In short: Most of Madison and Middleton is on Madison Gas and Electric (MGE), where homes paid about 20.3¢ per kWh in 2024, among the highest in Wisconsin, but lost only 42 minutes of power on ordinary days (EIA). MGE credits monthly solar surplus at your retail energy rate if you don’t out-produce your use over a year.
This page covers what is specific to the Madison area: MGE, Sun Prairie’s city utility and Alliant Energy, the City of Madison’s MadiSUN program, permits and charging. For statewide rules, including the Focus on Energy solar rebate and tax exemptions, see our Wisconsin energy guide.
Madison at a glance
- MGE (most of Madison and Middleton): about 20.3¢ per kWh on average for homes in 2024. Outages: 279 minutes per customer with major events but only 42 without; 0.59 interruptions a year (EIA-861, 2024).
- Sun Prairie Utilities (city-owned): about 12.1¢ per kWh. Outages: 34 minutes, the same with or without major events; about one interruption (EIA-861, 2024).
- Alliant Energy (Wisconsin Power and Light; much of the rest of Dane County): about 16.9¢ per kWh; about 154 minutes including major events, reported under a non-IEEE method (EIA-861, 2024). Waunakee, Stoughton and Mount Horeb run their own city utilities.
- Sun: about 3.85 kWh per square meter per day, from 1.3 in December to 6.1 in June (NASA POWER, 2001 to 2020). Our rough estimate: about 1,125 kWh a year per kW of panels.
- Top hazards: Dane County is “very high” for cold waves and “relatively high” for hail, ice storms, lightning, inland flooding, strong wind, tornadoes and winter weather (FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025).
- Public charging: 340 ports at 121 locations in Madison, 38 in Sun Prairie and 19 in Middleton (AFDC, October 3, 2026).
Your utility and what it means
- MGE, solar: under its net metering schedule (Pg-2, renewable systems up to 100 kW AC, batteries allowed), surplus left at the end of a month is credited at your own retail energy rate as long as, over the past 12 months, you bought at least as much as you sold. If you sold more, the credit drops to MGE’s buyback rate, about 5.4¢ per kWh on the standard rate in 2026. MGE keeps the renewable credits for the surplus it pays for.
- MGE, EVs and rates: time-of-use pricing with off-peak hours from 9 p.m. to 10 a.m. on weekdays; a managed-charging program, Charge Ahead, which is currently full with a waitlist; and discounted charging at MGE’s public stations for members of its EV Owners Group. MGE also runs Shared Solar, a community solar option.
- Alliant Energy: an instant rebate on Level 2 home chargers bought through the Alliant Energy Marketplace, plus seasonal rewards in its Smart Hours program, and a community solar program. Ask Alliant for its current export credit before you size solar.
- Sun Prairie Utilities and other city utilities: rules differ; ask yours about solar credits and EV rates.
Backup power in Madison
MGE’s ordinary-day record is one of the best in the state, about 42 minutes per customer in 2024. Major events multiplied that more than six times, to about 4.6 hours (EIA), and Dane County’s hazard list explains why: ice storms, wind, hail and tornadoes, on top of a “very high” cold-wave rating. The outage to plan for is a winter one that runs for hours.
For most Madison homes, a home battery or a portable power station covers the typical short outage, and a natural gas standby generator covers the rare long one, keeping the furnace blower, sump pump and fridge running. Compare them in backup power options and size yours with the battery backup calculator or the generator sizing tool.
Safety first: the CPSC says to run generators outdoors only, at least 20 feet from the house, never in a garage; fit battery-backed CO alarms, and have a licensed electrician install the transfer switch (generator installation).
Solar in Madison
Madison has the strongest case for solar of Wisconsin’s big cities: slightly more sun, about 1,125 kWh a year per kW by our rough estimate, and higher prices. On MGE, each kWh used at home is worth about 20¢ at the 2024 average, around $230 a year per kW, and surplus keeps its retail energy value for most homes under MGE’s rules. In Sun Prairie, cheaper city power, about 12.1¢, means roughly $135 a year per kW. These are estimates; check yours with the solar potential tool and the solar savings calculator.
