Georgia has moderate power prices, about 15.84 cents per kWh, but Georgia Power does not pay full retail for the solar you export. Its Solar Buy Back credits excess power at roughly 7.2 cents per kWh in 2026, so the value is in using your own power. There is no Georgia state solar tax credit, and the federal homeowner credit ended after December 31, 2025.
- Georgia residential power runs about 15.84 cents per kWh (EIA, May 2026), close to the national middle, so payback leans on Georgia’s strong sun and on using your own power.
- Georgia Power is the dominant utility. It uses RNR instantaneous netting (Solar Buy Back): exported power earns about 7.2 cents per kWh in 2026 (a 3.2188 cent avoided-cost rate plus a 4 cent adder under the RNR-11 tariff), not the retail rate.
- Co-ops and city utilities differ. Georgia’s electric membership cooperatives (EMCs) and municipal utilities each set their own solar buyback, and most credit exports below retail, so confirm your own provider’s tariff.
- No state credit. Georgia offers no state solar income-tax credit and no solar sales-tax exemption, and the 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended December 31, 2025 (IRS).
- Georgia is a top-10 solar state. It ranks 10th nationally for installed solar capacity (SEIA), and Georgia Power reports more than 3,000 MW of solar, about 12% of its capacity (Georgia Power). A modeled 7 kW Atlanta array produces about 9,812 kWh a year (NREL PVWatts v8).
Georgia homeowners weighing solar want real numbers, not a sales pitch, so this page gathers the ones that matter in one place, each dated and sourced. The average residential electricity rate here is about 15.8 cents per kWh (EIA, as of May 2026), and a typical 7 kW rooftop system produces about 9,812 kWh a year. Below you will find installed cost, simple payback, per-city production, how each utility handles net metering, and the current state incentives, updated for 2026.
Updated for 2026.
Key statistics: Georgia solar at a glance (2026)
Key numbers (Georgia, 2026)
- Average residential rate: 15.8 cents per kWh
- Typical system size: 7 kW
- Typical annual production: 9,812 kWh per year
- Typical installed cost: $2.50 to $3.20 per watt
- Estimated system cost: $17,500 to $22,400
- Simple payback: about 13 years
According to MySolarFY’s analysis (August 2026), a typical 7 kW system in Georgia produces about 9,812 kWh a year, offsetting power that costs about 15.8 cents per kWh. These are our own compiled figures for Georgia; see Methodology below for exactly how each was produced. For the statewide rules behind these numbers, see our Georgia solar guide, the Georgia solar cost breakdown, and city pages like Atlanta and Savannah.
| Metric | Value | Source (dated) |
|---|---|---|
| Average residential rate | 15.8 cents per kWh | EIA, as of May 2026 |
| Typical system size | 7 kW | MySolarFY, typical residential array |
| Typical annual production | 9,812 kWh per year | NREL PVWatts v8, as of August 2026 |
| Typical installed cost | $2.50 to $3.20 per watt | MySolarFY cost range, as of August 2026 |
| Estimated system cost | $17,500 to $22,400 | MySolarFY, 7 kW, as of August 2026 |
| Simple payback | about 13 years | MySolarFY analysis, as of August 2026 |
Every figure is dated and attributed. Rate is the EIA residential average for Georgia; production is a modeled NREL PVWatts v8 run for a 7 kW array; cost and payback are MySolarFY estimates for planning, not a quote. Confirm current terms before you decide.
Solar cost and payback by city in Georgia
Production and payback vary within a state because the solar resource and the local rate shift by location. The table below models a 7 kW system for representative Georgia cities using NREL PVWatts v8.
| City | System size | Annual production | Est. system cost | Simple payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | 7 kW | 9,812 kWh per year | $19,950 | about 13.2 years |
| Savannah | 7 kW | 9,955 kWh per year | $19,950 | about 13 years |
| Augusta | 7 kW | 10,296 kWh per year | $19,950 | about 12.6 years |
| Columbus | 7 kW | 9,804 kWh per year | $19,950 | about 13.2 years |
| Macon | 7 kW | 9,909 kWh per year | $19,950 | about 13.1 years |
Production is a modeled NREL PVWatts v8 run per city ZIP; cost and payback are MySolarFY estimates that hold today’s rate flat and ignore financing. A written quote for your roof beats any table.
Utility rate and net metering comparison
Your utility sets the delivery rate and administers net metering, which is the credit you earn for the power your roof sends back to the grid. See how Georgia net metering works and how Georgia Power credits your solar, plus the net metering mechanics.
| Utility | Residential rate | Net metering treatment |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia Power | about 15 to 16 cents per kWh residential, all-in | Solar Buy Back (RNR instantaneous netting): exports credited near 7.2 cents per kWh in 2026 (a 3.2188 cent avoided-cost rate plus a 4 cent adder under the RNR-11 tariff), not full retail; unused credits roll forward |
| Electric membership cooperatives (EMCs) | varies by cooperative | Each EMC sets its own solar buyback; most credit exports below retail. Confirm your co-op’s current tariff |
| Municipal utilities | varies by city | City-owned utilities set their own solar terms; confirm locally |
Net metering rules are set by state law and the utility commission, not the installer. Confirm your utility’s current tariff before you size a system.
