Louisiana solar rebates and incentives: 2026 guide

Louisiana doesn't offer the strongest solar incentive programs out there. But that doesn't mean solar isn't worth it—especially if your electric bills are eating up a big chunk of your monthly budget.

Solar's real value isn't about rebates. It's about taking control of your electricity costs for the next 25-30 years. As utility rates continue their steady climb, locking in lower energy costs now can deliver substantial savings over time. Even without robust state programs, many Louisiana homeowners with decent sun exposure and moderate to high electric bills find that solar still pays for itself. Here's how you may be able to lower your solar costs in Louisiana—and whether it makes sense for your home.

Unfortunately, Louisiana doesn't offer many incentives for solar. But if your electric bills are high, going solar can still make sense.

Yes, Louisiana offers a solar property tax exemption. Solar panels generally raise the property value of your home, but thanks to this law, you won’t have to pay extra tax on that added value.

Louisiana no longer offers net metering, but most of its utility companies (including Entergy, SWEPCO, other electric co-ops, and municipal providers)  offer another solar buyback program: net billing.

Similar to net metering, net billing lets you earn credits when you send excess electricity from your solar panels to the grid. Later, when the sun isn’t shining and you need to pull electricity from the grid, your utility company will apply your credits to your bill. 

But there’s a catch—the utility companies only offer partial credit for the kWh you send. In other words, you sell electricity to your utility company at a much cheaper rate than they’ll sell it back to you. 

The exact rates depend on your specific utility company, but it’s generally less than half the retail rate. For example, as of April 2024, Entergy pays about $0.02 cents per kWh. 

If you want to squeeze the most possible value out of your solar panels under net billing, consider installing a solar battery.

(Louisiana previously offered a net metering program, which was more consumer-friendly in several important ways. But as of 2020, utility companies in the state are no longer required to offer true net metering for new solar installations.)

Louisiana doesn't offer any state-specific battery incentives.

Solar batteries paired with solar panels can make good financial sense in Louisiana. When your solar panels produce excess energy, you can store it on your solar battery and use it later to power your home for free. Otherwise, you have to sell your excess energy to your utility company at a steep discount—and then buy it back at full price when you need it. A solar battery can further boost your energy independence by serving as a source of backup power during blackouts and other power outages.

If you're looking for solar installers in Louisiana, here are some popular suggestions: