In short: Tennessee has some of the cheapest home electricity in the country, about 13.7 cents per kWh in July 2026, but its customers averaged two power interruptions in 2024 and about 279 minutes in the dark. Without net metering in TVA territory, backup power usually comes before solar here.
Almost every Tennessee home buys its power from a local public utility or co-op that resells Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) electricity: Nashville Electric Service, Memphis Light, Gas and Water, Middle Tennessee Electric, Knoxville Utilities Board and dozens more. That structure explains both the low price and the rules for solar. Here is what the numbers mean for each decision.
Tennessee at a glance
- Residential electricity price: 13.71 cents per kWh in July 2026, about 25% below the U.S. average of 18.31 cents (EIA, preliminary). Up from 13.21 cents in July 2025; the 2026 average through July was 13.87 cents.
- Outages, 2024: about 279 minutes per customer with major events, 160 minutes without; 2.0 interruptions per customer with major events and 1.76 without (EIA-861).
- Solar resource: 4.23 kWh per square meter per day at Nashville (NASA POWER), which we estimate at roughly 1,240 kWh a year per kW of panels. A labelled estimate, not a site study.
- Net metering: no statewide net metering. TVA’s local power companies buy exported solar at an avoided-cost rate set monthly (reported at roughly 3 to 4 cents per kWh); Appalachian Power offers net metering in its small Tennessee area.
- Plug-in (balcony) solar law: none found as of October 2026.
- Electric vehicles: about 55,400 battery-electric and 16,100 plug-in hybrid vehicles through 2025; 3,122 public charging ports at 1,128 locations, including 1,061 DC fast ports (AFDC, October 2026).
- Largest utilities (2024): Nashville Electric Service (12.5% of customers), Memphis (11.4%), Middle Tennessee EMC (9.3%) and Knoxville Utilities Board (5.9%), all municipal or co-op.
- Top weather hazards: tornadoes, strong wind, winter weather, ice storms and cold waves all rated relatively high for expected annual loss; heat waves relatively moderate (FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025).
- Wildfire shutoffs: none found; TVA and the large local power companies do not run public safety power shutoff programs that we could find.
Backup power in Tennessee
The number to notice is not the minutes but the count. Even on ordinary days, without counting major storms, a Tennessee customer averaged 1.76 interruptions in 2024, and the normal-day outage time (160 minutes) was well over half of the yearly total. Outages here are frequent and spread through the year, not concentrated in one rare disaster. Thunderstorm winds and tornadoes in spring, ice in winter and summer storms all play a part, which matches FEMA’s ratings.
Frequent, mostly short outages favor equipment that switches over by itself:
- Home battery: takes over in a fraction of a second, so a two-hour outage on a July evening passes without anyone noticing. Good for medical devices, home offices and sump pumps. Size it with our battery backup calculator.
- Standby generator: automatic too, and runs for days on natural gas or propane, which matters after an ice storm or a tornado outbreak takes down lines for a week. A licensed electrician installs the automatic transfer switch, with a permit where required.
- Portable generator: the budget path. Run it outdoors only, at least 20 feet from the house, exhaust aimed away from doors and windows, never in a garage or carport (CPSC). Connect it only through a transfer switch or interlock installed by a licensed electrician. Use the generator sizing tool first.
- Portable power station: handy for the frequent short outages: Wi-Fi, phones, lights, a CPAP. See portable power.
Our generators guide and home batteries guide compare running costs, noise and sizes in detail.
Solar in Tennessee
Tennessee’s sun is respectable, close to Kentucky or Missouri, but two things work against quick payback: power is cheap, and exports earn little. Here is a rough estimate. A 6 kW array at about 1,240 kWh per kW would make around 7,440 kWh a year. If you used every kWh yourself at 13.71 cents, that would be worth about $1,020 a year. If you exported half of it at a rate near 3.5 cents, the year’s value falls to roughly $640. Your own mix decides where you land.
That is why Tennessee solar works best when it is sized to your daytime use rather than your whole bill, and why many owners pair it with a battery. Before getting quotes, ask your local power company two things: its current buyback rate for exported power and its interconnection steps. TVA’s program rules apply across the valley, but each local power company handles the paperwork. Our net metering guide explains how buyback rates change the math, solar panel cost covers prices, and the solar potential tool checks your roof. Start with the solar guide.
We could not confirm a state solar incentive for typical rooftop systems in Tennessee, and the federal tax credit ended for home systems finished after December 31, 2025. Tennessee has no plug-in solar law either, so a balcony kit still needs your utility’s approval.
