Mississippi Solar Calculator

Mississippi has no net metering mandate — savings come from self-consumption of solar. Enter your Mississippi Power or Entergy MS bill to see how a self-consumption-sized system performs with the 30% ITC.

Your Mississippi solar inputs

Monthly electric bill?

Utility?

System size?

Battery backup?

Mississippi solar estimate (self-consumption model)

20 × 400W panels (8 kW system)

Recommended size for self-consumption in MS: 6.9 kW (avoid oversizing without battery)

Monthly usage1,000 kWh/mo

Annual production (MS 4.9 PSH)11,446 kWh/yr

Self-consumed (70% of production)8,012 kWh/yr

Exported (at ~$0.035/kWh avoided cost)3,434 kWh/yr

Annual savings (self-consumption model)$1,082/yr

Potential savings with net metering$1,374/yr

Gross system cost$21,600

Federal ITC (30%)-$6,480

Mississippi state tax creditNone available

Net cost after ITC$15,120

Payback period14.0 yrs

25-year savings$27,042

Mississippi has no statewide net metering mandate. Exports earn only ~$0.035/kWh avoided cost rather than $0.12/kWh retail. Size your system to match daytime usage — adding a battery significantly improves self-consumption and payback. Verify current utility interconnection policies before installing.

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How to Use This Calculator

Mississippi: self-consumption model — no net metering mandate

Mississippi is one of the few remaining US states with no statewide net metering mandate. This fundamentally changes how solar economics work here. In net metering states, every kWh your panels produce has the same value whether you use it or export it — you save at the retail rate either way. In Mississippi, solar you use directly saves you $0.12/kWh (the retail rate), but solar you export to the grid earns only $0.035-0.05/kWh (the avoided cost). This makes system sizing critical — oversizing your system without battery storage wastes potential savings.

Enter your bill and select your Mississippi utility

Entergy Mississippi serves Jackson, Tupelo, and the northern and central portions of Mississippi. Mississippi Power (a Southern Company subsidiary) serves Gulfport, Biloxi, Hattiesburg, and the Gulf Coast region. This calculator models Mississippi's self-consumption approach — enter your monthly bill, choose your utility, and select a system size. The calculator shows both actual self-consumption savings and what you'd save if net metering were available, so you can see the full policy impact.

Battery storage dramatically improves Mississippi solar economics

In Mississippi's self-consumption model, a battery storage system is far more valuable than in net metering states. A battery captures midday solar surplus — which would otherwise export at $0.035/kWh — and stores it for evening use at the full $0.12/kWh retail value. This nearly triples the value of exported solar. The calculator shows the difference: with a battery, self-consumption rises from 70% to 85%, significantly improving annual savings and shortening payback. Battery also qualifies for the 30% federal ITC when installed with solar.

The Formula

Monthly kWh = Monthly Bill ÷ Electricity Rate Annual Production = System kW × 1000 × 4.9 PSH × 365 × 0.80 efficiency ÷ 1000 Self-consumed kWh = Annual Production × 0.70 (no battery) or × 0.85 (with battery) Exported kWh = Annual Production − Self-consumed kWh Annual Savings = Self-consumed × $0.12/kWh + Exported × $0.035/kWh (avoided cost) Gross Cost = System kW × 1000 × $2.70/W + Battery ($12,000 if added) ITC Credit = Gross Cost × 30% Net Cost = Gross Cost − ITC Payback = Net Cost ÷ Annual Savings

Mississippi averages 4.9 peak sun hours — among the best in the Southeast. Gulfport and the Gulf Coast approach 5.0 PSH; Jackson averages 4.8 PSH. Mississippi's $2.70/W installation cost is below the national average. The key constraint is the self-consumption model: unlike net metering states where every kWh produced has retail value, in Mississippi exported solar earns only about $0.035/kWh — making proper system sizing and battery storage essential for optimal economics.

Example

Lisa — Jackson Entergy Mississippi customer

Lisa is in Jackson on Entergy Mississippi paying $120/month at $0.12/kWh. She installs an 8 kW system, aware that Mississippi lacks net metering — she opts for battery storage to maximize self-consumption.

