Texas solar 101: must read before you buy solar panels

Last updated 05.27.22

Texas State 54 solar panels available

  • $2.04 / W Average gross price of a solar power system as of May 2023
  • 9 years Average system payback period
  • $57 318 Average savings from going solar in Texas
  • 6 ¢ / kWh Levelized cost of solar energy
  • 6.79 kW Recommended system size
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Plano, TX13 items 1356 mi
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Irving, TX5 items 1376 mi
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Austin, TX5 items 1534 mi
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San Antonio, TX7 items 1604 mi
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What our happy customers say

I was in need of new solar panels and found A1 SolarStore while surfing the web. I ordered 13 pieces of REC 360W solar panels at a fairly reasonable price, and also ordered their liftgate service at checkout. everything was very easy and intuitive. I highly recommend A1 SolarStore!
Jesse Tang
Via Google
May 22, 2023
I recently purchased 10 pieces of Q CELLS 480W Solar Panels from A1 SolarStore. The site was incredibly easy to navigate and I found exactly what I wanted without any trouble. They had different payment options, which was great for me. Now I'm just counting down the days until my panels arrive. Overall, I will definitely be buying from them again.
Steve L
Via Google
May 22, 2023
Store was well organized, staff was super friendly and shipping was speedy.
Karen
Via Google
May 16, 2023
I have been looking for affordable, quality solar panels for a while! After some research I decided to purchase the Trina 390w solar panels. I loved the price and the customer service & decided to buy with a1solarstore. Even though there was a $275 shipping fee. Was worth it to me to receive the quality product in once piece. Payment processing took a while & could have gone faster - however, totally worth the wait!
Kara J
Via Google
May 9, 2023
The customer service at A1 solar is nothing short of amazing. A person can buy their equipment anywhere and receive that equipment with no support following whatsoever. A1 solar was with me all the way through the purchase process, the acquiring my panels at a distribution center, and finally giving me a discount for the pallet breakage charge because the pallet was already broken up. No other Solar company has given me such excellent customer service. Add that the prices are lower if not similar than the rest, buying from A1 solar is a real no brainer. I am very grateful and lucky to have found them!
Robert Sullivan
Via Google
Apr 27, 2023
The Silfab 490W Solar Panel (156 Cell SIL-490-HN) exceeded my expectations with its exceptional power output and sleek design. Its efficient monocrystalline cells make it a reliable and smart investment for any home. Highly recommended!
M
Via Google
Apr 25, 2023

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Solar laws, incentives and rebates in Texas you need to know

Save 30% of your PV system cost with Federal Solar Tax Credit

The US government wants more people to go solar: it’s a modern and green way of getting energy. This is why the Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) program was developed. It allows American citizens to claim 30% of the cost of their installation as an income tax deduction. The cost here is not only solar panels, but also shipping, installation expenses and more. For example, if your system overall made you spend $10,000, the government returns you $3,000. To claim the ITC, complete all the necessary forms and submit them when filing your taxes.

Sell excess electricity with Net Metering Program

Net Metering allows residential solar owners to put the excess electricity onto the utility grid instead of storing it with batteries. When you sell your solar power to the grid, you receive an electricity bill reduction according to the rate you currently pay for power. For every kWh you contribute to the grid, you get one kWh off of your next utility bill. Although Texas doesn’t have a statewide net metering program, there are many utility companies that offer this opportunity. Here are some of them:

Save additional $300 to $1,000 a year trading RECs

Renewable Energy Credits are certificates granted to any person or entity upon generation of each MWh of clean electricity. Unlike with Net Metering, you don’t need to sell any electricity to get credits. The value of RECs is always changing, which makes them similar to stock market assets. Based on the available data, selling RECs could mean anywhere from $300 to $1,000 annually for a 10 kW solar system. To participate, first you may want to contact the Public Utility Commission for relevant details. After that, you can create a REC account with the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) to begin storing and selling your credits.

Save up to $3,000 with solar rebate programs

Texas doesn’t have an initiative encompassing the whole state. However, some local authorities and utility companies provide homeowners with nice rebates:

  • Austin Energy offers a $2,500 rebate after completion of their free educational course. It is available online and a short quiz will be offered upon its completion. With this course the company intends to help its customers make an informed choice about solar power.
  • CPS Energy will pay its customers the same amount – $2,500, but the company is giving a $500 premium to those who opt for local PV modules like Mission Solar. To participate, a customer should first complete the application form and submit it to the company’s email specified in the form’s header.

Freeze your property tax with Renewable Energy Source Exemption

A solar PV system installed in a home increases its value by about 4%, says a 2019 Zillow report. This would mean higher property taxes in other states, but not in Texas. According to the Texas Tax Code, 100% of the real property value increase that occurs as a result of a solar PV system installation should be ignored.

Install your solar panels in Texas with no worries

It is legal to install solar panels on your house. What’s more, this right is protected by law in Texas. The law states that nobody, including homeowner associations, can prohibit or restrict the installation of solar devices. If your HOA imposes any restrictions, they must be reasonable, not arbitrary, and applied to all association members. These restrictions must not affect the performance or increase the cost of a solar system.

Something you should remember:

  • You don't need to get any approval from your HOA to install a solar system in Texas.
  • HOAs are legally allowed to instruct you where and how to install PV modules. According to the law, they can implement restrictions if your equipment threatens public safety, extends beyond or above the roofline or doesn’t conform to the slope of the roof.
  • Your homeowner association might also come to inspect the installation process to make sure you make the most of the solar panels.
  • There may be height restrictions in some places in Texas that forbid solar system installation. For example, tall buildings near airports will have different installation laws when it comes to using solar panels.
  • Any requirements forcing you to hide the system from view will generally violate the law.

Solar panels help Texans survive hurricanes

Texas is one of the most hurricane-prone states in the US. Severe storms bring damage and devastation, cutting people off the utility grid for days. Solar panels are able to withstand most hurricanes, but in the 2021 winter storm in Texas, that took the lives of 151 people and left 4.5 million homes and enterprises without power, the renewable sources of energy got a big part of the blame for the outages. The hard data tells another story: during one of the harshest days of the power crisis, thermal generation dropped by a whopping 45%, wind output dropped by about 13%, but solar installations produced even more energy than expected. Solar panels are friends that will weather any storm with you!

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