In short: Green Bay is on Wisconsin Public Service (WPS), where homes paid about 16.2¢ per kWh in 2024, less than in Milwaukee or Madison, but lost about 465 minutes of power each once major storms were counted, against 95 on ordinary days (EIA). WPS credits monthly solar surplus at about 3.6¢ in 2026.
This page covers what is specific to Green Bay: WPS and its solar and EV credits, the storms behind its outage numbers, city permit rules and charging. For statewide rules, including the Focus on Energy solar rebate and tax exemptions, see our Wisconsin energy guide.
Green Bay at a glance
- Wisconsin Public Service (Green Bay and De Pere): about 16.2¢ per kWh on average for homes in 2024. Outages: 465 minutes per customer with major events, 95 without; 1.22 interruptions a year with major events, 0.77 without (EIA-861, 2024). We Energies serves other parts of Brown County.
- Sun: about 3.8 kWh per square meter per day, from 1.2 in December to 6.1 in June (NASA POWER, 2001 to 2020). Our rough estimate: about 1,110 kWh a year per kW of panels.
- Top hazards: Brown County is “very high” for cold waves and “relatively high” for hail, lightning, tornadoes and winter weather (FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025).
- Home solar so far: WPS reported 1,859 residential solar systems and 78 paired batteries across its territory in 2024 (EIA).
- Public charging: 48 ports at 23 locations in Green Bay (AFDC, October 3, 2026).
Your utility and what it means
- Solar exports: WPS’s net energy billing rate (PG-4) covers renewable systems up to 20 kW, sized to your expected use. The meter runs backward during the month; if you export more than you use, the surplus is credited at $0.03584 per kWh (2026 tariff), and WPS pays out once your credit balance passes $100. You keep the renewable energy credits. Larger systems move to WPS’s other parallel generation rates.
- EV pilot: battery-electric owners on the standard rate (about 14.8¢ per kWh for energy) get a 4¢ credit per kWh used between midnight and 8 a.m., up to 400 kWh a month. Time-of-use customers get 1¢, and three-tier time-of-use customers half a cent, on top of their off-peak price.
- Rate options: WPS also offers time-of-use and three-level pricing for homes that can shift laundry, water heating or charging to off-peak hours.
Backup power in Green Bay
The gap between ordinary days and storm days is wide for WPS customers: about 1.6 hours without power in 2024 on normal days, and nearly 8 hours once major events were counted (EIA). One of those events was a strong winter storm in April 2024, after which WPS and crews from across the Midwest restored power to more than 120,000 customers, some over several days because of fallen trees and broken poles. On July 1, 2026, winds above 50 mph cut power to more than 19,000 WPS customers in northeast Wisconsin.
Late-season snowstorms and summer wind are the storm types to plan for, with a “very high” cold-wave rating on top. Keep the furnace blower, sump pump and fridge running with a natural gas standby generator for multi-day outages, or a home battery for the shorter ones; a portable power station covers phones, lights and a CPAP. Compare the options in backup power options and size them with the generator sizing tool or the battery backup calculator.
Safety first: the CPSC says to run generators outdoors only, at least 20 feet from the house, never in a garage; clear snow from the exhaust, fit battery-backed CO alarms, and have a licensed electrician install the transfer switch (generator installation).
Solar in Green Bay
Panels here make about 1,110 kWh a year per kW by our rough estimate, slightly more than in Milwaukee. Each kWh used at home is worth about 16¢ at WPS’s 2024 average, around $180 a year per kW, while exported surplus earns about 3.6¢, roughly $40 a year per kW. Size the system to your use, and remember December production is about a fifth of June’s. These are estimates; check yours with the solar potential tool and the solar savings calculator.
Lower prices than Milwaukee or Madison mean a longer payback, which makes the statewide Focus on Energy rebate matter more here (see the Wisconsin page). With hail rated “relatively high”, ask about panel hail ratings and insurance. Read solar installation and how net metering works.
Batteries in Green Bay
About one WPS solar home in 24 had a battery in 2024 (EIA). With exports credited at about 3.6¢, a battery that shifts midday surplus to the evening keeps more value at home, and it rides through the short outages. For an April-style storm that lasts days, pair it with a generator or plan to recharge from solar. WPS lists separate steps for battery or EV home backup systems; we found no WPS battery rebate. See home battery installation and home battery cost.
EV charging in Green Bay
At about 30 kWh per 100 miles, home charging costs roughly $4.90 per 100 miles at WPS’s 2024 average (our estimate). On the standard rate, the EV pilot’s 4¢ overnight credit brings the energy charge to under 11¢ per kWh, before other bill items. Green Bay has 48 public ports (AFDC, October 3, 2026). Cold winters cut range, so a garage Level 2 charger helps; it needs a 240-volt circuit, a city electrical permit and a licensed electrician. See EV charger installation and the EV charging cost calculator.
Drive on another fuel? See every alternative fuel station in Green Bay: hydrogen, propane, natural gas, E85 ethanol, biodiesel and renewable diesel.
Permits and inspections
- City of Green Bay: the Department of Community and Economic Development runs building permits and inspections; building permits take about a week once the application is complete.
- Electrical work: per the city’s residential permits page, an electrical permit is needed for wiring done with a building permit, or when more than three outlets, lights or switches are added. Wiring must be done by an electrical contractor licensed in Green Bay, except that an owner living in a single-family home may do it with a permit after meeting a city electrical inspector.
- Utility approval: WPS must approve solar and battery interconnection. Check HOA rules in writing.
Cities we cover
- Green Bay
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Green Bay energy FAQ
Does WPS have net metering?
Yes, for renewable systems up to 20 kW. Your meter nets use and exports within each month; power you use as it is made saves the full retail price, and any monthly surplus is credited at $0.03584 per kWh in 2026. WPS pays out credit balances above $100.
Why were Green Bay’s outage numbers so high in 2024?
Major storms. WPS customers averaged 95 minutes without power on ordinary days but 465 with major events (EIA). A strong winter storm in early April 2024 left more than 120,000 WPS customers to be restored, some over several days.
Can I do my own wiring for a generator or charger in Green Bay?
Only in a single-family home you own and live in, with an electrical permit and a meeting with a city electrical inspector first. Otherwise the work must be done by an electrical contractor licensed in Green Bay. For transfer switches, batteries and chargers, a licensed electrician is the safe choice.
Is there a discount for charging an EV overnight?
Yes. WPS’s residential EV pilot gives battery-electric owners on the standard rate a 4¢ credit per kWh used between midnight and 8 a.m., up to 400 kWh a month. Time-of-use customers get a smaller credit on top of their off-peak price.
Sources
Utilities, prices, outages and solar and battery counts: U.S. Energy Information Administration, EIA-861 data for 2024. WPS PG-4 tariff (effective January 1, 2026), customer-owned generation, EV pilot and services pages, and April 2024 and July 2026 storm releases. City of Green Bay building permits and residential permits pages. Sun: NASA POWER, 2001 to 2020. Hazards: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025. Charging: Alternative Fuels Data Center. Generator safety: CPSC. All checked October 3, 2026.