Georgia Solar Panels
Solar in Georgia
Considering solar panels for your Georgia home? With electricity prices climbing 18% since 2020 and continued upward pressure on utility rates, homeowners across Georgia are exploring how solar panels for home use can provide long-term energy cost stability and protection from future rate increases.
This guide covers everything you need to know about solar installation in Georgia—from understanding system costs and available incentives to selecting the right equipment and installer for your specific needs.
Georgia Solar Panel Cost
Our calculator uses real installation data from Georgia homeowners in Atlanta, Savannah, Augusta, and beyond. See actual costs based on thousands of local projects—not national averages or estimates. Enter your details to get accurate pricing for your area.
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Key Takeaways
- Georgia electricity rates have risen 13% since 2021 and solar panels lock in predictable energy costs for decades.
- The average Georgia solar system costs $24,814 and can save homeowners approximately $45,000 over 25 years.
- Georgia receives 5.1 peak sun hours daily making it an excellent location for residential solar energy production.
Looking for More Detailed Georgia City Guides?
Explore our comprehensive solar guides for major cities across Georgia to find location-specific information on incentives, installers, and solar potential.
Georgia Electricity Prices
Understanding electricity costs helps Georgia homeowners make informed energy decisions. Let’s look at how rates have changed and what it means for your household budget.
Georgia electricity rates have risen from 12.5 cents per kWh in 2021 to 14.1 cents per kWh in 2024—a 13% increase in just three years. That translates to higher monthly bills for the average household.
Solar panels generate electricity at a fixed cost, protecting homeowners from utility rate fluctuations. Once installed, your system produces power at the same predictable rate for decades, regardless of what happens with Georgia Power rates.
Over a typical 25-year lifespan, solar systems can offset hundreds of thousands of kilowatt-hours. This long-term production provides stability and insulation from future rate increases that continue affecting traditional utility customers.
Price of Energy: Georgia vs National Average
Georgia Area Utility Providers
Georgia homeowners benefit from electricity rates below the national average. In 2023, most local utilities charged between 11.7¢ and 14.6¢ per kilowatt-hour, compared to the national average of 16.0¢ per kWh.
Georgia’s competitive rates stem from diverse energy sources and efficient cooperative utilities like Cobb EMC and Jackson EMC. However, Georgia Power—the state’s largest provider—charges 14.6¢ per kWh, reflecting infrastructure investments and regulatory costs.
Even with below-average rates today, electricity costs continue rising. Solar panels lock in predictable energy costs for decades, protecting Georgia homeowners from future rate increases while reducing reliance on grid electricity—regardless of your current utility provider.
Georgia Utilities Electricity Rates
Georgia Solar Incentives
Installing solar in Georgia comes with financial benefits beyond energy savings. Several solar incentives in Georgia help offset installation costs and improve your return on investment.
Georgia Power’s net billing program is the primary incentive available to residential solar customers. While you’ll avoid retail electricity rates for power you consume directly, excess energy sent to the grid earns credits at a reduced rate.
Incentive programs can change with little notice. Research current offerings carefully and act promptly if programs align with your solar goals and timeline.
| Incentive | Type | Description | Source |
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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 from your solar panels offsets your retail electricity costs, while any excess energy exported to the grid earns credits at a lower rate. As of 2024, exported electricity is credited at approximately 8.5 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh), 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 avoided 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 credits you earn are settled each month rather than carried forward to the end of the year. All Georgia Power residential customers who install solar panels and meet the utility’s interconnection requirements are eligible for this program. The key consideration for homeowners is that maximizing the amount of solar energy you use directly in your home, rather than exporting it to the grid, will provide the greatest financial benefit since self-consumed electricity avoids the full retail rate.
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 QuoteGeorgia Solar Irradiance
Solar panel production varies throughout the year based on daylight hours, weather patterns, and sun intensity. Georgia’s humid subtropical climate brings hot summers with strong solar potential and mild winters with shorter days. Despite occasional cloud cover, the state’s ample sunshine makes it excellent for solar energy production year-round.
What Can the Average Georgia Solar System Power?
Summer Production (July)
In July, your 10 kW system could power:
- 3.6 average Georgia 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 Georgia 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 Installations in Georgia
We’ve mapped every solar installation across Georgia to help you explore the clean energy movement in your community. Click any area to see how many of your neighbors have already made the switch to solar power.
Leasing Solar Panels
For Georgia homeowners, financing options beyond traditional purchase can make solar more accessible. Palmetto offers Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) to customers of Georgia Power, allowing you to go solar without upfront costs.
With a PPA, you pay only for the electricity your panels produce at a set rate per kilowatt-hour—typically lower than your current utility rate. Unlike a fixed monthly lease payment, your PPA costs vary seasonally: you’ll pay more during sunny summer months when panels produce more energy, and less during winter. Palmetto owns and maintains the system, handling all repairs and performance issues at no cost to you.
Through Palmetto’s LightReach program, PPA customers receive comprehensive coverage including premium equipment, installation, permitting, and a 90% production guarantee. If your panels underperform, Palmetto credits you the difference. This worry-free approach lets you enjoy solar savings immediately without the responsibility of system ownership or maintenance concerns.
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 for many Georgia homeowners. With electricity rates rising 13% since 2021 and 5.1 daily peak sun hours, solar panels can offset your utility costs while protecting against future rate increases.
The average Georgia system costs $24,814 and saves approximately $45,000 over 25 years. Georgia Power’s net billing program provides credits for excess energy, though at reduced rates compared to retail electricity prices.
Georgia doesn’t have traditional net metering. Most utilities use net billing, where solar energy you consume immediately avoids retail rates, but excess energy exported to the grid earns credits at lower rates—typically 3-8.5 cents per kWh depending on your utility provider.
Georgia Power credits exports at approximately 8.5¢/kWh in 2024, while cooperative utilities like Cobb EMC and Jackson EMC offer monthly netting at retail rates before applying reduced credits to any remaining excess. These credits settle monthly with no annual rollover.
Yes, solar panels typically increase home value in Georgia. A Zillow study found that homes with solar panels sell for 4.1% more than comparable homes without solar systems.
For a median-priced Georgia home, this could translate to thousands of dollars in added value. Buyers appreciate the long-term energy savings and protection from rising electricity costs that solar panels provide.
The average solar system in Georgia costs $24,814 for an 8.93 kW installation, which works out to about $2.78 per watt. This system typically offsets 100% of a home’s electricity usage and includes all equipment, installation, and permitting.
Your actual cost depends on your roof size, energy consumption, and equipment choices. Most Georgia homeowners see monthly savings of around $103, with a payback period of approximately 15.8 years and total savings of $45,000 over 25 years.
For most Georgia homeowners, solar is financially worthwhile. The average system costs $24,814 and saves approximately $45,000 over 25 years—nearly double your initial investment. With monthly savings around $103 and a payback period of 15.8 years, you’ll enjoy over a decade of free electricity.
Georgia’s rising electricity rates (up 13% since 2021) make solar even more valuable over time. Your actual savings depend on your energy usage, roof characteristics, and utility provider’s net billing rates.
At Palmetto, we’ve completed 2,471 solar installations across Georgia since 2020. We combine national resources with local expertise to serve homeowners throughout the state.
We offer flexible financing options and work with a trusted network of local installers who understand Georgia’s building codes and utility requirements. Our team guides you through every step—from design and permitting to installation and activation.