Home batteries in Tennessee
A battery earns its keep in Tennessee mostly as backup, given how often the lights blink. Its second job, storing midday solar for the evening instead of exporting it at a few cents, adds value only if you have panels. Without solar, a battery charges from the grid and simply waits for the next outage. We found no state or TVA battery rebate to confirm, so ask your local power company whether it runs any program. Compare prices in home battery cost and options in the batteries hub.
EV charging in Tennessee
Tennessee’s low price makes home charging cheap. At about 30 kWh per 100 miles (a typical figure on fueleconomy.gov labels), an EV costs roughly $4.10 per 100 miles at 13.71 cents, or about $490 for 12,000 miles a year, before charging losses (our estimate). With about 55,400 battery-electric cars and 3,122 public ports, there are roughly 18 cars per port, and a third of those ports are DC fast chargers along the interstates.
Drive on another fuel? See every alternative fuel station in Tennessee: hydrogen, propane, natural gas, E85 ethanol, biodiesel and renewable diesel.
A Level 2 charger usually needs a 240-volt circuit installed by a licensed electrician. The federal charger credit ended for equipment placed in service after June 30, 2026; ask your local power company about EV rates or rebates. See home EV charging and the EV charging cost calculator.
Off-grid, small wind and micro-hydro
Tennessee’s average wind at 50 meters is about 5.1 meters per second (NASA POWER), but only about 3.1 at 10 meters, closer to where small turbines sit. That makes small wind fair at best and very site-dependent; ridge tops in East Tennessee may differ, so measure before buying. Hollows with year-round streams sometimes suit micro-hydro, but we have no state data on it yet. For cabins and remote sites, solar plus batteries is usually the simplest start: see off-grid power, wind energy and hydroelectric power.
Licensing and permits
The Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (Department of Commerce and Insurance) licenses electrical contractors for jobs of $25,000 or more. Smaller jobs fall under local electrician licenses or the state’s Limited Licensed Electrician credential where accepted, so ask which license an installer holds and check it on verify.tn.gov. Permits come from your city or county, and grid-tied solar or batteries need your local power company’s interconnection approval.
Local guides in Tennessee
Utilities, rates, outage records, permit offices and local programs for each area:
Where we cover in Tennessee
- Nashville: Nashville, Franklin, Brentwood, Murfreesboro, Hendersonville, Gallatin
- Memphis: Memphis, Germantown, Collierville
- Knoxville: Knoxville, Maryville
- Chattanooga: Chattanooga
- Tri-Cities: Johnson City, Kingsport
Local pages will follow as we verify local information and installers.
Get quotes in Tennessee
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Tell us about your project and we will connect you with a licensed, independent installer who serves Tennessee. It is free, there is no obligation, and only the installer you choose gets your details. See how it works, and our incentives guide for programs elsewhere.
Frequently asked questions
Does Tennessee have net metering?
Not statewide. In TVA territory, which covers nearly all of Tennessee, local power companies buy exported solar at an avoided-cost rate that TVA sets monthly, reported at roughly 3 to 4 cents per kWh. Appalachian Power customers in its small Tennessee area can net meter. Ask your local power company for its current terms.
Why are power outages so frequent in Tennessee?
EIA’s 2024 data show about two interruptions per customer, and 1.76 even without major storms. FEMA rates tornadoes, strong wind, winter weather and ice storms as relatively high hazards here, so lines come down often. Frequent short outages are why automatic options, a home battery or a standby generator, are popular in the state.
Is solar worth it in Tennessee?
It is harder to justify than in most states, because power costs about 13.7 cents per kWh and exports earn only a few cents. A system sized to your daytime use, maybe with a battery, gets the most value. By our rough estimate, a 6 kW array’s output is worth $640 to $1,020 a year, depending on how much you export.
How much does it cost to charge an EV at home in Tennessee?
About $4.10 per 100 miles at the July 2026 average of 13.71 cents per kWh, assuming 30 kWh per 100 miles, or around $490 for 12,000 miles a year (our estimate). Charging losses, winter efficiency and your local power company’s rate plan will move the real number up or down.
Who licenses electricians and solar installers in Tennessee?
The Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors licenses electrical contractors for jobs of $25,000 or more; smaller jobs fall under local electrician licenses or the state Limited Licensed Electrician credential where accepted. Check any license at verify.tn.gov, and ask your city or county which permits your project needs.
Sources
Prices: EIA Electric Power Monthly, July 2026 (preliminary). Outages and utilities: EIA-861, 2024. Solar and wind resource: NASA POWER, 2001 to 2020 averages; kWh-per-kW and dollar figures are our estimates. Hazards: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025. EVs and charging: AFDC, 2025 registrations and station counts read October 3, 2026. Export rules: Tennessee Valley Authority. Licensing: Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance. All checked October 2026.