Savannah, GA Solar Panels
Solar Power in Savannah
Savannah sees more than 215 sunny days a year — making it one of Georgia’s best cities for home solar. With electricity prices in Georgia rising 18% from 2020 to 2024, more local homeowners are exploring ways to stabilize their energy costs.
At Palmetto, we’ve helped thousands of homeowners navigate this decision. This guide covers everything you need to know about solar panels for your home — from how the technology works to what installation looks like in Savannah.
How Much Do Solar Panels Cost in Savannah, GA?
Based on real installation data from Savannah and surrounding areas — including Pooler, Richmond Hill, Rincon, and Hinesville — this calculator gives you an accurate, local estimate of what solar installation actually costs for homes like yours.
System
- No upfront investment
- Palmetto handles all maintenance
- 90% Production Guarantee
- Comprehensive protection program included
Key Takeaways
- Savannah gets 215+ sunny days a year, making it one of Georgia’s best cities for solar — and a great opportunity to reduce your monthly electricity bill.
- Georgia electricity rates rose nearly 13% from 2021 to 2024. Savannah homeowners who go solar can save an estimated $46,000 over 25 years.
- You can go solar in Savannah with no upfront cost through Palmetto’s LightReach lease — starting as low as $100/month with no maintenance responsibilities.
Savannah Electricity Prices
Electricity in Savannah has gotten more expensive — and the trend isn’t slowing down. Here’s what that means for your home energy budget.
Georgia electricity rates rose from 12.5 cents per kWh in 2021 to 14.1 cents per kWh in 2024 — nearly a 13% increase. For Savannah homeowners running AC through long, humid summers, that adds up quickly.
Solar panels can help offset that rising cost. By generating your own electricity, Savannah homeowners rely less on the grid — and less on utility rate increases that are largely outside their control.
Over a typical 25-year panel lifespan, locking in your energy costs early can translate into meaningful long-term savings — especially in a sun-rich city like Savannah.
Price of Energy: Georgia vs National Average
Savannah Area Utility Providers
In Savannah, Georgia Power is the primary electricity provider. Based on 2023 data — the most recent available — Georgia Power’s rate was 14.6¢ per kWh, sitting between the Georgia state average of 13.70¢ and the national average of 16.0¢.
Georgia Power’s rate reflects a mix of factors, including regional infrastructure costs and Georgia’s energy mix. While below the national average, rates have trended upward in recent years, making long-term energy cost predictability a growing concern for Savannah homeowners.
Solar panel installation in Savannah, GA can help homeowners generate their own electricity, reducing dependence on the grid. With Georgia’s abundant sunshine, many local households are able to offset a meaningful portion of their monthly utility costs over time.
Savannah Utilities Electricity Rates
Georgia Solar Incentives
Savannah homeowners may have access to several solar incentives in Georgia that can help reduce the upfront and ongoing costs of going solar.
Depending on your utility provider, incentives may include net billing credits, one-time cash rebates, and community solar subscriptions. Georgia Power’s Net Billing program is the most widely available option for Savannah-area customers, offering bill credits for excess energy sent to the grid.
Note: The federal 30% residential solar tax credit was eliminated by the Big Beautiful Bill. For those considering a solar lease through LightReach, Palmetto applies the commercial tax credit and passes savings through via lower monthly payments.
| Incentive | Type | Description | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia Power Solar Buy Back Program (Net Billing) | Net Metering | Georgia Power residential solar customers in Savannah can export excess electricity to the grid and receive bill credits at approximately 7.2¢/kWh under the RNR-Instantaneous Netting program. | |
| Georgia Power Community Solar Program | Rebate | Georgia Power residential customers in Savannah can subscribe to community solar blocks at $24/kW per month (or $6/kW for income-qualified customers) to receive solar energy bill credits without installing rooftop panels. | |
| Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) Solar Program | Rebate | GEFA reimburses Georgia cities, counties, and K-12 public schools up to 50% (or $50,000, whichever is less) of the cost of solar PV installations up to 60 kW. | Learn More |
Georgia Power — the state’s largest utility — offers the Renewable and Non-Renewable (RNR) Instantaneous Netting program, commonly called the Solar Buy Back Program. For 2026, residential customers in Savannah who export excess solar electricity to the grid receive credits at the Solar Avoided Cost Rate of approximately 3.2188¢/kWh plus a PSC-approved 4¢/kWh adder, totaling roughly 7.2¢/kWh. Unused monthly credits roll over to the following month to help offset future bills.
