Alabama solar calculator

Live production from NLR (formerly NREL) PVWatts V8. Alabama is one of the WORST US residential solar markets in 2026 because of one feature most coverage understates: Alabama Power's CAPACITY RESERVATION CHARGE (Rider RGB, "solar tax") of $5.41/kW of installed solar capacity per month, recurring, independent of consumption. On a 5 kW system that's about $325/year; on 10 kW, about $650/year. A federal judge dismissed the PURPA challenge in March 2026 — the charge stands. This calculator MODELS the charge in payback math — you'll see it as a separate row in year-1 savings. TVA-distributor customers (Huntsville, other north AL) do NOT pay this charge — materially better economics. AL has NO statewide net metering; Alabama Power's Rate PAE credits exports at avoided cost (about $0.04/kWh average, time-of-day), NOT retail. Self-consumption offsets full retail (~$0.155/kWh). NO state income tax credit, NO state rebate, NO SREC, NO RPS. Federal §25D = $0 (OBBBA repeal). Sales tax (~9-10% combined) NOT exempt (~$1,500-1,800 added cost). Property tax exempt but modest (~$70/yr at AL's low ~0.4% effective rate; may be local-option; ConsumerAffairs cites valid until 2028 — verify). Typical solar-only payback on Alabama Power 14-18+ years (solarquestai, INCLUDING capacity charge); ConsumerAffairs cites 10.5 but IGNORES the capacity charge — that's wrong. TVA- served closer to 11-13. Defaults: south-facing roof mount, 20° tilt, 14% losses.