Utilities · Solar in Louisiana
Entergy Louisiana: how it credits the solar power you send to the grid
Exported power is credited at Entergy's avoided-cost rate, well below retail.
Checked November 12, 2026. Utilities change these rules; check the current tariff before you sign.
How it works
Exported power earns roughly 30% of the retail price on average.
Louisiana ended retail net metering for new customers in 2020.
Each exported kWh earns the avoided cost, a few cents, while each bought kWh costs full price.
Using power while the sun is up is worth roughly three times more than sending it out.
What it means for a typical Louisiana home
An average Louisiana home uses about 14,700 kWh a year. A 9 kW system costs about $23,130 at the 2026 median price and makes about 13,311 kWh in its first year, of which we assume about 7,987 kWh goes out to the grid because no one is home to use it.
| First-year savings | Payback | 25-year savings, after the price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| With Entergy Louisiana's credit | $967 | 22 years | $5,157 |
| If every exported kWh earned the full price | $1,667 | 14 years | $27,540 |
The difference, about $22,384 over 25 years, is what Entergy Louisiana's rules cost a typical system compared with full net metering. Using more of the power at home, while the sun is up, closes some of that gap. Uses Louisiana's average electricity price; Entergy Louisiana's own prices may be higher or lower. Paid in cash, no federal credit, prices rising 2.5% a year, one inverter replacement.
Utilities in neighboring states
| Utility | State | Exported power | Credit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entergy Louisiana | Louisiana | Reduced credit (net billing) | About 30% of retail |
| Oncor | Texas | No statewide rule | Set by your retail plan |
| CenterPoint Energy (Houston) | Texas | No statewide rule | Set by your retail plan |
| Austin Energy | Texas | Reduced credit (net billing) | 9.91¢ |
| CPS Energy (San Antonio) | Texas | Monthly netting | About 85% of retail (est.) |
All 55 utilities · Solar in Louisiana · Lease and PPA terms by company
Sources: Solar Energy Nerds: net metering by state, 2026; 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); EnergySage: median quoted price, first half of 2026.