Georgia Power, Georgia’s largest utility with more than 2.7 million customers, does not offer full retail net metering. Its better Monthly Netting program is closed and full, so new home solar uses instantaneous netting: your own power offsets use at about 15.84 cents per kWh, but grid exports are credited near 7 cents. Verify your terms first.
If Georgia Power is your electric utility, this page explains, honestly, how rooftop solar actually pays you back in 2026. The short version is that Georgia Power does not give new residential solar customers full retail net metering, so the value is mostly in the grid power you stop buying, not in selling surplus back at a rich rate. Georgia’s strong sun still makes solar work here, but the way Georgia Power credits your exports changes how you should size a system. For the statewide picture, start with our Georgia solar guide, or if you are in the metro our Atlanta solar guide, then use this page for the Georgia Power specifics.
Georgia Power at a glance for solar
Georgia Power runs the interconnection and export-credit process across most of the state, so its rules shape what your solar is worth. Here is what matters before you size a system.
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Service territory | The largest electric utility in Georgia, serving more than 2.7 million customers across most of the state |
| Georgia residential rate | About 15.84 cents per kWh, below the national average of about 18.4 cents (EIA, May 2026) |
| Monthly Netting program | The better residential netting program, capped and full since 2021; closed to new customers |
| Netting for new customers | Instantaneous netting: exports credited near avoided cost, well below retail |
| Residential size limit | Up to 10 kW AC under the residential solar program |
| Interconnection | Applied through PowerClerk; an application fee applies (verify the current amount) |
| State and utility incentives | None; neither Georgia Power nor the State of Georgia offers a residential solar rebate or credit |
| Source | Georgia Power residential solar FAQ |
Georgia homeowners pay about 15.84 cents per kWh for electricity (EIA retail sales, residential Georgia, as of May 2026), below the national average of about 18.4 cents. That moderate rate, paired with Georgia’s abundant sun, is why solar here pays mostly by replacing the grid power you would otherwise buy. Estimate your own roof’s likely output with NREL’s free PVWatts calculator, since your production drives your bill savings.
How Georgia Power credits your solar: net metering, honestly
Georgia Power does not offer full retail net metering to new residential customers. That is the single most important thing to understand about solar here. The utility once ran a residential Monthly Netting program that credited exports more generously, but it was capped and filled back in 2021, so it is closed to new customers (SEIA). New home solar customers go on instantaneous netting instead: your panels offset your home’s use in real time at full retail value, but any surplus you export to the grid is credited near Georgia Power’s avoided-cost rate, which is well below the retail rate you pay. For 2026, Georgia Power sets that export credit at about 3.22 cents per kWh, plus an additional 4 cents per kWh approved in its 2022 rate case, so roughly 7 cents per kWh in total (Georgia Power). Rates change, so confirm the current figure before you sign. For the mechanics of export credits, see how net metering credits your solar exports.
| What happens to your solar power | What it is worth to you |
|---|---|
| Power you use in your home as it is generated | Full retail value, about 15.84 cents per kWh you avoid buying |
| Surplus you export to the grid (instantaneous netting) | Credited near avoided cost, roughly 7 cents per kWh for 2026, well below retail |
| Power stored in a home battery for later use | Retail value, since you use it yourself instead of exporting it cheaply |
MySolarFY estimate (August 2026). A typical 7 kW rooftop system in the Atlanta metro produces about 9,800 kWh in its first year. Assume a home uses roughly 60 percent of that on site and exports the other 40 percent. At Georgia Power’s rates, the self-used power is worth about 15.84 cents per kWh while the exported surplus earns only about 7 cents, so that system returns about $1,210 in year one. Under a 1:1 retail credit the same output would be worth about $1,550, so Georgia Power’s weak export rate costs a typical exporting home on the order of $340 in the first year. That gap is exactly why self-consumption, right-sizing, and a battery matter more on a Georgia Power account than in states with full net metering.
Heads up: any Georgia Power solar quote that promises full retail net metering or a rich buyback rate is out of date. Verify your export terms directly with Georgia Power before you sign, and treat surplus export credits as a small bonus, not the core of your savings. MySolarFY does not provide tax advice; ask a licensed professional about your own situation.
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Georgia Power fees and how to interconnect
Connecting a home system to Georgia Power runs through its online application tool, and the key rule is that you cannot run the system on the grid until Georgia Power approves it. The general path is:
- Application. You or your installer submit an interconnection application through Georgia Power’s PowerClerk portal. Residential systems are limited to 10 kW AC under the residential solar program (Georgia Power).
- Review and fee. Georgia Power reviews the application, and a per-application interconnection fee applies. Confirm the current amount with Georgia Power, since it can change.
- Install and inspect. The system is installed and passes your local electrical inspection.
- Meter and approval. Georgia Power reprograms or sets the meter and issues approval to operate. Do not switch the system on before that approval.
On billing, Georgia Power charges its normal monthly basic service charge plus usage; its residential solar FAQ does not list a separate standby or demand fee for standard rooftop solar, but you should confirm the exact charges on your own rate schedule. A licensed installer normally handles the PowerClerk paperwork for you. For the questions to ask, see the right questions to ask a solar installer.
Georgia solar incentives on a Georgia Power account
Georgia’s incentive list is genuinely thin, and being honest about that matters. Neither Georgia Power nor the State of Georgia offers a residential solar rebate or income-tax credit, and there is no statewide sales- or property-tax break for solar (DSIRE). The real benefit on a Georgia Power account is the grid power you stop buying, helped by strong sun and a moderate rate. If you want to run the numbers on payback, see our Georgia solar cost guide.
