Georgia
Solar in Georgia
Georgia homeowners are discovering solar energy as a smart way to reduce electricity costs and gain energy independence. With electricity prices increasing 18% from 2020 to 2024, many residents are exploring solar options.
Understanding your choices is the first step toward making an informed decision about solar panels for your home. This guide covers everything about solar installation in Georgia.
Key Takeaways
- Georgia homeowners can save $7,444 on average through available solar incentives and federal tax credits.
- Solar systems typically pay for themselves in 11.8 years and provide $45,416 in savings over 25 years.
- Georgia’s electricity rates have risen 13% since 2021, making solar protection against future price increases valuable.
Solar Cost in Georgia
Our solar cost calculator uses real installation data from thousands of Georgia homes in Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, and beyond. Get personalized pricing based on actual local projects, not estimates.
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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 Georgia’s electricity costs helps homeowners make informed decisions about their energy future and potential savings.
Georgia electricity rates have risen from 12.5 cents per kWh in 2021 to 14.1 cents in 2024, representing a 13% increase over three years.
Solar panels allow homeowners to generate their own electricity, reducing dependence on the grid and providing protection against future rate increases in Georgia.
Over 25 years, solar systems can shield families from decades of electricity rate increases while providing predictable energy costs and long-term savings.
Price of Energy: Georgia vs National Average
Georgia Area Utility Providers
Georgia residents benefit from electricity rates below the national average. Based on 2023 data, most local utilities charge between 11.7¢ and 14.6¢ per kWh compared to the national average of 16.0¢.
Georgia’s lower electricity costs stem from diverse energy sources and cooperative utility structures. Electric membership cooperatives like Cobb EMC and Jackson EMC often provide more affordable rates than investor-owned utilities.
While Georgia enjoys competitive electricity rates, solar installation can provide long-term price stability. Fixed solar costs protect homeowners from future utility rate increases and seasonal price fluctuations.
Georgia Utilities Electricity Rates
Georgia Solar Incentives
Georgia residents can significantly reduce solar installation costs through available solar incentives in Georgia and federal programs.
These financial programs include federal tax credits, state-specific rebates, and utility company net billing options that help offset your initial investment costs.
Solar incentives change frequently, so researching current programs and acting promptly ensures maximum savings opportunities.
$7,444
Average savings in Georgia solar rebates
| Incentive | Type | Description | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential Clean Energy Credit | Federal tax credit | A federal tax credit worth 30% the cost of a solar panel system in the year it’s installed | Learn More |
The Residential Clean Energy Credit lets people claim a tax credit worth 30% the cost of a solar panel system in the year it’s installed. The credit can only be used against taxes you owe or have already paid that year, but any excess credit can be rolled over to future years.
The credit is broadly available, though there are a few restrictions — you must own the panels and they must be on a house you live in — so be sure to consult a tax professional about your situation.
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 doesn’t provide a 1:1 credit for exported power. Instead, any solar energy you use directly in your home helps you avoid paying the full retail electricity rate, while excess energy exported to the grid earns you credits at a lower rate.
In 2024, Georgia Power pays approximately 8.5 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for exported solar energy, which includes 4.5 cents for avoided cost of power plus an additional 4 cents. This rate changes annually – in 2023 it was 6.89 cents per kWh – and there’s no rate lock-in period, so you’ll always receive the current year’s rate. Credits are applied to your monthly bill with no annual true-up process, meaning any unused credits don’t roll over to the next year.
The program is available to Georgia Power customers who install qualifying solar systems, though specific eligibility requirements and system size limits should be confirmed directly with Georgia Power. Since this is a net billing program rather than net metering, the financial benefit is lower than traditional 1:1 credit programs, making it important to size your solar system appropriately to maximize self-consumption rather than export.
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 and seasonal sun angles create unique solar conditions. Despite occasional cloud cover, proper system design maximizes year-round energy production effectively.
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 America to create this interactive Georgia solar heatmap. Click any hexagon to discover how many neighbors in that area have already made the switch to clean energy!
Leasing Solar Panels
For Georgia homeowners exploring solar options, Palmetto offers Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) through our LightReach program for customers served by Georgia Power. This financing option allows you to benefit from solar energy without the upfront costs of purchasing a system.
With a PPA, you pay a set price per kilowatt-hour for the electricity your solar panels produce, typically lower than your current utility rate. Unlike traditional solar purchases that require significant upfront investment and ongoing maintenance responsibilities, LightReach handles everything from installation to system monitoring and repairs at no additional cost to you.
The key advantage of choosing a PPA over purchasing solar panels outright is the elimination of financial risk and maintenance concerns. While cash purchases require managing warranties, repairs, and system performance yourself, our LightReach program includes comprehensive coverage and our 90% Production Guarantee. For more details on financing options, visit our guide on whether to buy or lease solar panels.
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 Georgia for most homeowners. With electricity rates rising 13% since 2021 and abundant sunshine, solar provides financial benefits and energy independence.
Georgia homeowners typically save $7,444 through federal tax credits, see systems pay for themselves in 11.8 years, and enjoy $45,416 in total savings over 25 years while protecting against future rate increases.
Georgia does not have traditional net metering for most residents. Instead, most utilities offer net billing programs that credit excess solar production at lower rates than retail electricity prices.
Georgia Power pays approximately 8.5¢ per kWh for exported solar energy, while a few cooperatives like Cobb EMC and Flint EMC offer monthly net metering with 1:1 credits for excess production above monthly consumption.
Yes, solar panels increase home value in Georgia. According to a Zillow study, homes with solar panels sell for approximately 4.1% more than comparable homes without solar systems.
For the median Georgia home price, this translates to roughly $7,000-$10,000 in added value. Solar panels are considered a permanent home improvement that appeals to buyers seeking lower electricity bills and energy independence.
Solar systems in Georgia typically cost $17,370 after federal tax credits for an average 8.93 kW system. The gross cost before incentives is approximately $24,814.
Georgia homeowners save an average of $7,444 through the 30% federal tax credit, with additional savings possible through utility net billing programs and long-term electricity bill reductions.
Yes, solar is financially worth it in Georgia. Systems typically pay for themselves in 11.8 years through electricity bill savings and provide $45,416 in total savings over 25 years.
With the 30% federal tax credit reducing upfront costs by $7,444 and electricity rates rising 13% since 2021, solar offers protection against future rate increases while generating predictable long-term savings.
When choosing a solar installation company, we recommend looking for experience, quality financing options, and strong local presence. As a national company with local focus, we’ve completed 2,471 installations in Georgia since 2020.
We offer some of the industry’s best financing options and work with a trusted install network to ensure quality service. Our experience across Georgia helps us understand local permitting, utility requirements, and installation best practices for your area.