Louisiana Solar Guide 2026
Everything Louisiana homeowners need to know: costs, incentives, net metering policy, and what makes this state unique for solar.
Quick answer
Louisiana solar economics depend mainly on 5.1 average peak sun hours, an estimated $2.8/W installed cost, 10.0¢/kWh electricity, and the state's current net-metering rules.
Reviewed 2026-07-26
- Best for
- Louisiana homeowners comparing solar costs, incentives, and payback assumptions.
- Inputs needed
- annual kWh usage, utility rate, installed $/W, net-metering policy
- Formula used
- Typical production = system kW × peak sun hours × 365.
- Source checked
- state incentive data, utility tariff checks, Wattcrunch price benchmarks
Key fact about Louisiana solar
Louisiana has excellent sun hours and full retail net metering, but the lowest electricity rates in the US (~$0.10/kWh) make payback very long. Hurricane resilience (battery backup) is often as important as bill savings here.
Peak sun hours
5.1
hrs/day avg
Avg electricity rate
10.0¢
per kWh
Median install cost
$2.8/W
before incentives
Typical payback
14 yrs
8 kW system, avg usage
Typical 8 kW system in Louisiana
Annual production
14,892 kWh
Year-1 savings
$1,489
System cost (est.)
$22,400
No federal tax credit — Section 25D expired December 31, 2025.
Louisiana Net Metering Policy
Full retail net metering (LPSC Order)
Louisiana requires full retail net metering. Entergy Louisiana and Cleco must credit excess at retail rate. Annual true-up — unused credits not paid out.
Louisiana Solar Incentives
Available in addition to any utility rebates. Federal 25D credit is $0 for homeowner-owned systems from 2026.
- ✓Sales tax exemption on solar equipment
- ✓Property tax exemption
Top Utilities in Louisiana
Interconnection timeline: 4–8 weeks
State-specific decision guide
What to verify before signing a Louisiana solar quote
In Louisiana, the financial result depends on more than sunshine or the headline installation price. Confirm the export rule, program eligibility date, and interconnection timeline for your exact utility before treating a payback estimate as a promise.
Export value
This page models full retail net metering (lpsc order). Ask which tariff and export credit apply to your account, not only which program name appears in the proposal.
Incentive eligibility
Check equipment, income, installer, application, and placed-in-service rules before subtracting an incentive from the quote. Programs can close or change terms.
Interconnection
Budget for the published 4–8 weeks and confirm who pays for a required meter, service upgrade, or engineering review.
Source trail: production assumptions use NREL PVWatts; incentive discovery should be checked against DSIRE; electricity-market context is available from the EIA. Confirm final tax treatment with the IRS and your utility.
Calculate your Louisiana solar economics
Our calculators are pre-filled with Louisiana data. Run any tool below.