Augusta, GA Solar Panels
Solar Power in Augusta
Considering solar energy for your Augusta home? This guide is designed for you. With Georgia electricity prices climbing 18% from 2020 to 2024, more homeowners are exploring how solar panels for home use can help control rising energy costs.
This guide covers everything you need to know about solar installation in Augusta—from understanding local sunlight conditions to choosing the right system and navigating the installation process.
How Much Do Solar Panels Cost in Augusta, GA?
Our solar cost calculator uses real installation data from Augusta homeowners—including neighborhoods like Evans, Martinez, and Grovetown—to show you accurate pricing. Get a personalized estimate based on actual local projects, not national averages.
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You can still access the solar tax credit through Palmetto. Talk to us today to find out how.
Key Takeaways
- Augusta receives 5.2 peak sun hours daily making solar panels highly effective for generating clean energy and reducing electricity costs year-round.
- Georgia Power’s net billing program credits excess solar energy at approximately 8.5¢ per kWh, helping offset your system investment over time.
- A typical 10 kW system costs around $24,814 and can save Augusta homeowners approximately $47,000 over 25 years with a payback period of 15 years.
Augusta Electricity Prices
Understanding electricity costs in Augusta helps you make informed decisions about your home’s energy future and long-term budget planning.
Georgia electricity rates have climbed from 12.5 cents per kilowatt-hour in 2021 to 14.1 cents in 2024—a 12.8% increase in just three years. Augusta homeowners are feeling this impact on their monthly bills.
Solar panels generate electricity at a fixed cost, protecting you from these price fluctuations. Once installed, your system produces power at the same rate for decades, while utility rates continue their upward trend.
Over a typical 25-year system lifespan, this price stability adds up. While your neighbors face uncertain electricity costs, your solar investment locks in predictable energy expenses and shields your household budget from future rate increases.
Price of Energy: Georgia vs National Average
Augusta Area Utility Providers
Understanding electricity costs in Augusta starts with Georgia Power, the primary utility provider serving the area. Based on 2023 data, Georgia Power’s average residential rate was 14.6¢ per kWh.
This rate sits above Georgia’s state average of 13.70¢ per kWh but remains below the national average of 16.0¢ per kWh. Augusta residents benefit from Georgia’s diverse energy mix and relatively lower distribution costs compared to other regions.
While Augusta’s electricity costs are moderate now, rates have steadily increased over recent years. Solar panels allow homeowners to lock in predictable energy costs and reduce dependence on utility rate fluctuations over time.
Augusta Utilities Electricity Rates
Georgia Solar Incentives
Going solar in Augusta, GA becomes more affordable with available programs. Georgia Power offers net billing that helps offset your system costs through energy credits. Learn more about solar incentives in Georgia below.
Net billing allows you to receive credit for excess solar energy your system produces. When your panels generate more electricity than your Augusta home uses, that surplus flows back to the grid, earning you credits on your monthly bill.
These programs can change over time, so research current offerings carefully. Understanding available incentives helps you make informed decisions about your solar investment in Augusta.
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 the retail rate you pay for power. 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 you don’t use right away and export to the grid is credited at approximately 8.5 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) as of 2024, which includes an avoided cost of power rate of 4.5 cents plus an additional 4 cents per kWh.
The export credit rate changes annually based on Georgia Power’s costs, and there is no rate lock-in period, meaning you’ll always receive the current year’s rate. Credits are applied directly to your monthly bill with no annual reconciliation or true-up period. This means any excess credits are settled each month rather than carried forward to future billing periods. To maximize your financial benefit under this program, it’s best to size your solar system to match your actual energy consumption rather than overproducing, since exported electricity is valued at roughly half or less of what you’d pay for grid electricity.
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 QuoteAugusta 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.
Augusta’s humid subtropical climate brings hot summers with peak solar production, while shorter winter days reduce output. Despite occasional cloud cover, Augusta’s sunshine makes solar highly effective year-round.
Solar Production in Augusta 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 Augusta
We’ve mapped every solar installation across Augusta to help you discover which neighborhoods are leading the clean energy transition. Explore this interactive map to see how many of your neighbors have already made the switch to solar power.
Leasing Solar Panels
Augusta homeowners have flexible options for going solar without the upfront investment. In Georgia, Palmetto offers LightReach, our Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) program available through Georgia Power customers.
With a PPA, you pay only for the electricity your panels generate at a set rate per kilowatt-hour—typically lower than your current utility rate. Unlike purchasing a system outright, you avoid the upfront costs, maintenance responsibilities, and equipment replacement concerns. Palmetto owns and maintains the system while you enjoy immediate savings on your monthly electricity bills.
This approach makes solar accessible without loans or large cash outlays. You get predictable energy costs and professional system maintenance, while we handle all equipment performance and upkeep. Compare your financing options to find the best fit for your situation.
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 Augusta. With 5.2 peak sun hours daily, your panels can generate substantial clean energy year-round. Georgia Power’s net billing program provides credits for excess electricity, and a typical system can save homeowners approximately $47,000 over 25 years.
Augusta’s electricity rates have increased 12.8% since 2021. Solar panels lock in predictable energy costs while protecting you from future rate increases. The combination of strong sunlight, available incentives, and rising utility rates makes Augusta well-suited for solar investment.
No, Augusta does not have traditional net metering. Georgia Power, the main utility provider, offers a net billing program instead. Under this program, solar energy you use immediately avoids retail electricity rates, but excess energy sent to the grid is credited at approximately 8.5¢ per kWh in 2024—significantly below the retail rate.
This export credit rate changes annually and includes an avoided cost of power (4.5¢) plus an additional 4¢ per kWh. Credits apply to your current month’s bill with no annual true-up, meaning excess credits don’t roll over. To maximize savings, size your system to match your actual consumption rather than overproducing.
Yes, solar panels typically increase home value in Augusta. A Zillow study found that homes with solar panels sell for 4.1% more on average than comparable homes without them.
For an Augusta home valued at $200,000, solar panels could add approximately $8,200 to the sale price. Buyers value the long-term electricity savings and protection from rising utility rates that solar systems provide.
A typical solar installation in Augusta costs around $24,814 for a 10 kW system, which works out to approximately $2.78 per watt. The final cost depends on your home size and energy needs.
Smaller homes (up to 2,000 sq ft) typically need a 7 kW system costing about $20,033, while larger homes (over 3,000 sq ft) may require an 11 kW system around $30,148. These prices reflect actual installations in Augusta neighborhoods like Evans, Martinez, and Grovetown.
Yes, solar is financially worth it in Augusta. A typical 10 kW system costs around $24,814 and can save approximately $47,000 over 25 years, with a payback period of about 15 years.
Beyond the direct savings, solar panels protect you from rising electricity rates—which have increased 12.8% in Georgia since 2021—and typically add 4.1% to your home’s resale value. With Augusta’s 5.2 daily peak sun hours and Georgia Power’s net billing program, solar provides both immediate monthly savings and long-term financial benefits.
At Palmetto, we’re proud to serve Augusta homeowners with quality solar installations. We’ve completed over 2,471 installations across Georgia since 2020, bringing clean energy to communities throughout the state.
We offer flexible financing options and work with a trusted network of local installers who understand Augusta’s climate and building requirements. Our national experience combined with local expertise helps ensure your solar system is designed and installed to perform optimally for decades.