Atlanta, GA Solar Panels
Solar Power in Atlanta
Considering solar panels for your Atlanta home? This guide will help you decide. With Georgia electricity prices rising 18% between 2020 and 2024, more homeowners are exploring how home solar panels can help manage energy costs.
This guide covers everything you need to know about solar installation in Atlanta—from understanding costs and incentives to choosing the right system for your home.
How Much Do Solar Panels Cost in Atlanta, GA?
Our calculator uses real installation data from Atlanta homeowners in Buckhead, Decatur, Marietta, and beyond. See what solar actually costs in your neighborhood based on hundreds of local installations we’ve completed across metro Atlanta.
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You can still access the solar tax credit through Palmetto. Talk to us today to find out how.
Key Takeaways
- Atlanta receives 5.1 peak sun hours daily providing excellent solar potential year-round, with systems producing substantial energy even during Georgia’s mild winters.
- Georgia electricity rates increased 13% since 2021 while solar panels generate power at fixed costs, protecting homeowners from future utility rate increases.
- A typical Atlanta home can save around $45,000 over 25 years with solar, with systems paying for themselves in approximately 15-16 years.
Atlanta Electricity Prices
Understanding electricity costs is essential when considering solar. Atlanta homeowners have seen steady increases in their energy bills over the past few years.
Georgia electricity rates have climbed from 12.5 cents per kilowatt-hour in 2021 to 14.1 cents in 2024—a 13% increase. For the average Atlanta household, this translates to hundreds of dollars more annually.
Solar panels generate electricity at a fixed cost, protecting homeowners from these rising utility rates. Once installed, your system produces power at the same predictable rate for decades, regardless of how much grid electricity increases.
Over 25 years, this stability can mean significant savings. While utility rates continue climbing, solar-equipped homes lock in their energy costs, providing both financial predictability and protection against future rate hikes in the Atlanta area.
Price of Energy: Georgia vs National Average
Atlanta Area Utility Providers
Atlanta residents are served by seven utility providers, each with different electricity rates. According to 2023 data, local rates ranged from 11.7¢ to 14.6¢ per kilowatt-hour—generally below the national average of 16.0¢.
Georgia’s electricity costs remain competitive due to diverse energy sources, including nuclear and natural gas plants. However, rates vary significantly by provider—Georgia Power charges 14.6¢ per kWh while Cobb EMC offers 11.7¢, affecting your monthly bills considerably.
While Atlanta’s rates are currently favorable, electricity costs have risen 18% since 2020. Understanding your utility’s pricing structure helps you evaluate whether solar could stabilize your long-term energy expenses against future rate increases.
Atlanta Utilities Electricity Rates
Georgia Solar Incentives
Atlanta homeowners have access to solar incentives in Georgia that help offset installation costs and improve long-term savings on electricity bills.
Georgia Power’s Net Billing program allows you to receive credits for excess solar energy your system produces. While you avoid retail electricity rates for energy you consume directly, surplus energy earns credits at a reduced rate that applies to your current month’s bill.
Incentive programs can change periodically, so it’s important to research current offerings and understand how they apply to your specific situation before making decisions.
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 values exported electricity at a rate lower than retail prices. Any solar energy you use immediately in your home helps you avoid purchasing electricity at the full retail rate, which provides the greatest savings. However, electricity exported to the grid receives a credit based on Georgia Power’s avoided cost of power.
As of 2024, exported electricity is credited at approximately 8.5 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh), which includes a 4.5-cent avoided cost rate plus an additional 4-cent credit. This rate changes annually, and there is no rate lock-in period, meaning you’ll receive whatever the current year’s rate is. Credits are applied directly to your current month’s bill with monthly settlement—there is no annual true-up or carryover of excess credits. To maximize your financial benefit, it’s best to size your solar system to match your actual consumption rather than overproducing, since exported energy is valued at roughly half the retail rate you’d pay for electricity from the grid.
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 QuoteAtlanta 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.
Atlanta’s humid subtropical climate brings hot summers and mild winters, creating solid solar potential year-round. While afternoon thunderstorms are common, the city receives ample sunshine for effective solar energy production.
Solar Production in Atlanta 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 Atlanta
We’ve mapped every solar installation across Atlanta to help you explore the clean energy movement in your community. Click any hexagon to discover how many neighbors in that area have made the switch to solar power.
Leasing Solar Panels
For Atlanta homeowners served by Georgia Power, Palmetto offers Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) through our 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 what you’d pay Georgia Power for grid electricity.
Unlike purchasing a system outright, a PPA requires no upfront investment, and Palmetto handles all maintenance and repairs throughout the agreement term. This means you start saving on electricity costs immediately without the responsibility of system ownership or the need to manage equipment upkeep yourself.
If you’re served by one of Atlanta’s Electric Membership Corporations (EMCs)—including Cobb, Jackson, Sawnee, Walton, or Greystone—LightReach isn’t currently available in your area. However, we offer competitive financing options that can help make solar accessible with manageable monthly payments.
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 Atlanta. The city receives 5.1 peak sun hours daily, providing strong solar production year-round. With Georgia electricity rates rising 13% since 2021, solar panels help protect against future utility increases.
A typical Atlanta home can save approximately $45,000 over 25 years, with systems paying for themselves in 15-16 years. Georgia Power’s Net Billing program provides credits for excess energy, making solar a practical investment for Atlanta homeowners.
Atlanta doesn’t have traditional net metering. Most Georgia utilities, including Georgia Power, use net billing instead. With net billing, solar energy you use immediately offsets your retail electricity rate, but excess energy sent to the grid receives lower credits.
Georgia Power credits exported electricity at approximately 8.5¢ per kWh in 2024—roughly half the retail rate. Some Electric Membership Corporations like Cobb EMC and Flint EMC offer monthly net metering with 1:1 credits, though excess production above monthly consumption still receives reduced rates.
Yes, solar panels increase home value in Atlanta. Research shows homes with solar systems sell for approximately 4.1% more than comparable homes without solar panels.
For an Atlanta home valued at $400,000, solar panels could add around $16,400 to the sale price. Solar systems also help homes sell faster, as buyers appreciate lower electricity costs and protection from future utility rate increases.
Solar installation costs in Atlanta typically range from $20,000 to $30,000 before incentives, depending on your home size and energy needs. A medium-sized home (2,000-3,000 sq ft) usually requires an 8.93 kW system costing approximately $24,814, or about $2.78 per watt.
These prices reflect actual Palmetto installations across metro Atlanta neighborhoods including Buckhead, Decatur, and Marietta. Your final cost depends on your roof characteristics, energy usage, and system size needed to offset your electricity bills.
Yes, solar is financially worth it in Atlanta. With electricity rates rising 13% since 2021, a typical home can save approximately $45,000 over 25 years. Solar systems pay for themselves in about 15-16 years through reduced utility bills.
Georgia Power’s Net Billing program provides credits for excess energy, and solar panels typically increase home values by around 4%. Your system generates power at fixed costs, protecting you from future rate increases while providing predictable long-term savings.
We’re Palmetto Solar, and we’ve completed 2,471 installations across Georgia since 2020. As a national company with local focus, we bring both scale and personalized service to Atlanta homeowners.
We offer competitive financing options that make solar accessible, and our installation network ensures quality workmanship throughout metro Atlanta. Our approach combines transparent pricing, reliable equipment, and ongoing support to help you understand your investment from start to finish.