To participate, your residential solar system must be 10 kW AC or smaller. Enrollment is first-come, first-served against a statewide cap set at 0.2% of Georgia Power’s prior-year peak demand, so it’s important to apply before your system is installed — retroactive enrollment is not available. Note that Georgia Power’s retail electricity rate is approximately 13¢/kWh, meaning self-consumption of your solar energy is significantly more valuable than exporting it.
Because the export rate (7.2¢/kWh) is well below the retail rate (13¢/kWh), Georgia Power customers in Savannah are strongly encouraged to size their system for maximum self-consumption and consider pairing solar with battery storage to capture daytime production for use during evening peak hours. Contact Georgia Power directly at (888) 660-5890 or visit their website to begin the interconnection and enrollment process.
Georgia Power offers a Community Solar Program that allows residential customers in Savannah to benefit from solar energy without installing panels on their own home. Standard residential customers can subscribe to solar blocks at $24.00 per 1 kW block per month, with each block generating an estimated 115–215 kWh per month in bill credits. Customers may subscribe to a maximum of 10 blocks. Small business customers pay $25.00 per block per month.
For income-qualified customers whose household income is at or below 200% of the U.S. Federal Poverty Guidelines, a significantly discounted rate of $6.00 per 1 kW block per month is available. This income-qualified tier is limited to 5,000 customers on a first-come, first-served basis, and each eligible customer receives one block.
Georgia Power also offers the Simple Solar program, which allows any residential or business customer to purchase Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) at an additional charge of 1.25¢ per kWh for either 50% or 100% of their monthly electricity usage — no installation or equipment required. Visit www.georgiapower.com to enroll in any of these programs.
The Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) Solar Program provides rebates exclusively to Georgia cities, counties, and K-12 public schools for the installation of solar photovoltaic systems. GEFA will reimburse up to 50% of the cost of materials, design, and installation, with a maximum reimbursement of $50,000, for ground-mount or rooftop solar systems up to 60 kW in capacity.
This program is designed exclusively for governmental and public school entities and is not available to residential homeowners or private businesses. Eligible public entities in Savannah interested in solar installations should contact GEFA directly to learn about application requirements, funding availability, and program timelines.
GEFA has also previously offered a Solar Resiliency Technical Assistance Program for government entities, reimbursing up to 85% of the cost of backup battery and solar PV systems (up to $200,000) at critical facilities. A second round of grid resilience grant funding is planned for 2026, pending the release of U.S. Department of Energy funding. Visit gefa.georgia.gov or call (404) 584-1000 for current program status and application information.
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 QuoteSavannah 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.
Savannah’s warm climate and abundant sunshine make it a strong candidate for solar. With over 216 sunny days per year, panels here can perform consistently well across all seasons.
Solar Production in Savannah 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 Savannah
We mapped solar installations across Savannah to show just how many neighbors have already made the switch. Explore the map below to see which communities — from Ardsley Park to Pooler — are leading the way in clean energy adoption.
Leasing Solar Panels
If you’re a Georgia Power customer in Savannah, you have access to Palmetto’s LightReach program — a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) that lets you go solar with no upfront cost. Instead of buying a system outright, you simply pay for the electricity your panels produce at a fixed rate per kilowatt-hour (kWh). Because solar panels produce more in summer than winter, your PPA bill will naturally be a bit higher in sunny months — but so will your savings on your utility bill.
