Frequently Asked Questions

System installation costs vary based on the size of your business, available mounting roof space, complexity of the roof design and budget. The amount of energy produced is based on several factors such as: tilt angle, orientation, and shading conditions. The average price is ~$3.00/watt. Larger installations (1 megawatt+) may indicate lower price points.

Neither Georgia Power nor the State of Georgia currently offer any incentives or rebates for residential solar installations. However, there is a 30% federal investment tax credit available for businesses with tax liabilities. Nonprofit organizations may also be able to take advantage of a 30% direct pay option. We recommend speaking with an accountant or CPA to ensure you can take advantage of the incentive when you file your taxes the next year. For more information, please visit the EnergyStar website.

Solar panels are warrantied for 25 years and typically last 25–30 years and generate electricity in the form of direct current (DC). There is another piece of equipment needed for the installation called the inverter, included with the system. The inverter converts the electricity from direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC). The inverter typically lasts 15–20 years; you may have to replace the inverter at some point during the life span of the solar panels, and that replacement cost is not included. Lastly, the inverter is wired directly into the breaker panel box. The installer would need to check the breaker panel to determine if space is available.

The Distributed Energy Resources (DER) Owner may choose to install their own step-up or step-down transformer to match the renewables equipment voltage with the service voltage. For three-phase inverter-based DER interconnections, the DER-Owner transformer must have grounded-wye windings on the Company side and grounded-wye windings on the DER side, with no delta tertiary windings.

No. Since your system would be grid-tied, for safety reasons, if there is a power outage your solar system will automatically shut off when the power goes out. If you have a solar battery system added to your solar PV system, your power will continue to work. Solar batteries can add as much as 30% to the cost of a solar system presently.

We typically recommend our customers begin by contacting a certified installer to perform an onsite evaluation of current conditions at your facility and to provide you with a proposal for a solar installation. It is best to obtain 2–3 proposals as solar installers may offer competitive pricing and financing.

No. Georgia Power does not have exclusive partnerships with solar developers, and customers should be wary of anyone making such claims. If a solar developer is claiming any partnership with Georgia Power, please provide any collateral to G2GPCRDI@SOUTHERNCO.com.

For projects less than or equal to 250kW AC, the interconnection fee is added as a line item on the customer's bill after the interconnection process is completed.

Any projects that are greater than 250kW AC will be charged to the customer through a Non-Electric Service Business (NESB). At this time, fees are charged to customers only.

The Impact Study fee will be charged to the customer through a Non-Electric Service Business (NESB). At this time, fees are charged to customers only.

Commercial and industrial customers may install a system with a peak generating capacity of less than or equal to 250kW AC. Commercial systems between 100 kW AC and 250 kW AC may not exceed one hundred and twenty-five percent (125%) of the preceding year’s metered peak demand of the premises that the generator serves. For more information, please review the RNR-11 Tariff. 

RNR-Instantaneous Netting

In the RNR-Instantaneous Netting program, excess energy generated by a customer’s solar panels are credited at the annual Solar Avoided Energy Cost Rate per kilowatt hour (kWh), which is 4.4487 ¢/kWh for the year 2024. During the 2022 rate case, the Public Service Commission approved an additional 4¢/kWh that will be added to the annual solar avoided cost. The excess solar generation is summed monthly and will be used to reduce the customer’s total monthly bill. This program is currently open for participation as further detailed in the RNR-11 Tariff. More information about the solar avoided cost projections can be found on the Public Service Commission’s website, dockets 4822 and 16573.

RNR-Instantaneous Netting

Subscription to RNR-Instantaneous netting will be available to all eligible customers on a first come, first served basis until the cumulative generating capacity of all renewable sources equals to 0.2 percent (0.2%) of the Company’s annual peak demand in the previous year. 

Your solar monitoring app shows the total amount of solar energy generated by your system. However, your electric bill only shows the excess solar that goes back to the grid during that billing period as “kWh Rec”.

Your energy usage and the amount of solar power generated fluctuates with the season. The solar will work best in the spring which coincides with the time of year when your energy usage is typically lower due to the milder temperatures of the season. In the spring, the amount of solar power you send back to the grid may be higher than what you use from the grid. If so, a Renewable Generation Credit will be paid for that excess energy. In the summer, your solar performance will continue, but your energy usage will likely increase due to air conditioning use during the heat of the summer. In the fall and winter, solar performance will decline due to overcast weather, and if you use electric heat, your usage may increase in the cold of the winter. When this happens, the amount of excess energy delivered to the grid is reduced because you are consuming more of the solar energy you are generating.

Yes, you will always receive a power bill. At a minimum, a basic service charge plus any other fees will be billed every month. Additionally, most solar customers do not offset all of their grid usage every month and continue to pay for electricity from the Georgia Power grid.

To participate in either program, you or your installer must fill out an application using PowerClerk, our interconnection for application tool. To get started with your application, please register to create an account.


Check out the PowerClerk Interconnection Guide for an overview of the process.

Applications may be filled out by the installer or the customer and both parties may be granted access to view the project status. However, even if an installer assists or completes the online application, the interconnection agreement will be solely between Georgia Power Company and the Georgia Power customer. All applications will require the Georgia Power customer’s approval and the customer will be required to sign an interconnection agreement.

Information may be entered into the application as it is available, and the application will be automatically saved as changes and updates are made. Applications should not be submitted until the following information is included:

• Georgia Power customer information, including customer name, account number, and facility address.
• Facility and technical information, including a one-line drawing and panel and inverter specifications. If battery storage is included, battery specifications must also be provided.
• Installer information.
  
• Local inspection report (if applicable).

Distributed energy generators should reference the following documents to ensure their facilities comply with the Company’s safety, reliability, operating and interconnection requirements:

• DER Parallel Operating Policy (6/15/2021)
• Georgia Power Blue Book
• Georgia Power Green Book [link to be added upon completion]
• RNR Tariff (for customers who choose to participate in this program)