Georgia solar rebates and tax credits calculator

Summary of Georgia solar incentives 2024

In late 2019, two pro-solar candidates for the Georgia Public Service Commission were defeated by establishment candidates. While that certainly was a setback for more progressive home solar policy here in Georgia, there's still a compelling case to install solar on your home. The returns are solid considering the level of sunshine blanketing the state over the year.

In 2021 and beyond, we'd like to see a much stronger push and debate in the Georgia state capitol for an updated renewable portfolio standard (RPS). That would compel utilities here to derive much more power from clean sources, like the solar panels on your rooftop. Usually, when strong RPS standards are in place, better solar power incentives follow.

There is still hope, depending on where you live and how much your power company is willing to pay for the clean electricity from your panels. Read on to find out all about the ins and outs of policy, incentives, and investment returns for home solar power in Georgia

Federal solar investment tax credit

The federal solar investment tax credit will have the biggest impact on the cost you will face to go solar in Georgia

If you install your photovoltaic system before the end of 2032, the federal tax credit is 30% of the cost of your solar panel system. This is 30% off the entire cost of the system including equipment, labor, and permitting.

Example: If your solar energy system costs $20,000, your federal solar tax credit would be $20,000 x 30% = $6,000.

The federal tax credit falls to 26% starting in 2033.

Net energy metering in Georgia

With net metering in some states, you get full retail rate credit for the amount of electricity you send back into the grid with your solar panels.

Net Metering requires your utility to monitor how much energy your solar power system produces and how much energy you actually consume, and make sure you get credit for the surplus.

A decision filed by the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) in Georgia Power's 2019 rate case requires Georgia Power to offer net metering with monthly netting to 5,000 rooftop solar customers or 32 MW of capacity, whichever comes first. Unfortunately that’s a pretty low target for net-metering capacity considering the size and population of the state.

This program is available under Georgia Power's Renewable & Nonrenewable Tariff (RNR). The utility maintains a web page with the most recent numbers of people and MW signed up under the RNR program.

Georgia solar rebates

Sadly, for the many Georgia residents who use Georgia Power, there isn’t a solar rebate available. However, if you live in areas served by the following utilities, you could potentially claim a small solar rebate.

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