Georgia Solar Calculator

Enter your utility and monthly bill — get system size, Georgia Power Solar Buy Back savings, EMC rebate, property tax exemption, and 25-year savings.

Your Georgia solar inputs

Monthly electric bill?

Electric utility?

System size?

Battery backup?

Georgia solar estimate

20 × 400W panels (8 kW system)

Recommended size for your bill: 10.3 kW

Monthly usage1,154 kWh/mo

Annual production (GA 4.7 PSH)10,979 kWh/yr

Annual savings (est.)$1,204/yr

Gross system cost$19,360

Federal ITC (30%)-$5,808

Net cost after incentives$13,552

Property tax exemption (est.)$3,485

Payback period11.3 yrs

25-year savings$30,110

Georgia Power Solar Buy Back program pays 3.2¢/kWh base + 4¢/kWh adder for qualifying systems. Enroll before installation — contact Georgia Power for Solar Purchase Agreement details.

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How to Use This Calculator

Enter your monthly bill and select your utility

Georgia Power serves most of metro Atlanta, Savannah, Augusta, and Macon. Georgia EMC (Electric Membership Corporations) serve suburban and rural areas across the state. Cobb EMC serves Cobb County. Your utility determines both your electricity rate and which local incentives apply on top of the federal 30% ITC.

Georgia Power Solar Buy Back program

Georgia Power customers can enroll in the Solar Purchase Agreement, which pays 3.2¢/kWh base rate plus a 4¢/kWh environmental adder — totaling 7.2¢/kWh for exported solar. This is below retail rate (~13¢/kWh), so maximizing self-consumption is critical for Georgia Power customers. You must enroll before installation — contact Georgia Power or your installer to apply.

Central Georgia EMC rebate

Georgia EMC members may qualify for a $450/kW rebate on solar installations up to 10 kW ($4,500 maximum). This is in addition to the 30% federal ITC. Program availability varies by co-op — confirm current enrollment status with your local Georgia EMC before signing a solar contract.

The Formula

Monthly kWh = Monthly Bill ÷ Electricity Rate Annual Production = System kW × 1000 × 4.7 PSH × 365 × 0.80 efficiency ÷ 1000 Self-consumed kWh = Annual Production × 0.65 (GA summer A/C overlap) Exported kWh = Annual Production − Self-consumed kWh Buyback Rate = 7.2¢/kWh (Georgia Power) or 50% of rate (other utilities) Annual Savings = (Self-consumed × Retail Rate) + (Exported × Buyback Rate) Gross Cost = System kW × 1000 × $2.42/W + Battery ($12,000 if added) ITC Credit = Gross Cost × 30% Central GA EMC Rebate = min(System kW, 10) × $450 (EMC customers only) Net Cost = Gross Cost − ITC Credit − EMC Rebate Payback = Net Cost ÷ Annual Savings

Georgia averages 4.7 peak sun hours (PSH) statewide — Savannah and Brunswick average 5.0 PSH, Atlanta gets 4.6, and the Blue Ridge Mountains average 4.3. The 65% self-consumption ratio reflects Georgia's afternoon thunderstorm pattern, which can reduce solar output and increase grid reliance in summer afternoons. At $2.42/W, Georgia has below-average installation costs due to high installer competition.

Example

Maria — Atlanta Georgia Power customer

Maria lives in Atlanta (Georgia Power territory) paying $150/month at $0.13/kWh. She wants an 8 kW system to significantly reduce her electricity costs.

Monthly bill$150 (Georgia Power, $0.13/kWh)

System8 kW, no battery

LocationAtlanta, GA (4.6 PSH)

Result

Annual production~10,740 kWh/yr

Annual savings~$1,045/yr

Gross system cost~$19,360

Federal ITC (30%)-$5,808

Net cost after ITC~$13,552

Property tax exemption (est.)~$3,485 over 20 yrs

Payback period~13.0 years

25-year savings~$26,125

Maria's system covers roughly 60% of her annual usage. Georgia Power's 7.2¢/kWh buyback for exported power is lower than retail, so Maria's installer recommends a south-facing system to maximize afternoon production when she's most likely to be using power — improving her self-consumption ratio and overall savings.

FAQ

How does the Georgia Power Solar Buy Back program work? ▼

Georgia Power's Solar Purchase Agreement pays 3.2¢/kWh base rate plus 4¢/kWh environmental adder = 7.2¢/kWh for all solar electricity you export to the grid. This is lower than your retail rate (~13¢/kWh), which means exported solar is worth about half what you'd save by using it directly. The key strategy for Georgia Power customers: maximize self-consumption (use solar energy directly) and only export what you can't use. A battery helps increase self-consumption from ~65% to ~85%. You must apply for the Solar Purchase Agreement before your system is installed — your solar installer handles the paperwork.

Does Georgia have a state solar tax credit? ▼

Georgia does not currently have a state income tax credit for residential solar. However, Georgia does offer two significant incentives: (1) Property tax exemption — Georgia law exempts solar systems from ad valorem (property) taxes, meaning your home's taxable value for property taxes does not increase because of your solar installation; (2) Sales tax exemption — solar energy equipment is exempt from Georgia's 4% state sales tax, saving $600-900 on a typical system. The 30% federal ITC is available to all Georgia residents who owe federal income tax.

Is solar worth it in Georgia? ▼

Georgia offers solid solar economics: strong 4.7 PSH sunshine (Savannah rivals Florida), competitive installer pricing at ~$2.42/W, property tax exemption, and the 30% federal ITC. The main challenge is Georgia Power's below-retail buyback rate (7.2¢/kWh vs. 13¢/kWh retail). This means self-consumption is key — solar energy you use directly is worth your full 13¢/kWh rate. Typical payback is 10-14 years, with 25-year savings of $20,000-35,000 depending on system size and usage. Georgia EMC members with the $450/kW rebate see faster payback.

What Georgia EMC rebates are available for solar? ▼

Georgia EMC (Electric Membership Corporation) rebates vary by co-op. Central Georgia EMC offers $450/kW up to 10 kW ($4,500 maximum). Other Georgia EMCs may offer similar programs, but availability changes based on program funding. Contact your specific co-op's energy advisor to check current rebate availability. EMC customers typically also benefit from net metering at retail rates rather than the below-retail Georgia Power Solar Buy Back rate — making Georgia EMC territory potentially more attractive for solar than Georgia Power territory.

How much does solar cost in Georgia? ▼

Georgia solar installation costs average around $2.42/W before incentives, slightly below the national average of $2.85/W. This means an 8 kW system costs roughly $19,360 before incentives, or $13,552 after the 30% federal ITC. Georgia's lower costs reflect a competitive installer market, particularly around Atlanta, Augusta, and Savannah. Get quotes from 3+ installers — prices can vary by $3,000-5,000 for the same system. Always check that installers are NABCEP certified and licensed in Georgia.

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