Georgia Solar Incentives, Cost & Net Metering (2026)
Written by Aditya Patil · Last updated 2026-09-24
Going solar in Georgia requires navigating utility-specific export rules and the lack of state-level rebates. Understanding Georgia Power's instantaneous netting is critical to figuring out your potential savings.
$197
Avg. monthly bill
16.36¢/kWh
Avg. rate
1,201 kWh
Avg. monthly usage
Instantaneous Netting
Export Policy
Georgia Power
Cost of solar in Georgia
While we do not have sufficient recent public data from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) to publish a definitive real-world median cost for Georgia specifically, we can use a typical national estimate of $3.10/watt to illustrate potential pricing.
A typical Georgia home uses a relatively high 14,413 kWh per year. To cover that usage, you would need a system size of approximately 10.03 kW. Using our $3.10/W estimate, that translates to a gross cost of around $31,092 before factoring in any incentives. Since the federal residential clean energy credit (§25D) phases out for systems completed after 2025, a cash purchase in 2026 would remain $31,092.
Solar only, no battery
~40% self-consumption — under instantaneous netting, exported power holds little value
$1,592 / yr
17-year payback · $54,267 over 25 years
Solar + battery
~70% self-consumption — a battery allows you to store midday power for evening use
$1,975 / yr
14-year payback · $67,327 over 25 years
Battery hardware cost isn't included in the estimate above. These figures use an estimated $3.10/W solar cost and a ~7.5¢/kWh blended export rate for Georgia Power.
Net metering and export rules
Georgia does not have a statewide retail net metering mandate. Most customers are served by Georgia Power, which compensates residential solar exports under its Renewable and Nonrenewable Resources (RNR-11) tariff rather than offering full retail net metering.
New solar applicants are placed on Instantaneous Netting. This means your solar production directly offsets your home's usage in real-time. Any extra power that flows back to the grid earns a lower wholesale-like rate (the Solar Avoided Energy Cost) plus a flat 4-cent-per-kWh Renewable Generation Adder. Together, these two credits stack to around 7 to 8 cents per kWh—significantly lower than Georgia Power's 16.36¢/kWh retail residential rate.
Georgia Power previously offered a more favorable Monthly Netting option for a 5,000-customer pilot program, but that program is now closed to new applicants. Existing enrollees are grandfathered for up to 15 years.
If you are served by one of Georgia's roughly 40 electric membership cooperatives (EMCs) or a municipal utility, your export policy will vary. These utilities are not regulated by the Georgia Public Service Commission on net metering, and each sets its own export-compensation terms independently.
Georgia solar incentives
Georgia currently lacks strong state-level financial incentives for residential solar.
| Program | Amount | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia Power Customer-Connected Solar Program | Georgia Power purchases 100% of the electricity generated by a customer-sited solar facility under a fixed-price power purchase agreement (PPA); the exact per-kWh price is set at application time based on projected market prices per the Program Guidelines and is not published as a single statewide rate. | open |
Closed Programs
- Georgia Clean Energy Property Tax Credit (closed, O.C.G.A. § 48-7-29.14): Formerly a 20% Georgia state income tax credit for solar water heating, active solar space/process heating, and photovoltaic property (10% for passive solar heating), available only for qualifying clean energy property placed in service between July 1, 2008 and December 31, 2014. No new credits can be claimed today; only unused carryforward amounts from that 2008-2014 window remain usable by taxpayers who already qualified.
Battery storage and VPP pilots
Because Georgia Power relies on instantaneous netting, a home battery is highly recommended to store your excess daytime solar power so you can consume it during the evening, rather than exporting it for pennies.
In July 2025, the Georgia PSC approved a new 50 MW Customer-Sited Solar Plus Storage Pilot for Georgia Power customers, which features two distinct models expected to begin enrollment in Q3 2026:
Georgia Power Customer-Sited Solar Plus Storage Pilot — Utility-Directed Model
The other 25 MW portion of the same 50 MW pilot approved in Georgia Power's 2025 Integrated Resource Plan (PSC order July 15, 2025). Under this utility-directed model, Georgia Power operates the customer's paired solar-plus-battery system for grid support in exchange for an upfront incentive payment, for residential and small commercial customers. Several solar-industry news sites report incentive levels of roughly $750 per kW for standard participants and $1,000 per kW for low-to-moderate-income residential customers and specific institutional customers, but Georgia Power's own public pages confirm only the pilot's existence, its 50 MW size, and a Q3 2026 target enrollment start — not these dollar figures. Flagged here for human verification against Georgia Power's official program page or the PSC docket once published.
Georgia Power Customer-Sited Solar Plus Storage Pilot — Customer-Directed Model
A 25 MW portion (of a 50 MW total pilot) of Georgia Power's new Customer-Sited Solar Plus Storage Pilot for residential and small commercial customers, approved by the Georgia PSC as part of the 2025 Integrated Resource Plan (order dated July 15, 2025). In this customer-directed model, the customer keeps control of their paired solar-plus-battery system and receives performance-based payments for curtailing load / discharging during events called by Georgia Power — a demand-response/virtual-power-plant structure. Georgia Power's own materials confirm the program and its residential/small-commercial focus but, in July 2025, do not publish specific per-kW or per-event payment amounts on a public page; enrollment is expected to begin in Q3 2026. Treat exact dollar figures reported by third-party solar-industry sites as unconfirmed until Georgia Power publishes official program terms.
Top utilities in Georgia
| Utility | Residential rate | Customers |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia Power Co | 15.49¢/kWh | 2,452,488 |
| Jackson Electric Member Corp - (GA) | 11.38¢/kWh | 239,558 |
| Cobb Electric Membership Corp | 11.41¢/kWh | 200,601 |
FAQ
Is solar worth it in Georgia?
Solar can be worth it in Georgia, but the financial returns are generally less favorable than in states with full 1-to-1 net metering. With average electricity rates around 16.36¢/kWh, your savings depend heavily on how much solar power you use directly in your home. Georgia Power's "instantaneous netting" policy pays significantly less for excess energy sent to the grid, so adding a battery to store your own power is often the best strategy.
Does Georgia have a state solar tax credit?
No. The Georgia Clean Energy Property Tax Credit expired at the end of 2014. Homeowners can still claim the federal residential clean energy credit (if applicable) for qualifying systems.
How does net metering work with Georgia Power?
Georgia Power does not offer traditional monthly net metering to new solar customers. Instead, under the RNR-11 tariff, they use "instantaneous netting." If your solar panels produce more energy than your home is using at that exact moment, the excess is sent to the grid. You are credited at the "Solar Avoided Energy Cost" rate plus a 4-cent per kWh Renewable Generation Adder. This blended export rate is much lower than what you pay for electricity from the grid.
Data sources
Last updated 2026-09-24
- U.S. Energy Information Administration — Electricity Data Browser — accessed 2026-09-24
- NREL PVWatts — accessed 2026-09-24
- NREL Solar Resource Data — accessed 2026-09-24
- LBNL Tracking the Sun (public data file, host-owned residential systems) — accessed 2026-09-24
Written by Aditya Patil