One more caveat: Georgia Power is the largest utility, but member-owned EMC cooperatives such as Cobb EMC, Jackson EMC, and Sawnee EMC, and city-owned municipal utilities, each set their own solar export and rate rules. If you are served by an EMC or a municipal utility rather than Georgia Power, confirm your own provider’s current export policy in writing before you size a system.
What changed federally, and what it means for Georgia Power customers
The federal homeowner credit is gone, but Georgia’s sun is not. The 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended for expenditures made after December 31, 2025, under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, so a Georgia Power customer who buys solar with cash or a loan in 2026 cannot claim it (IRS; SEIA). Georgia Power’s netting rules and rates were not affected by the federal change. For the full timeline, see what the federal solar tax credit change means in 2026.
One federal exception exists, and it is not yours to claim. A separate commercial credit, Section 48E, is claimed by the business that owns a leased or PPA system, not by the homeowner. For a leased system on a Georgia Power account you do not file for a federal credit yourself; the company that owns the panels does. The 25D homeowner credit, by contrast, ended after December 31, 2025.
How to choose a solar installer in Georgia Power territory
Metro Atlanta and the rest of Georgia Power’s territory have plenty of licensed installers to compare. Rather than chasing a “best” list, screen any installer against objective criteria:
- NABCEP certification, the industry’s professional standard for PV installers.
- Proper Georgia licensing and any required local electrical and building permits.
- A clear workmanship and equipment warranty in writing.
- Real experience with Georgia Power’s PowerClerk interconnection, so the paperwork and approval to operate go smoothly.
- A written production estimate and a quote that is honest about instantaneous netting and the low export rate, not one that assumes full retail net metering. For a checklist, see the right questions to ask a solar installer, and weigh payback with our financial analysis of whether solar is worth it.
MySolarFY matches you with licensed installers that serve your area so you can compare real local quotes side by side, with no obligation.
Frequently asked questions
Does Georgia Power have net metering?
Not full retail net metering for new residential customers. Georgia Power’s better Monthly Netting program was capped and filled back in 2021, so it is closed to new customers. New home solar goes on instantaneous netting: the power you use as it is made offsets your bill at full retail value, but any surplus you export is credited near Georgia Power’s avoided-cost rate, roughly 7 cents per kWh for 2026, which is well below the retail rate you pay. Confirm the current terms with Georgia Power before you sign.
How much does Georgia Power pay for exported solar?
For 2026, Georgia Power credits exported surplus at about 3.22 cents per kWh, plus an additional 4 cents per kWh approved in its 2022 rate case, so roughly 7 cents per kWh in total. That is well below the roughly 15.84 cents per kWh you pay for grid power, which is why sizing a system to your own usage, and storing daytime power in a battery, captures more value than exporting it. Rates change, so verify the current figure with Georgia Power.
What happened to the federal solar tax credit?
The 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended for expenditures made after December 31, 2025, under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. A Georgia Power customer who buys solar in 2026 with cash or a loan cannot claim it. A separate commercial credit (Section 48E) can apply to leased and PPA systems, but the business that owns the system claims it, not the homeowner. Georgia Power’s netting rules were not affected.
How do I connect solar to Georgia Power?
You or your installer submit an interconnection application through Georgia Power’s PowerClerk portal, Georgia Power reviews it and charges a per-application fee, the system is installed and passes a local inspection, and Georgia Power then reprograms or sets the meter and issues approval to operate. You cannot run the system on the grid before that approval. Residential systems are limited to 10 kW AC under the residential program, and a licensed installer usually handles the paperwork for you.
Are there solar incentives for Georgia Power customers?
No state or utility rebate or tax credit. Neither Georgia Power nor the State of Georgia offers a residential solar rebate or income-tax credit, and there is no statewide sales- or property-tax exemption for solar. The main benefit is the grid power you stop buying, helped by Georgia’s strong sun and a moderate 15.84 cents per kWh rate. Confirm any local program with your county before you budget around it.
Do EMC cooperatives and city utilities follow Georgia Power’s rules?
No. Georgia Power is the largest utility, but member-owned EMC cooperatives such as Cobb EMC, Jackson EMC, and Sawnee EMC, and city-owned municipal utilities, each set their own solar export and rate rules. If you are served by an EMC or a municipal utility, confirm your own provider’s current export policy in writing before you size a system, and do not assume the Georgia Power terms apply to you.
Reviewed by the MySolarFY team. Figures were verified against the linked Georgia Power, Georgia PSC, SEIA, DSIRE, EIA, NREL, and IRS sources as of August 2026; Georgia Power’s export credit rate, the instantaneous-netting terms, and rates all change over time, so confirm current terms with Georgia Power before you decide. MySolarFY does not provide tax or financial advice; consult a licensed professional about your own situation. Learn more about the MySolarFY team and how we work.
MySolarFY is a free service that matches homeowners with licensed solar installers. We are not an installer, financing company, or government program. “No up-front cost” refers to qualifying lease or PPA financing, where eligible homeowners may have no out-of-pocket cost at installation. Lease and PPA terms typically run 20 to 25 years, may include an annual price escalator, and total payments may exceed the cost of a cash purchase; on a lease or PPA the export credits and any incentives often go to the company that owns the system, not the homeowner. Homeowners do not get the federal residential credit that ended after December 31, 2025. Solar panels are not free and monthly payments apply. Eligibility, savings, incentives, and rates vary and are not guaranteed. See our full disclaimer.