The City of Madison’s MadiSUN program, run with RENEW Wisconsin, offers a 2026 Group Buy for Homes open to households across Dane County: a volunteer committee reviews installer bids and picks partners to serve the group. Its group buys helped nearly 400 Madison-area homes go solar from 2016 to 2025. You can join it alongside the statewide Focus on Energy rebate (see the Wisconsin page). MGE customers already had about 2,600 home solar systems in 2024 (EIA). Read solar installation and how net metering works.
Batteries in Madison
Because MGE credits most monthly surplus at retail energy rates, a battery here is mainly about backup and comfort rather than saving exports. That makes sizing simple: cover the loads you need during the occasional storm outage. MGE’s net metering schedule allows energy storage with solar. Note that the City of Madison sends battery system installs to the Fire Department for permits (below). We found no utility battery rebate. See home battery installation and home battery cost.
EV charging in Madison
Madison has the most public charging in Wisconsin among our cities, 340 ports (AFDC, October 3, 2026). At home, at about 30 kWh per 100 miles, charging costs roughly $6.10 per 100 miles at MGE’s 2024 average and about $3.60 in Sun Prairie (our estimates); MGE’s time-of-use off-peak hours lower that. 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 Madison: hydrogen, propane, natural gas, E85 ethanol, biodiesel and renewable diesel.
Permits and inspections
- City of Madison: the Development Services Center’s permit chart says solar energy systems and all electrical work need a permit from Building Inspection (608-266-4551, ext. 2), while battery system installs go to the Fire Department (608-266-4420).
- Solar in Madison: the city’s How to Go Solar page lists the electrical permit (listed equipment, proof of licenses) and the building permit (roof structure drawings and calculations). Homes in planned developments, historic districts or Urban Design Commission areas need extra documents and more time.
- Sun Prairie and Middleton: your city’s building inspection office.
- Utility approval: MGE, Sun Prairie Utilities or Alliant must approve interconnection. Check HOA rules in writing.
Cities we cover
- Madison
- Sun Prairie
- Middleton
Get help
Are you a licensed installer in Madison? Join SolutionEnergy and get requests from homeowners and businesses →
Tell us about your project and we will connect you with a licensed, independent installer who serves the Madison area. It is free, there is no obligation, and only the installer you choose gets your details. Read how it works.
Madison energy FAQ
Does MGE pay full price for my extra solar power?
For most homes, close to it. Monthly surplus is credited at your retail energy rate if, over the previous 12 months, you bought at least as much power as you sold. If you sold more, MGE pays its buyback rate instead, about 5.4¢ per kWh on the standard rate in 2026. Customer charges still apply.
What is MadiSUN?
The City of Madison’s solar initiative, run with RENEW Wisconsin. Its 2026 Group Buy for Homes pools households across Dane County, and a volunteer committee picks installers through competing bids. It also offers a Backyard Solar Grant for organizations that serve Madison residents. Check MadiSUN’s site for current dates.
Why is power cheaper in Sun Prairie?
Sun Prairie is served by its city-owned utility, which averaged about 12.1¢ per kWh for homes in 2024, against about 20.3¢ at MGE (EIA). Cheaper power means solar saves less per kWh, so the payback math is longer in Sun Prairie than in Madison.
Who issues the permit for a home battery in Madison?
The City of Madison’s permit chart sends battery system installs to the Fire Department (608-266-4420), while solar systems and electrical work go through Building Inspection. Your installer should handle both, along with MGE’s interconnection approval.
Sources
Utilities, prices, outages and solar counts: U.S. Energy Information Administration, EIA-861 data for 2024. MGE electric tariff book (Pg-2 net metering and buyback rates, effective January 1, 2026), EV program, EV charging and solar pages; Alliant Energy Wisconsin charger rebate and renewable pages. MadiSUN program pages. City of Madison Development Services Center permit chart and How to Go Solar page. 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.