In short: Hattiesburg is mostly served by Mississippi Power, whose customers lost only about 124 minutes of power in 2024, against 372 on Pearl River Valley Electric, the co-op around the city. Both charged about 14.3¢ to 14.5¢ per kWh. FEMA rates lightning, strong wind and tornadoes “relatively high” in Forrest County.
This page covers Hattiesburg and the homes just outside it in Forrest and Lamar counties. Inside or outside city limits changes your utility and your permit office. For Mississippi’s statewide rules and contractor licensing, see our Mississippi energy guide.
Hattiesburg at a glance
- Mississippi Power: the main utility in Hattiesburg. About 14.47¢ per kWh for homes (2024 average); 124 minutes without power per customer counting major events, 82 on normal days, about 1.1 interruptions (EIA-861, 2024).
- Pearl River Valley Electric Power Association: the co-op serving much of the area around the city in Forrest and Lamar counties. About 14.25¢; 372 minutes with major events, 238 without, about 3.3 interruptions.
- Other co-ops: EIA also lists Dixie Electric and Southern Pine Electric in parts of Forrest County. Southern Pine’s customers lost about 1,003 minutes in 2024 counting major events; check your bill.
- Sun: 4.62 kWh per square meter per day (NASA POWER, 2001 to 2020), about 1,350 kWh a year per kW of panels by our rough estimate.
- Top hazards: lightning, strong wind and tornadoes rated “relatively high” in Forrest County, which FEMA rates relatively low overall; Lamar County has no hazard rated “relatively high” (FEMA National Risk Index).
- Public charging: 40 public ports at 12 locations in Hattiesburg (AFDC, October 3, 2026).
Your utility and what it means
Mississippi Power. Exports earn the Public Service Commission’s credit, the utility’s avoided cost plus a 2.5¢ adder, more for low-income customers (see the state page). Mississippi Power’s renewable energy page limits home systems to 20 kW or 110% of your peak demand in the previous calendar year, whichever is less, and requires an interconnection agreement first. The utility says more than 96% of its customers are on a “self-healing” network that isolates faults automatically, and it is replacing wooden poles with concrete and steel. It has no EV charging rate yet, though it says one is planned.
Pearl River Valley Electric (PRVEPA). The co-op’s inspection and permit rules say all wiring must meet its requirements and the National Electrical Code, that most counties it serves require floodplain permits for homes, and that the city of Hattiesburg requires an electric permit. When you apply for service, you must show copies of the permits and inspections required. Ask PRVEPA for its solar interconnection and export terms in writing before you sign.
Dixie Electric and Southern Pine. If either co-op serves your home, ask it directly about solar and battery connections.
Backup power in Hattiesburg
Your utility makes a real difference here. A Mississippi Power customer in the city averaged about two hours without power in 2024; a Pearl River Valley customer outside it averaged about six, with about three interruptions; and Southern Pine’s customers averaged nearly 17 hours. FEMA’s ratings point to thunderstorms, lightning, strong wind and tornadoes as the local outage risks.
- In the city on Mississippi Power: a portable power station or a small home battery covers most outages. Check sizes with the battery backup calculator.
- On a co-op line outside the city: longer, more frequent outages make a standby generator or a larger battery more worthwhile, especially with a well pump or medical needs. Size it with the generator sizing calculator.
- Compare all options: see backup power.
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. In Hattiesburg, homeowners acting as their own contractor may not do electrical or gas piping work, so a licensed electrician must install the transfer switch, and a licensed contractor the gas piping. Read generator installation.
Solar in Hattiesburg
Each kW of panels makes about 1,350 kWh a year here by our estimate. Used at home in place of grid power, that is worth about $195 a year on Mississippi Power and about $192 on Pearl River Valley at 2024 prices. Exports earn much less. These are estimates, not promises. EIA counted just 496 home solar systems on Mississippi Power’s whole system and 111 on Pearl River Valley in 2024, so local experience is limited; get more than one quote.
Size the system to your daytime use, such as summer air conditioning, and keep within Mississippi Power’s limits. 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 Hattiesburg
A battery stores midday solar for the evening instead of exporting it for a few cents, and it covers outages automatically. On a co-op line with several outages a year, that backup value is larger. For storms that cut power for days, pair it with a generator. See battery installation and home battery cost.
EV charging in Hattiesburg
Hattiesburg has 40 public charging ports, a useful stop on I-59 trips. At home, about 30 kWh per 100 miles costs about $4.35 on Mississippi Power and $4.30 on Pearl River Valley at 2024 prices (estimates). A Level 2 charger needs a 240-volt circuit and a city electric permit: see EV charger installation and the EV charging cost calculator.
Drive on another fuel? See every alternative fuel station in Hattiesburg: hydrogen, propane, natural gas, E85 ethanol, biodiesel and renewable diesel.
Permits and inspections
- City of Hattiesburg: Urban Development handles permits and building inspections. A permit is needed to build, repair or alter a home (call 601-554-1003 if unsure); minor routine repairs can be applied for online, others in person.
- Owner-builders: you may act as your own contractor for most owner-occupied single-family homes, except electrical and gas piping work.
- Outside city limits: ask Forrest or Lamar County, and expect floodplain permit questions in many areas.
Mississippi has no statewide electrician license, so ask what the city or county requires and ask for the installer’s license numbers (state contractor lookup on the Mississippi page). In HOA neighborhoods, check rules on panels and generator placement first.
Cities we cover
- Hattiesburg
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Hattiesburg energy FAQ
Who provides electricity in Hattiesburg?
Mississippi Power serves most of the city. Pearl River Valley Electric serves much of the surrounding area in Forrest and Lamar counties, and EIA also lists Dixie Electric and Southern Pine in parts of Forrest County. Your bill shows which.
Why do outages differ so much around Hattiesburg?
They depend on the utility. In 2024, Mississippi Power customers averaged 124 minutes without power, Pearl River Valley customers 372 and Southern Pine customers about 1,003, counting major events (EIA-861).
Can I install my own generator transfer switch in Hattiesburg?
No. The city lets owner-occupants act as their own contractor for most work, but not electrical or gas piping work. A licensed electrician should install the transfer switch, with the city’s electric permit.
Does Mississippi Power have an EV charging rate?
Not yet. Its EV page says EV owners use the standard residential rate options and that it plans rates for EV charging in the future. At its 2024 average price, home charging costs about $4.35 per 100 miles.
Sources
U.S. Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-861 for 2024 (sales, reliability, service territories, net metering), read October 3, 2026. Mississippi Power renewable energy, grid investment and electric vehicle pages; Pearl River Valley Electric inspection and permit article, read October 3, 2026. City of Hattiesburg residential permits page. FEMA National Risk Index. NASA POWER, 2001 to 2020. AFDC Station Locator, October 3, 2026.