Georgia solar incentive stack (2026)
State programs, net metering, and any rebates or SREC market make up the Georgia incentive stack. These go to the system owner, so on a lease or PPA the company that owns the panels keeps the incentive while the net-metering bill credit follows your account.
Georgia Power Solar Buy Back (RNR instantaneous netting)
Excess exports are credited at about 7.2 cents per kWh in 2026 (a 3.2188 cent avoided-cost rate plus a 4 cent adder), not full retail; unused credits roll forward month to month (active) (Georgia PSC / Georgia Power RNR-11 tariff, as of August 2026)
Statewide net metering
Georgia has no statewide full-retail net-metering mandate; export compensation depends on your utility, whether Georgia Power, an EMC, or a municipal utility (varies by utility) (Georgia PSC, as of August 2026)
Georgia state solar tax credit
None. Georgia offers no state solar income-tax credit and no state solar sales-tax exemption. The federal residential 25D credit also ended December 31, 2025 (not available) (DSIRE / Georgia Department of Revenue, as of August 2026)
Local and utility programs
Some EMCs and municipal utilities run community-solar or limited rebate programs; availability varies by service territory (varies) (DSIRE / local utility, as of August 2026)
The federal homeowner credit has ended, but Georgia’s programs have not. The 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended December 31, 2025, so a Georgia homeowner who buys solar with cash or a loan in 2026 cannot claim it (IRS Residential Clean Energy Credit, as of 2026). State net metering and the incentives listed above were not affected by that change. For the full timeline, see what the federal solar tax credit change means our Georgia solar incentives guide, how EMC co-op buyback works, and our state solar incentives overview.
Methodology and sources
- Electricity rate: the latest EIA Form residential retail price for Georgia (EIA retail sales, as of May 2026).
- Production: modeled with NREL PVWatts v8 for a 7 kW south-facing array at the city ZIP (NREL PVWatts v8 documentation, as of August 2026).
- Cost and payback: MySolarFY estimates built from installed cost per watt (informed by the DataForSEO cost SERP for Georgia) and the EIA rate, holding today’s rate flat and ignoring financing.
- Incentives and net metering: the Georgia public utility commission and the DSIRE incentive database (DSIRE, as of August 2026).
- Assumptions: a 7 kW system, standard losses, and a south-facing array. Your roof, usage, and financing change the result, so treat these as planning figures, not a quote.
Citing this data
Citing this data?
Cite as: “MySolarFY, Georgia Solar Data & Statistics 2026, accessed August 21, 2026.” Data compiled by MySolarFY from EIA (residential electricity rate), NREL PVWatts v8 (modeled production), DSIRE and the Georgia public utility commission (incentives and net metering), and DataForSEO (cost SERP). Figures are dated in each table above.
Journalists and researchers may quote these statistics with attribution to MySolarFY and a link to https://mysolarfy.com/georgia-solar-data-statistics-2026/.
See what solar programs are available in your Georgia ZIP code
Incentives, net-metering credits, installer availability, and electric rates change by utility and location. Enter your ZIP and we will match you with licensed installers who serve your area.
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How to choose a solar installer in Georgia
Rather than chasing a “best installer” list, screen any company against objective criteria: NABCEP certification, a valid state license, a written workmanship and equipment warranty, real experience with your utility’s interconnection, and a transparent quote that uses today’s incentive values. For a checklist, see the right questions to ask a solar installer. 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
What is the average solar cost in Georgia in 2026? A typical residential system in Georgia runs about $2.50 to $3.20 per watt installed before any incentives (MySolarFY cost range, as of August 2026). A 7 kW system is a common size for a single-family home. Cost varies with roof, equipment, and installer, so use a written quote for your own numbers.
How much electricity does a solar system produce in Georgia? A modeled 7 kW array produces about 9,812 kWh a year in Georgia (NREL PVWatts v8, as of August 2026). Production drives both your net-metering credits and your payback, so estimate your specific roof rather than a generic number.
Did the federal solar tax credit end? Yes for homeowners. The 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended December 31, 2025, so a Georgia homeowner who buys solar in 2026 cannot claim it (IRS, as of 2026). State programs and net metering were not affected by that change.
Reviewed by the MySolarFY team. Figures were verified against the linked EIA, NREL, DSIRE, and Georgia PUC sources as of August 2026; rates, incentive values, and net-metering terms can change, so confirm current terms before you decide. MySolarFY does not provide tax or financial advice; consult a licensed professional. 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. Solar panels are not free and any monthly payments apply. “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 may include an annual escalator and total payments may exceed a cash purchase, and on a lease or PPA the incentives go to the company that owns the system. Homeowners do not get the federal residential credit that ended after December 31, 2025. Eligibility, savings, incentives, and rates vary and are not guaranteed. See our full disclaimer.
