Savannah Energy Guide: Solar, Batteries, Backup Power and EV

In short: Savannah and Pooler sit in Chatham County, where FEMA rates both hurricanes and coastal flooding “very high”. Georgia Power, at about 15.5¢ per kWh in 2024, counted Savannah among its three hardest-hit areas in Hurricane Helene. The sun is a little stronger than in Atlanta, but storm backup is the first decision here.

This page covers Savannah and Pooler. For statewide rules, contractor licensing and Georgia’s averages, see our Georgia energy guide. Below: the local utility picture, the coast’s storm record, what solar is worth here, and where permits come from.

Savannah at a glance

• Georgia Power: serves most homes in Savannah and Pooler (check your bill). About 15.5¢ per kWh for homes (2024 average). Company-wide outages in 2024: 128 minutes per customer on normal days, 1,516 minutes (about 25 hours) counting major storms (EIA-861).
• Canoochee EMC: listed by EIA as serving parts of Chatham County; about 14¢ per kWh in 2024 (no outage figures reported).
• Sun: 4.69 kWh per square meter per day (NASA POWER, 2001 to 2020), about 1,370 kWh a year per kW of panels by our rough estimate.
• Top hazards: coastal flooding and hurricanes rated “very high” in Chatham County; ice storms and lightning “relatively high”; overall risk “relatively high” (FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025).
• Public charging: 190 public ports in Savannah and 80 in Pooler (AFDC, October 3, 2026).

Your utility and what it means

Georgia Power. New home solar customers are on “RNR Instantaneous Netting”. Solar used in the house as it is produced saves the full retail price; each exported kWh earns the 2026 solar avoided cost of about 3.2¢ plus a 4¢ adder approved by the Georgia Public Service Commission, about 7.2¢ in total. Home systems are capped at 10 kW AC, the program stays open until it reaches a capacity limit, and you or your installer apply through Georgia Power’s PowerClerk portal, followed by a witness test and permission to operate.

For EV owners and battery owners, Georgia Power’s Overnight Advantage plan charges about 2¢ per kWh from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. every day, with a high summer weekday peak from 2 to 7 p.m. and a charge based on your monthly peak demand. Georgia Power also lists a rebate of up to $150 for a home Level 2 charger, while funds last.

Canoochee EMC. If your bill comes from Canoochee, your co-op sets its own interconnection and export rules. We could not confirm them, so ask for the export rate and any battery rules in writing before you sign.

Backup power in Savannah

Hurricane Helene showed the coast’s exposure. Georgia Power says Helene was the most destructive storm in its history, with more than 1.5 million customer outages, and that nearly every customer in the coastal and eastern regions of the state lost power. Savannah was one of the three hardest-hit areas where its crews concentrated, along with Valdosta and Augusta. With hurricanes and coastal flooding both rated “very high” for Chatham County, Savannah homes should plan for outages that last days, not hours.

• Before a storm: a portable power station keeps phones, a radio, lights and a CPAP running.
• Through the first day or two: a home battery on essential circuits; with solar it can refill once the skies clear.
• Long hurricane outages: a standby generator on natural gas or propane, set on a raised pad where flooding is possible.

In flood-prone parts of Savannah, ask the installer about raising the generator, battery and transfer equipment above expected flood levels. The CPSC says to run portable generators outdoors only, at least 20 feet from the house with exhaust pointed away from doors and windows, never in a garage or on a porch, and to keep battery-backed CO alarms on every level. A licensed electrician should install a transfer switch or interlock. Start with our backup power guide, the generator sizing tool and generator installation.

Solar in Savannah

Savannah gets about 4% more sun than Atlanta in NASA’s data. Each kW of panels makes about 1,370 kWh a year by our estimate: worth about $210 a year if every kWh replaces Georgia Power power at 15.5¢, or about $100 if it is all exported at 7.2¢. Most homes land in between, so the more you use at home, the better solar pays. Panels and racking near the coast must be rated for local wind loads, which your installer and the permit office will check.

The federal 25D credit ended for systems completed after 2025. Use the solar potential calculator, compare solar costs and read solar installation.

Home batteries in Savannah

Georgia Power points out that grid-tied solar shuts off in an outage unless a battery is installed. On the coast, that makes a battery the piece that turns panels into hurricane backup. It also lets you keep midday solar for the evening instead of exporting it at about 7.2¢, and on Overnight Advantage it can charge cheaply overnight. For a long outage, pairing a battery with a generator is more realistic than a battery alone. See battery installation, home battery cost and the battery backup calculator.

EV charging in Savannah

Savannah has 190 public ports and Pooler 80. At home, using about 30 kWh per 100 miles, Georgia Power’s 15.5¢ average comes to about $4.65 per 100 miles, or about $560 for 12,000 miles a year (estimate); overnight charging on Overnight Advantage costs far less in energy, before the plan’s other charges. A Level 2 charger needs a 240-volt circuit, a 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 Savannah: hydrogen, propane, natural gas, E85 ethanol, biodiesel and renewable diesel.

Permits and inspections

• City of Savannah: the Development Services Department takes building and trade permits online through eTRAC, and its applications and checklists include a solar permit application and solar permit checklist. Solar panels and stand-alone generators each have their own line in the city’s 2025 permit fee schedule.
• City of Pooler: Building and Inspections issues permits and inspections and has used an online submission portal since April 2024.
• Unincorporated Chatham County: ask the county which office handles your permit.

Use a licensed electrical contractor (license lookup on the state page); they normally pull the permit and arrange inspections, then file the utility’s interconnection application. In historic districts and HOA neighborhoods, check design rules for roof panels and generator placement before you buy.

Cities we cover

• Savannah
• Pooler

Get help in Savannah

Tell us about your project and we will connect you with a licensed, independent installer who serves the Savannah area. It is free, there is no obligation, and only the installer you choose gets your details. See how it works.

Savannah energy FAQ

How badly did Hurricane Helene affect Savannah’s power?

Badly. Georgia Power named Savannah one of its three hardest-hit areas, with Valdosta and Augusta, and said nearly all customers in the coastal and eastern regions lost power. Statewide it handled more than 1.5 million customer outages, the largest restoration in its history.

Where should a generator go in a flood-prone Savannah home?

Outdoors, on a raised pad above expected flood levels, at a safe distance from doors, windows and vents, following the manufacturer’s clearances and local code. Ask your installer and the permit office about elevation, and never run a portable generator in a garage or under the house.

Will my solar panels work when the power goes out?

Not on their own. Georgia Power notes that grid-tied systems shut off during an outage for safety. To use solar in a blackout, you need a battery with backup capability, or a hybrid inverter designed to run without the grid.

Do I need a permit for solar in Savannah?

Yes. The City of Savannah has a solar permit application and checklist and takes permits online through eTRAC; Pooler has its own Building and Inspections office. Georgia Power must also approve the system before it is turned on.

Sources

U.S. Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-861 for 2024 (sales, reliability, service territories), read October 3, 2026. Georgia Power: rooftop solar FAQ, RNR-11 tariff, Overnight Advantage plan, EV rebate page and Hurricane Helene storm page, read October 3, 2026. City of Savannah Development Services and 2025 fee schedule; City of Pooler Building and Inspections. FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025). NASA POWER, 2001 to 2020. AFDC Station Locator, October 3, 2026. CPSC generator safety guidance.