Electricity In Georgia

Of the 94 electricity companies in Georgia, 51 of them report that they offer net metering. The state has pretty good net metering and feed in tariffs that make solar and other alternative types of electricity generation more attracitve.

The average energy loss for providers in Georgia is 4.00%. This includes data from 87 companies, including Georgia Power, Jackson EMC, and Cobb Electric Membership Corp. For comparison, the countrywide average energy loss is 2.72%. Georgia ranks 17th worst in the US for grid efficiency based on energy loss.

State governments can encourage private consumers to consider installing home solar panels by promoting tax incentives and rebates to their populace. Georgia currently offers no state tax credit to consumers who purchase solar at their place of residence. The state offers limited local rebates for solar purchases. There are currently no property tax exemptions for residents in Georgia who wish to purchase private solar panels at their home. Residents in the state do not have access to a sales tax exemption when installing solar panels.

Legislation drawn up at the state level determines whether a state is friendly towards customers searching for renewable energy sources. States that have Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) have requirements in place for electricity providers who do business in the state. These standards dictate that a certain amount of electricity must be generated using green fuel sources. Georgia does not currently have any standards established that providers have to follow. Additionally, there are currently no low income solar programs to assist low income families to install solar panels.