Monthly bill$120 (Entergy Mississippi, $0.12/kWh)

System8 kW + battery

LocationJackson, MS (4.9 PSH)

Result

Annual production (4.9 PSH)~14,307 kWh/yr

Self-consumed (85% with battery)~12,161 kWh/yr

Exported (at ~$0.035/kWh)~2,146 kWh/yr (~$75)

Annual savings (self-consumption)~$1,534/yr

Gross system cost (8kW + battery)~$33,600

Federal ITC (30%)-$10,080

Net cost after ITC~$23,520

Payback period~15.3 years

25-year savings~$38,350

Lisa's Mississippi solar economics are shaped by the self-consumption model. With battery storage, she captures 85% of her production at the full $0.12/kWh retail value. Without battery, she'd lose midday surplus to the grid at $0.035/kWh, significantly reducing savings. The longer payback (15 years vs. 8-10 years in net metering states) reflects Mississippi's policy environment. However, with Mississippi's electricity rates likely to rise over time, Lisa locks in 25+ years of low-cost electricity. The 30% ITC remains the primary financial lever regardless of net metering policy.

FAQ

Does Mississippi have net metering? ▼

Mississippi has no statewide net metering mandate. Mississippi Power and Entergy Mississippi may offer limited interconnection programs, but exported solar is typically credited at avoided cost (approximately $0.03-0.05/kWh) rather than the full retail rate. This is similar to Alabama's model — both are Southern Company/Entergy territory without net metering mandates. This makes Mississippi a self-consumption-first market: savings come primarily from solar electricity you use directly in your home. Oversizing a system without battery storage means exporting surplus at minimal credit, dramatically reducing financial returns. Always verify current interconnection policies with your specific utility before installing.

How does solar work without net metering in Mississippi? ▼

In Mississippi's self-consumption model, you save money by using solar electricity directly instead of buying it from the grid at $0.12/kWh. Unused solar that exports earns only ~$0.035/kWh. Three strategies maximize Mississippi solar savings: (1) Size correctly — don't oversize; aim for 60-80% of your total annual usage, not 100% coverage. (2) Shift loads — run dishwasher, laundry, and pool pump during peak solar hours (10am-3pm). (3) Add battery storage — captures midday surplus for evening use at full retail value, raising self-consumption from ~70% to ~85%. A well-designed Mississippi system is viable but requires more careful planning than in net metering states.

Does Mississippi have a state solar tax credit? ▼

No. Mississippi does not offer a state income tax credit for residential solar installations. Mississippi is one of the least incentivized solar states — no net metering mandate, no state credit. The 30% federal ITC is the primary and essentially only major incentive. Some utilities may occasionally offer rebate programs — check with Mississippi Power and Entergy Mississippi directly. Despite limited incentives, Mississippi's strong 4.9 PSH sun resource and below-average $2.70/W installation costs mean solar can still be financially viable, especially for self-consumption-focused systems with battery storage.

Which utilities serve Mississippi solar customers? ▼

Mississippi Power (a Southern Company subsidiary) serves the southern third of Mississippi including Gulfport, Biloxi, Pascagoula, Hattiesburg, and the Gulf Coast — approximately 186,000 customers. Entergy Mississippi serves the northern and central portions including Jackson, Tupelo, Greenwood, and the Mississippi Delta — the larger utility by geography. Rural electric cooperatives serve substantial rural areas and may have different interconnection policies. Mississippi Power has been active in utility-scale solar development (the Kemper County project), while residential solar interconnection remains limited. Contact your utility's interconnection department before contracting — policies may have evolved.

Is solar worth it in Mississippi without net metering? ▼

Solar can be worthwhile in Mississippi with the right approach. The 4.9 PSH sun resource is excellent — among the nation's best. Key success factors: (1) Size conservatively — match system size to daytime consumption, not total annual usage. (2) Add battery storage — transforms the economics by capturing surplus at retail value instead of losing it to exports at avoided cost. (3) Plan for rate escalation — Mississippi rates will likely rise 2-3% annually; locking in solar production becomes more valuable each year. (4) Claim the 30% ITC — the federal credit works the same regardless of net metering policy. For high-daytime-usage homes (home offices, pool pumps, EV charging), Mississippi solar can achieve paybacks under 12 years even without net metering.

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