Solar in Georgia: is it worth it in 2026?
Georgia is a slow-payback state: solar works, but it takes well over a decade to earn back what you paid. Three things decide that: electricity prices rank 32nd of 51, its sun ranks 19th, and exported power earns much less than the retail rate. Of the 51 states and DC, Georgia has the 39th-fastest payback for a typical home.
The average home here pays about $159 a month for 1,077 kWh. An 8 kW system sized for that home would knock about $1,162 off the first year's bills, 61% of the total.
Checked November 12, 2026
What makes solar pay off in Georgia
- Size the system to what you use during the day, not to your whole year: extra power sent to the grid earns about 49% of the retail rate. A battery, or running the dishwasher, laundry and EV charging while the sun is up, raises the value of every panel.
- The price per watt decides it. At 14.7¢ per kWh, the price per watt matters as much as the sun. At $3.34 per watt, the high end of what companies quote, payback for a typical system here stretches to 21 years.
Payback by system size
An average Georgia home uses about 12,924 kWh a year. Here's how systems sized to cover part or all of that work out, bought with cash at $2.57 per watt:
| Covers | Size | Price | Makes a year | Payback | 25-year savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 49% | 4.5 kW | $11,565 | 6,390 kWh | 19 years | $6,715 |
| 77% | 7 kW | $17,990 | 9,940 kWh | 18 years | $11,903 |
| 99% | 9 kW | $23,130 | 12,780 kWh | 17 years | $16,053 |
| 126% | 11.5 kW | $29,555 | 16,330 kWh | 19 years | $15,956 |
The 9 kW system has both the fastest payback and the most savings. Assumes exported power earns about 49% of the retail rate, prices rise 2.5% a year and one inverter replacement.
How Georgia credits power you send to the grid
Reduced credit (net billing)
Georgia Power credits exported power at its solar avoided-cost rate (3.22 cents in 2026) plus a 4-cent adder: about 7.2 cents per kWh, roughly half the retail rate. The old monthly-netting program is closed to new customers, and residential systems are capped at 10 kW.
By utility
- Georgia Power: About 7.2 cents per kWh in 2026 (avoided cost of 3.22 cents plus a 4-cent adder). Residential systems are capped at 10 kW.
Before you sign in Georgia
Check the license. Look the company up with the Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors, by its legal name or license number, and ask for the electrician's license number too.
Georgia has no solar-specific sales law that we know of, so its general consumer protection law applies.
In every state, the FTC Cooling-Off Rule lets you cancel a contract signed at your home until midnight of the third business day.
How to choose a solar company · Contract checklist · Before you sign
Georgia compared with its neighbors
| State | Electricity | kWh per kW | Typical payback | Exported power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia | 14.7¢ | 1,420 | 17 years | Reduced credit (net billing) |
| Florida | 15.2¢ | 1,455 | 11 years | Full credit (net metering) |
| Alabama | 16.1¢ | 1,367 | 20 years | No statewide rule |
| Tennessee | 13.2¢ | 1,338 | 24 years | No statewide rule |
| North Carolina | 14.0¢ | 1,416 | 15 years | Monthly netting |
| South Carolina | 15.1¢ | 1,454 | 13 years | Monthly netting |
Questions about solar in Georgia
How long does solar take to pay for itself in Georgia?
About 17 years for a typical 8 kW system bought with cash at the 2026 median price of $2.57 per watt, with no federal tax credit and one inverter replacement. A bigger or smaller system, a different price, or your own usage will change that; the table above shows other sizes.
Does Georgia have net metering?
Not full net metering. Georgia Power credits exported power at its solar avoided-cost rate (3.22 cents in 2026) plus a 4-cent adder: about 7.2 cents per kWh, roughly half the retail rate. The old monthly-netting program is closed to new customers, and residential systems are capped at 10 kW.
Is there a solar tax credit in Georgia in 2026?
Not from the federal government for buyers: the 30% homeowner credit ended for systems installed after December 31, 2025. For a typical 8 kW system in Georgia, that credit was worth about $6,168 and brought payback down to 13 years, instead of 17 years now. Leasing companies can still claim a business credit, so ask for a lease or PPA price too. Your state energy office lists any state rebates.
Is a solar battery worth it in Georgia?
On bill savings alone, not quite: a 13.5 kWh battery at about $15,650 would move about 3,548 kWh of solar power a year from the grid to your evenings in a typical Georgia home, adding about $3,688 of savings over 15 years. That doesn't cover its price, so the system's payback goes from 17 years to 24 years; the rest is paying for backup during outages. Time-of-use rates, battery rebates and utility payments for sharing your battery can tip it; try your numbers in the payback calculator.
Is plug-in solar legal in Georgia?
There's no plug-in solar law yet in Georgia, so your utility may treat a kit like any rooftop system.
How do I check a solar company's license in Georgia?
Look the company up with the Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors (sos.ga.gov/plb/rclb) by its legal name or license number, and ask for the electrician's license too.
More guides: What changed for solar in 2026 · Lease or buy? · Plug-in solar · Is my solar system working?
Sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), final 2025 data: Annual State Historical Spreadsheets (Form EIA-861, released October 7, 2026) and Electric Power Annual (October 21, 2026); NREL PVWatts (National Solar Radiation Database), statewide averages; Georgia Power: rooftop solar FAQ; EnergySage: median quoted price, first half of 2026.