Solar & energy in Tennessee

TVA's program pays below retail. Slow payback (12+ years).

Avg electricity rate
$0.13/kWh
USA average
Peak sun hours
4.5
Annual average
Net metering
poor
No NM (TVA generation partner)
Solar friendliness
★★☆☆☆
Out of 5

Key facts

  • RegionTennessee
  • CountryUSA
  • Average rate$0.13/kWh
  • Peak rate (TOU)$0.18/kWh
  • Off-peak rate (TOU)$0.08/kWh
  • Peak sun hours4.5 hrs/day
  • Net metering policyNo NM (TVA generation partner)
  • NM qualityPoor
  • Solar friendliness rating★★/5

Available incentives

  • TVA Green Power Providers

Net metering quality

Quality of net metering policy (higher = better for solar economics):

Poor — No NM (TVA generation partner)

What this means

Poor net metering means exports are worth little. Solar + battery is usually the right strategy here.

Example: 900 kWh/month household in Tennessee

At 4.5 peak sun hours and a 400W panel, you'd need approximately 19 panels (7.6 kW system) to cover your usage. That produces ~10,735 kWh/year, saving about $1,396/year at the 0.13/kWh local rate.

Run the full calculator

Going solar in Tennessee

Tennessee, in Tennessee, USA, has 4.5 average peak sun hours per day — good for solar. The local electricity rate is $0.13/kWh, around the USA average.

Net metering in Tennessee is rated poor. No NM (TVA generation partner). This significantly affects solar payback: with excellent net metering, every excess kWh you produce is credited at full retail value; with poor net metering, exports may be worth only 10-30% of retail, making battery storage much more attractive.

Available incentives include: TVA Green Power Providers. These can substantially reduce the upfront cost of solar and battery installations. Note: the US federal solar tax credit expired December 31, 2025. State and local incentives still vary by region. South African taxpayers can claim accelerated depreciation under SARS section 12B.

Next steps

Use the Solar Panel Sizing Calculator with 4.5 peak sun hours to find out exactly how many panels you need. Then check the Solar Savings Calculator for a 25-year projection using the local $0.13/kWh rate. If net metering is poor in Tennessee, also run the Battery ROI Calculator — batteries may be essential rather than optional.