Solar in Memphis: MLGW, TVA Green Flex and Shelby County permits

Local market

Solar in Memphis by the numbers

Metro population

1,340K

Typical cost per watt

$2.75

Paid lead cost

$85.00 to $160.00

Installer density

Moderate

Climate for solar

How much sun does Memphis get?

Memphis gets around 4.8 peak sun hours per day with 213 sunny days per year, moderate-to-strong for solar. Summer thunderstorms reduce afternoon production. Mississippi River valley humidity year-round requires marine-grade stainless hardware for durability. Spring storms occasionally bring hail.

Who delivers power here

Utilities serving Memphis

Memphis Light Gas & Water (MLGW), municipal TVA distributor, serves most of Shelby County including Memphis, Various electric cooperatives (Southwest Tennessee EMC, Chickasaw Electric Cooperative) serve surrounding counties.

For how exports are credited and what the statewide rules look like, see the Tennessee solar market guide.

Permits and inspection

Pulling a residential solar permit in Memphis

City of Memphis Office of Construction Code Enforcement typically runs residential solar permits in 3 to 5 weeks. SolarAPP+ is not accepted. Shelby County unincorporated and surrounding municipalities (Germantown, Collierville, Bartlett) run their own permits with 2 to 4 week typical timelines. MLGW interconnection post-install typically runs 4 to 8 weeks.

Running a solar company here

Running a solar company in Memphis

Running a solar company in Memphis means working under TVA Green Flex via MLGW. The best Memphis operators size systems to self-consumption rather than oversize for export, understand MLGW-specific interconnection paperwork, and spec marine-grade hardware for humidity-related durability. Lead costs run $85 to $160 on Google search.

Other cities in Tennessee

Other Tennessee cities covered

• Solar in Nashville
• Solar in Knoxville
• Solar in Chattanooga

Questions people ask

Solar in Memphis: FAQ

Does MLGW have net metering?

Not retail-rate 1-for-1. MLGW follows the TVA Green Flex programme that replaced Green Power Providers in 2019. Residential solar generation credits at approximately $0.03 to $0.05 per kWh for 20 years, below the retail rate of about $0.11.

How long does a solar permit take in Memphis?

City of Memphis Office of Construction Code Enforcement typically runs residential solar permits in 3 to 5 weeks. Surrounding Shelby County municipalities run 2 to 4 weeks typically. MLGW interconnection post-install adds 4 to 8 weeks.

How much does solar cost in Memphis?

Memphis runs about $2.75 per watt installed for residential, meaning a 7 kW system typically costs around $19,300 gross. After the 30 percent federal tax credit, net cost is approximately $13,500. Tennessee has no state solar tax credit.

Is solar worth it in Memphis?

For Memphis homes with high electricity use and south-facing roofs sized to self-consumption, yes but with longer payback than retail-NEM states: typically 11 to 15 years with the federal tax credit. Green Flex compensation is less favourable than pre-2019 Green Power Providers.