Georgia Solar Incentive Programs

Georgia ranks 10th in total installed solar capacity, but its ranking is held up almost entirely by its utility-scale installations. As seen by data from SEIA, less than 1% of homes in Georgia have solar panels installed. 

Georgia has a climate conducive to solar production, with an average of 217 sunny days per year. So why doesn’t Georgia have more solar? Part of the reason is generally low electric rates. As of August 2024, the average electric rate in Georgia was just $0.149/kWh, below the national average of $0.173/kWh. There are also no statewide Georgia solar incentive programs for homes or businesses going solar. On the local level, though, there are some options available depending on the utility.

Federal Incentives

Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC)

Commercial solar energy systems installed in Georgia can take advantage of the Federal Investment Tax Credit 48E, which provides a tax credit of 30% of the total cost of the system, provided prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements are met. 

Residential systems can no longer claim any federal solar tax credit, as the One Big Beautiful Bill eliminated it for systems installed after January 1st, 2026. 

Commercial Depreciation

Commercial asset owners can write off 100% of a project’s value in depreciation in the first year. The One Big Beautiful Bill reinstated the 100% bonus depreciation, while simultaneously eliminating the Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS) that previously depreciated solar energy systems over 5 years. 

The depreciable basis of a project is reduced by half of the ITC value when combined with the 30% ITC. Here’s a quick example:

• Project cost = $800,000
• 30% credit = $240,000
• Reduced depreciation basis: $800,000 – ($240,000 / 2) = $680,000

A company’s tax rate is then taken into account to calculate the exact amount they’re able to write off. 

State Incentives & Programs

As we mentioned above, Georgia does not offer any state-level incentives for solar energy. Some Electric Membership Cooperatives offer solar programs, but no direct rebates. 

Net Billing

In 2001, the Georgia Cogeneration and Distributed Generation Act was passed. It allowed utilities to adopt net metering for excess energy buy-back, but did not mandate it. Residential systems were capped at 10 kW, and commercial systems were capped at 100 kW. The program’s full cap was met in 2021, and net metering officially ended in 2022. 

Now, a solar homeowner can receive credit for excess power generated and sent back to the grid at the Solar Avoided Cost rate, which is roughly $0.072/kWh, or about half of the retail electric rate. For this reason, it would be highly encouraged for customers to install battery storage to use all of their energy rather than send it to the grid. 

Cooperative Solar Programs

As of the time of writing this piece, several of the electric cooperatives that used to offer rebates no longer do. Instead, many offer a cooperative solar program where members can purchase a “block” of solar energy for a flat rate. The energy value of those panels is then credited virtually to their bill, like a community solar program. 

Learn more about cooperative solar programs at the utility sites below, and be sure to contact your local utility before going solar to see if any programs exist. 

Jackson EMC Cooperative Solar Enrollment

Central Georgia EMC Cooperative Solar

Greystone Power Corporation Cooperative Solar

Where does Georgia solar go from here?

With low energy rates and non-existent incentives, Georgia’s residential solar energy market is likely to remain among the lower end of the US solar market. However, rising utility rates in recent years due to the proliferation of AI data centers have been driving up costs. If this trend continues, low-cost solar energy will become more and more attractive compared to retail electric rates. 

If you’re in Georgia and looking to go solar with protection for parts and labor for 30 years, check out our homeowner page to find a Solar Insure Certified Provider near you: https://www.solarinsure.com/find-a-certified-provider

Want to learn more about solar incentives in other states? Check out our solar incentives hub: https://www.solarinsure.com/solar-incentives-guide-to-all-50-states