Net Metering
Good net metering laws are a bonus for Louisiana residents. Net metering is a system in which solar panels or other renewable energy generators are connected to the public utility, allowing customers to offset the cost of the energy they draw from the utility with credits they earn on their own production. If your system produces more power than you need, the excess is sold to the grid, which you see as a credit on your bill.
State Income Tax Credit
Louisiana offers great deductions for installing a solar system to offset what you owe in state taxes.
Property Tax Exemption
In Louisiana, the value of your home will not be reassessed after the addition of a solar system. Your property tax remains the same; you keep paying property tax based on the value before you added the system.
Federal Tax Credit
On top of the Louisiana incentives mentioned above, you also qualify for the hefty tax credit from the Federal government. The solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) is worth 26 percent of the system cost, and will be deducted from your Federal income tax. The credit goes to those who buy their system (cash or loan), not to those who lease. If you lease a system, incentives go to the third-party owner. A good reason to buy, not lease!
