Arkansas solar calculator

Live production from NLR (formerly NREL) PVWatts V8. Arkansas changed residential solar economics meaningfully under Act 278 of 2023. NEW SYSTEMS INSTALLED AFTER September 30, 2024 (any 2026 buyer) are on NET ENERGY BILLING with INSTANTANEOUS NETTING — monthly banking of generation is NOT allowed. Self-consumed solar offsets full retail (~$0.105/kWh); any instantaneous EXCESS exported is credited at a REDUCED rate — Entergy Arkansas's Non-Legacy Net-Metering (NLN-M) sets this at about $0.089/kWh (retail minus distribution charges), NOT full retail. Annual NET-EXCESS SURPLUS (if cumulative production exceeds annual consumption) settles at AVOIDED COST about $0.04/kWh. NLN-M export rate is RECALCULATED ANNUALLY by APSC — can fall further. GRANDFATHERING: systems installed on or before Sept 30, 2024 keep 1:1 retail net metering for 20 years (through 2044) — NOT modeled here; calculator default is a new 2026 install on NLN-M. Both IOUs (Entergy Arkansas default; SWEPCO in northwest AR) follow the same APSC framework. Co-ops and municipals vary — verify if not on an IOU. Federal §25D = $0 (OBBBA repeal, signed July 4, 2025). NO state income tax credit. Property tax NOT EXEMPT at state level (some local-option claims; verify with county assessor — conservative default is NOT exempt). Sales tax NOT EXEMPT for residential — AR 6.5% state + local (combined about 9-11%); 'Act 1114' exemption claims not confirmed for residential rooftop. NO SREC, no RPS. NO statewide battery rebate. Cheap install pricing (~$2.65/W default, range $2.47-2.85 NREL / EnergySage). Typical solar-only payback 14-18 years with federal $0 and net-billing export. Sources citing about 9-12 years assume BOTH the dead 30% federal credit AND the old 1:1 net metering — neither applies to a 2026 cash buyer. Self-consumption and batteries critical because export earns less than retail. MAIN RISK: compensation already cut (Act 278) and NLN-M reset annually by APSC — forward erosion risk. Defaults: south-facing roof mount, 20° tilt, 14% losses.