Plug-In Solar in Louisiana
Louisiana still has no plug-in solar law, and no plug-in solar bill turned up in our search, so standard utility interconnection rules for solar apply.
- No plug-in solar law in Louisiana yetNo bill yet
- The utility rules apply.No cap on plug-in wattage.
- It's 13.3 cents.The EIA figure for the average home price per kWh covers Jan to Aug 2026.
- $157 each year.In New Orleans, an 800 W kit, before any solar fee from the utility.
In Louisiana, get your electric utility's approval before you connect, and pick an inverter with anti-islanding listed to UL 1741, or one listed to UL 3700.
Today's Rule in Louisiana
Hooking up: before any customer generator connects, Entergy Louisiana requires review and approval. The paperwork is either an online application or an interconnection agreement, along with a one-line diagram. You also pay a $100 one-time charge, install a lockable manual disconnect, and use an inverter that is listed to UL 1741.
Net metering: the LPSC's 2019 revised rules cover residential systems up to 25 kW. Under them, credit for new customers' surplus power comes at the avoided cost rate only, $0.0259331 per kWh at Entergy Louisiana starting April 1, 2025.
Savings from a Kit in Louisiana
According to PVWatts, panels in New Orleans produce 1,481 kWh a year for every 1 kW, while homes in Louisiana pay 13.3 cents per kWh in 2026 so far. Results for an 800 W kit depend on where the panels go:
| Where the panels go | kWh a year | Saved a year |
|---|---|---|
| Tilted south on a stand | 1,185 | $157 |
| Upright on a railing | 746 | $99 |
| Facing east or west | 948 | $126 |
Month by Month for New Orleans
- Jan80
- Feb81
- Mar108
- Apr107
- May112
- Jun99
- Jul98
- Aug99
- Sep106
- Oct114
- Nov97
- Dec84
kWh from an 800 W kit set up tilted south.
Kit Prices for Louisiana
| Kit | kWh a year | Saved a year | Pays back in | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Solar Supplier 1180 W EZ1 Kit | 1,748 | $232 | 3.9 years | $899 |
| Bright Saver 360 W Balcony Kit | 533 | $71 | 5.9 years | $414 |
| EcoFlow STREAM 800 W Kit | 1,185 | $157 | 7.0 years | $1,099 |
All tilted south and used at home. Compare all kits
Things Worth Knowing in Louisiana
- At Entergy Louisiana, exported solar power brings in only about 2.6 cents/kWh, so size a plug-in kit to what you use right away.
- New Orleans has different rules: the net metering rules of the LPSC that Entergy Louisiana describes don't apply to Entergy New Orleans customers.
- Cheap power in Louisiana: what homes paid on average in 2024 was 11.73 cents/kWh.
Are you renting or on a balcony?
The mount is up to your landlord or HOA, while your electric utility decides on the hookup. Learn about balcony solar and solar for apartments.
Main Utility Companies
- Entergy Louisiana
- Cleco Power
- Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO)
- Entergy New Orleans
Next Steps for You in Louisiana
- Pick a size: about 592 kWh a year comes from a 400 W kit in New Orleans, and about 1,777 kWh from a 1,200 W kit. Run yours.
- Other states have passed plug-in bills, so ask the lawmakers in your state about one like theirs.
Sources
- Louisiana State Legislature home
- LPSC - Utilities Net Metering
- Entergy Louisiana on net metering and distributed generation
- Interconnection process and requirements - Entergy Louisiana
- EIA State Electricity Profile tables, Louisiana 2024
- NREL PVWatts, New Orleans and EIA Table 5.6.B, 2026 price data
All states at a glance, or check a nearby state: Mississippi, Alabama, Texas.