Solar panels in Macon, GA
Roofs in Macon get about 1,440 hours of usable sunlight a year — less than 72% of the cities we've measured. Here's what that means in cost, savings and payback, using real rooftop data rather than a national average.
Check your specific roof in Macon → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Macon solar system costs
A 23-panel system (9.2 kW) is about right for an average Macon home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 11,261 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 3,917 | $6,384 | $552 | 11.6 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 5,875 | $9,576 | $828 | 11.6 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 7,834 | $12,768 | $1,105 | 11.6 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 9,792 | $15,960 | $1,381 | 11.6 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 12,730 | $20,748 | $1,591 | 13 yrs |
Notice that payback barely improves as systems get bigger, and eventually gets worse. That's because you can only save money on electricity you were going to buy anyway. Once a system covers your usage, extra panels mostly generate exports at a much lower rate.
Why Macon gets 1,440 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Macon — it already accounts for shading from trees, chimneys and neighbouring buildings, which is why it's lower than the raw "hours of daylight" figures you'll see elsewhere. An unusually open, unshaded roof in Macon reaches about 1,684 hours, roughly 17% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,440 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,684 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (Georgia avg) | 14.1¢/kWh |
| Installed cost assumed | $2.85/W |
| Panel size assumed | 400 W |
| Federal tax credit | 30% |
| Typical household usage | 10,800 kWh/yr |
| Power used as generated | 34% |
| Paid for exported power | full retail (net metering) |
| Rooftops sampled here | 13 |
| Google imagery from | 2023 |
Nearby cities
See all of Georgia → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Macon solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Macon?
About 23 panels for an average home. Macon roofs get 1,440 usable sun hours a year, so each 400W panel produces roughly 490 kWh annually.
Is solar worth it in Macon?
At 14.1¢/kWh and 1,440 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 11.9 years and returns roughly $20,122 over 25 years. That is slower than the national average, so compare quotes carefully.
How much do solar panels cost in Macon?
A 9.2 kW system costs about $26,220 before incentives and $18,354 after the 30% federal tax credit. Prices vary by installer, roof complexity and equipment.
Worth reading before you buy
Estimates only, generated 2026-08-22 from Google Solar API rooftop samples and average Georgia electricity rates. Not a quote and not financial advice. Your roof, usage, utility plan and local incentives will change these numbers — get real quotes before buying.