Georgia Solar Panels

Georgia does not have a statewide full-retail net metering policy. Instead, Georgia Power — the state’s largest investor-owned utility — offers the RNR-Instantaneous Netting (Solar Buy Back) program, which functions similarly to net metering. Residential customers with grid-connected solar systems can export excess electricity to the grid and receive bill credits at the utility’s Solar Avoided Cost Rate, which is 3.2188¢/kWh for 2026 (plus an additional 4¢/kWh adder approved during the 2022 rate case). Note that this rate is significantly lower than the full retail price of electricity.

Residential solar systems are capped at 10 kW AC to participate. Any excess credits generated in a given month roll over to the following month, helping offset bills during lower-production periods. There is also a statewide cap on net metering participation, set at 0.2% of Georgia Power’s peak electricity demand from the prior year, so enrollment is first-come, first-served.

Electric Membership Cooperatives (EMCs) serving roughly 4.4 million Georgians across 41 cooperatives also offer their own solar buy-back or credit programs, with rates and terms set individually by each cooperative. Homeowners served by an EMC — such as Jackson EMC, GreyStone Power, Sawnee EMC, or Walton EMC — should contact their cooperative directly to confirm current export credit rates, system size limits, and any pilot programs available in their area.

Georgia Power’s Community Solar Program allows residential and eligible small business customers to support solar energy without installing panels on their own property. Customers subscribe to 1 kW blocks of solar capacity from an offsite solar facility and receive energy credits on their monthly electric bill. Each 1 kW block is estimated to produce an average of 165 kWh per month (ranging from 115–215 kWh).

The cost is $24.00 per 1 kW block per month for residential customers and $25.00 per 1 kW block per month for eligible small business customers on the General Service (GS) rate. This charge is in addition to your normal electricity bill, but the energy credits offset a portion of your usage charges. Any residential customer on the standard residential service rate within Georgia Power’s service territory may apply.

This program is a practical option for renters, homeowners with shaded or unsuitable rooftops, or anyone who wants to support local solar generation without the upfront cost of a rooftop installation. Availability is subject to capacity limits, so interested customers should apply through Georgia Power’s official website.

Georgia Power’s Income-Qualified Community Solar program offers the same community solar benefits as the standard program but at a significantly reduced rate for qualifying low-income customers. Eligible participants pay just $6 per 1 kW block per month — compared to $24 for standard residential customers — and receive corresponding energy credits on their electric bill.

To qualify, your household income must be at or below 200% of the U.S. Federal Poverty Guidelines. Participation is limited to 5,000 income-qualified customers on a first-come, first-served basis, and each eligible customer receives one block (no additional blocks are granted). This makes it an accessible way for lower-income households to benefit from solar energy without any installation costs.

If you believe you qualify, it’s important to apply as soon as possible given the enrollment cap. Visit Georgia Power’s official website to check current availability and begin the application process.

Cooperative Solar is a community solar program available through many of Georgia’s Electric Membership Cooperatives (EMCs), administered through Green Power EMC. Members can subscribe to a share of solar energy generated at offsite solar facilities and receive clean, renewable energy credits directly on their monthly electric bill — no rooftop installation required.

Participating EMCs include Central Georgia EMC, Coastal Electric Cooperative, Coweta-Fayette EMC, Diverse Power, GreyStone Power, Habersham EMC, Jackson EMC, Jefferson Energy Cooperative, Middle Georgia EMC, Okefenoke REMC, Satilla REMC, Sawnee EMC, Snapping Shoals EMC, Sumter EMC, Tri-County EMC, and Walton EMC. Subscription costs, block sizes, and credit rates vary by cooperative, so members should contact their specific EMC for pricing details.

This program is ideal for EMC members who rent, have shaded rooftops, or simply prefer a hassle-free way to support local solar generation. Since terms and availability differ by cooperative, visit the Green Power EMC website or contact your local EMC directly to confirm current offerings and enrollment status.

Residential members of Central Georgia EMC are eligible for a solar rebate of $450 per kW for photovoltaic (PV) systems up to 10 kW in capacity. For a typical 6 kW residential system, this could mean up to $2,700 back — a meaningful reduction in the upfront cost of going solar.

To qualify, the solar system must be grid-interconnected and net-metered, installed by a licensed contractor, and come with a warranty of at least five years. There is also a $100 application fee to participate in the program. These requirements help ensure that installed systems meet safety and performance standards.

If you are a Central Georgia EMC member considering solar, this rebate is one of the more substantial utility-level incentives available in Georgia. Contact Central Georgia EMC directly to confirm the program is still accepting applications and to obtain the necessary application materials before beginning your installation.

Georgia’s Home Efficiency Rebates (HER) program, funded through the federal Inflation Reduction Act and administered by the state, provides rebates to homeowners who complete whole-home energy efficiency retrofits that reduce total household energy use by at least 20%. While not exclusively a solar program, it can cover upgrades that work alongside solar installations, such as insulation, air sealing, and HVAC improvements that reduce overall energy demand.

Rebate amounts are tied to both household income and the level of energy savings achieved: households earning 80% of Area Median Income (AMI) or less can receive up to $16,000 (35%+ savings) or up to $10,000 (20–34% savings). Households earning above 80% AMI can receive up to $4,000 (35%+ savings) or up to $2,000 (20–34% savings). The program is open to all income levels.

To participate, homeowners must work with a program-approved contractor and use the online Rebate Eligibility Calculator on the official Georgia Home Energy Rebates website to determine qualification. Tenants may also participate with written permission from their building owner. Visit energyrebates.georgia.gov for full details and to find an approved contractor.

The Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), administered by the USDA Rural Development office, provides grant funding and guaranteed loan financing to eligible rural small businesses and agricultural producers in Georgia for the purchase and installation of renewable energy systems, including solar PV and battery storage.

Grants can cover up to 50% of eligible project costs, while guaranteed loans can cover up to 75%. Applicants may apply for both a grant and a loan for the same project. To be eligible, applicants must be an agricultural producer or rural small business located in an eligible rural area, and the project must be technically feasible with a reasonable expectation of financial success.

REAP is one of the few remaining federal programs that can significantly offset the cost of commercial or agricultural solar installations in Georgia, especially given the expiration of the residential federal Investment Tax Credit. Georgia farmers, ranchers, and rural business owners should contact their local USDA Rural Development state office for application deadlines, funding availability, and guidance on the application process.