Compared to a cash purchase, a PPA removes the burden of a large upfront investment and eliminates maintenance responsibilities. Palmetto owns the system, handles all upkeep, and backs production with a 90% guarantee — so you get the benefits of solar without the hassle of ownership. With Georgia Power rates trending upward, locking in a predictable solar rate can be a smart way to stabilize your energy costs over time.
Want to understand all your options before deciding? Our guide on buying vs. leasing solar breaks down the differences clearly. For most Savannah homeowners served by Georgia Power, LightReach offers a straightforward, low-risk path to clean energy savings.
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!
Explore LightReach LeasingFrequently Asked Questions
Yes, solar makes strong sense in Savannah. With over 215 sunny days per year and Georgia electricity rates rising nearly 13% since 2021, Savannah homeowners are well-positioned to benefit from solar. A typical system can save an estimated $46,000 over 25 years.
If upfront cost is a concern, Palmetto’s LightReach lease removes that barrier entirely — homeowners can go solar with no money down and start saving from day one, with payments starting as low as $100/month.
Savannah is primarily served by Georgia Power, which does not offer traditional net metering. Instead, Georgia Power uses a Net Billing (Export Credit) program. Solar energy you use directly in your home avoids the retail rate (~14.1¢/kWh), which is the most valuable benefit. Excess electricity exported to the grid earns a credit of approximately 8.5¢/kWh (4.5¢ avoided cost + 4¢ adder) in 2024, applied monthly with no annual true-up.
Because the export credit rate is well below the retail rate, Savannah homeowners benefit most by sizing their system to maximize self-consumption — using solar energy directly rather than sending it back to the grid.
Yes, solar panels can increase your home value in Savannah. According to a Zillow study, homes with solar panels sell for approximately 4.1% more than comparable homes without them. For a $300,000 home in Savannah, that’s roughly $12,300 in added value.
It’s worth noting that this benefit typically applies to owned systems, not leased panels. If you purchase your solar system outright, the added home value is generally recognized at resale.
The most accessible way to go solar in Savannah is through Palmetto’s LightReach lease — with no upfront cost and a low fixed monthly payment starting around $100/month for a medium-sized home. Palmetto owns and maintains the system, so there’s nothing out of pocket to get started.
For homeowners who prefer to own their system, a cash purchase runs approximately $20,000–$30,000 depending on system size. Note that the federal 30% residential tax credit is no longer available following the Big Beautiful Bill. Use the calculator above for a personalized Savannah estimate.
For Savannah homeowners, solar can make strong financial sense — especially with a lease option. With Palmetto’s LightReach program, there’s no upfront investment required. Your monthly lease payment is typically lower than your current electricity bill, meaning most homeowners start saving from day one.
With Georgia electricity rates rising nearly 13% since 2021 and Savannah receiving over 215 sunny days a year, locking in a predictable, low monthly solar payment is a straightforward way to reduce your energy costs over time.
Palmetto Solar is a strong choice for Savannah homeowners. We’ve completed 2,471 installations across Georgia since 2020, backed by a trusted install network and some of the best financing options in the industry — including our LightReach lease with no upfront cost.
As a national company with deep local experience, we understand what Savannah homeowners need — from navigating Georgia Power’s net billing program to sizing systems for maximum savings in our sunny coastal climate.
With Palmetto’s LightReach lease, Savannah homeowners can go solar with no upfront cost. One simple monthly payment covers everything — panels, installation, monitoring, maintenance, and a 90% Production Guarantee. For a typical 8.93 kW system in Savannah, the estimated monthly payment is approximately $100/month, based on Georgia’s production ratio of 1,278 kWh/kW/year.
Because Palmetto owns the system, it qualifies for the commercial Investment Tax Credit (ITC) — savings that are passed directly to you through lower monthly payments. For most Savannah homeowners, the lease payment is less than their current electricity bill, making it possible to start saving from day one.