In short: The Jackson metro runs on Entergy Mississippi, which charged homes about 13.2¢ per kWh in 2024. Its customers lost about 692 minutes of power that year, more than the state average, and 332 even on normal days. FEMA rates hail, ice storms and strong wind “very high” in Hinds County.
This page covers Jackson, Madison, Ridgeland and Brandon. For Mississippi’s statewide rules, contractor licensing and averages, see our Mississippi energy guide. Below: what Entergy’s numbers and recent storms mean for backup power, what solar is worth here, and where permits come from.
Jackson at a glance
- Entergy Mississippi: serves Jackson, Ridgeland, Brandon and Madison. About 13.21¢ per kWh for homes (2024 average). Outages in 2024: 692 minutes per customer counting major events (about 11.5 hours), 332 minutes on normal days, about 2.3 interruptions (EIA-861). The statewide figures are 567 and 266.
- Co-ops on the edges: EIA also lists Central Electric Power Association and Southern Pine Electric Cooperative in Rankin County. Their 2024 outage minutes were higher still, so check your bill if you live outside city limits.
- Sun: 4.64 kWh per square meter per day (NASA POWER, 2001 to 2020), about 1,355 kWh a year per kW of panels by our rough estimate.
- Top hazards: hail, ice storms and strong wind rated “very high” in Hinds County, with cold waves, heat waves, lightning, tornadoes and winter weather “relatively high”. Madison and Rankin counties rate ice storms and tornadoes “relatively high” (FEMA National Risk Index).
- Public charging: 74 public ports in Jackson, 23 in Ridgeland and 12 in Brandon (AFDC, October 3, 2026).
Your utility and what it means
Entergy Mississippi. Entergy has offered net metering since August 2016 under the Public Service Commission’s rules. Solar you use at home saves the retail price; exports earn the PSC credit described on our state page, reported at about 5.5¢ per kWh for Entergy Mississippi, so confirm the current figure with Entergy. Its net metering page adds the local details:
- Home systems up to 20 kW apply as Level 1 through the online Entergy Interconnection Portal.
- A home system may not offset more than 110% of the past year’s electricity use at that address.
- A one-time fee of $95 applies if you already have an advanced (smart) meter, or $135 if Entergy must install one.
- Excess credits carry over month to month; Entergy refunds them only when you disconnect the system.
- Panels must be on your property, behind your meter. Entergy does not sell, install or recommend solar companies.
Co-ops. If you are on Central Electric or Southern Pine, ask the co-op for its solar and interconnection rules before you sign anything.
Backup power in Jackson
Entergy Mississippi’s own updates show how outages build up here. After Hurricane Francine in September 2024, more than 11,000 Entergy Mississippi customers lost power. In late January 2026, an ice storm followed by 30 to 40 mph wind gusts caused about 87,000 outages across Entergy’s Mississippi territory, damaging about 1,390 poles and 1.53 million feet of wire. The hardest-hit areas were farther north around Grenada, where some homes were still dark on February 2. Entergy noted that its bucket trucks cannot work in sustained winds above 30 mph, which slows repairs.
- Frequent shorter outages: a home battery switches over on its own and keeps the fridge, fans, lights, internet and medical devices running. Check sizes with the battery backup calculator.
- Ice storms and hurricanes: a standby generator on natural gas, or a portable one on a transfer switch, carries a home through several days. Size it with the generator sizing calculator.
- Light needs or renters: a portable power station is the simple start. Compare all options in backup power.
Entergy cannot reconnect a home with a damaged meter base, conduit or weatherhead until a licensed electrician repairs it. Run a generator outdoors only, at least 20 feet from the house and never in a garage or carport, with carbon monoxide alarms on each level. A licensed electrician should install the transfer switch; see generator installation.
Solar in Jackson
Each kW of panels makes about 1,355 kWh a year in Jackson by our estimate. Used at home in place of Entergy power at 13.21¢, that is worth about $179 a year; exported at the reported 5.5¢, about $75. Real systems land in between, depending on how much you use while the sun shines. These are estimates, not promises.
EIA counted only 625 home solar systems on Entergy Mississippi’s lines in 2024, so this is still a young market. Size the system to your daytime use, such as summer air conditioning, and keep within Entergy’s 110% limit. Grid-tied panels shut off in an outage unless paired with a battery. The federal 25D credit ended for systems completed after 2025. Try the solar potential calculator and read solar costs and solar installation.
Home batteries in Jackson
With 332 outage minutes on normal days and exports worth well below the retail price, a battery does two jobs here: it covers routine outages without anyone touching a switch, and it stores midday solar for the evening instead of exporting it. For multi-day storms, pair it with a generator. Ask Entergy how it treats a battery in your interconnection application. See battery installation and home battery cost.
EV charging in Jackson
Public charging is modest: 74 ports in Jackson, 23 in Ridgeland and 12 in Brandon. Most drivers will charge at home, at about $3.95 per 100 miles on Entergy’s 2024 average price, using about 30 kWh per 100 miles (an estimate). Charge up before a forecast ice storm. A Level 2 charger needs a 240-volt circuit and a permit: see EV charger installation and the EV charging cost calculator.
Drive on another fuel? See every alternative fuel station in Jackson: hydrogen, propane, natural gas, E85 ethanol, biodiesel and renewable diesel.
Permits and inspections
- Jackson: the Building Permit Office (Office of Code Services) reviews plans, issues permits and inspects; the city uses the 2017 National Electrical Code without amendments.
- Madison: the Building and Permits Department takes applications through an online portal.
- Ridgeland: Permits and Inspections in Community Development.
- Brandon: Permits and licenses through Community Development.
- Outside city limits: ask Hinds, Madison or Rankin County.
Mississippi has no statewide electrician license, so ask the city what it requires and ask the installer for a local license number (state contractor lookup on the Mississippi page). In HOA neighborhoods, check rules on panels and generator placement first.
Cities we cover
- Jackson
- Madison
- Ridgeland
- Brandon
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Jackson energy FAQ
How reliable is Entergy Mississippi’s power in the Jackson area?
In 2024 its customers averaged 692 minutes without power counting major events, and 332 on normal days, both above Mississippi’s statewide averages (EIA-861). Customers saw about 2.3 interruptions in the year.
What does Entergy Mississippi charge to connect solar?
A one-time fee of $95 if you already have an advanced meter, or $135 if Entergy must install one. Home systems up to 20 kW apply online as Level 1 and may not offset more than 110% of the past year’s use.
How did the January 2026 ice storm affect Entergy Mississippi?
Entergy reported about 87,000 outages across its Mississippi territory, with about 1,390 poles damaged. The hardest-hit areas were around Grenada, north of Jackson, where some customers waited more than a week.
Why won’t Entergy restore power to my house after a storm?
If the meter base, conduit or weatherhead on your house is damaged, Entergy needs a licensed electrician to repair it first. Once the repair is done, report the outage again so crews can reconnect you.
Sources
U.S. Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-861 for 2024 (sales, reliability, service territories, net metering), read October 3, 2026. Entergy Mississippi net metering page; Entergy Mississippi releases on Hurricane Francine (September 14, 2024) and the January 2026 winter storm (February 1 and 2, 2026). City of Jackson Building Permits; Madison, Ridgeland and Brandon permit pages. FEMA National Risk Index. NASA POWER, 2001 to 2020. AFDC Station Locator, October 3, 2026.