment costs to recoup, loan payments to manage, or maintenance needs to take on. As soon as your panels are active, your solar savings are too!
Learn MoreFrequently Asked Questions
Yes, solar makes sense in Alpharetta. With 5.2 peak sun hours daily and Georgia electricity rates climbing 18% from 2020 to 2024, solar panels offer reliable year-round energy production while protecting you from future rate increases.
A typical 10 kW system can save around $46,000 over 25 years. Georgia Power’s Net Billing program credits excess energy, helping offset monthly costs. Alpharetta’s climate and rising electricity prices create favorable conditions for solar investment.
Alpharetta does not have traditional net metering. Your utility provider determines your compensation structure. Georgia Power customers receive Net Billing credits—electricity used immediately avoids retail rates, while excess energy exported to the grid earns approximately 8.5¢/kWh with monthly settlement.
Cobb EMC and Sawnee EMC customers receive Monthly Net Metering—production is netted 1:1 against consumption each month, with excess credited at 3-5.5¢/kWh. All credits settle monthly with no annual true-up period.
Yes, solar panels increase home value in Alpharetta. Research from Zillow shows homes with solar panels sell for approximately 4.1% more than comparable homes without solar systems.
For Alpharetta’s median home price of around $500,000, that translates to roughly $20,500 in added value. Solar panels represent a permanent home improvement that reduces operating costs, making properties more attractive to buyers who value energy efficiency and lower monthly expenses.
Solar panel costs in Alpharetta range from $20,033 for a 7 kW system to $30,148 for an 11 kW system, based on actual local installations. A typical medium-sized home needs an 8.93 kW system costing approximately $24,814, or about $2.78 per watt.
Your final cost depends on your home size, energy usage, and roof characteristics. These prices reflect the complete installation including equipment, labor, permits, and interconnection—with no hidden fees.
Solar is financially worth it in Alpharetta. A typical 10 kW system costs around $24,814 and saves approximately $46,000 over 25 years through reduced electricity bills. With Georgia rates rising 18% since 2020, solar locks in predictable energy costs while protecting against future increases.
Most Alpharetta systems reach payback in 15-16 years, then generate free electricity for another decade or more. Georgia Power’s Net Billing program credits excess production, and solar panels typically increase home values by 4% when you sell.
We’re Palmetto Solar, and we’ve completed over 2,471 installations across Georgia since 2020. Our national reach combined with local expertise means you get reliable service backed by proven experience in your area.
We offer flexible financing options and work with a trusted network of professional installers. Our focus is on making solar straightforward—from your initial quote through system activation—so you can make informed decisions about your energy future.