Make the switch to solar power in Texas, it's easy
Texas solar power solutions made simple
The largest continental state by land mass and second by population, Texas has a go-big-or-go-home vibe. Texans have an independent bent in their blood.
In fact, the state earned its nickname “The Lone Star State” because it used to be an independent republic all its own. Now Texans are claiming their independence from skyrocketing energy prices by switching to solar power across the state.
Texas is one of the top 10 solar states in the U.S. due to plenty of southern sunshine and solar installation costs that come in below the national average. Here are some of the reasons homeowners in Texas are excited about energy savings with solar.
Local utility solar rebates across Texas
There are plenty of local utilities offering solar rebates all across the Lone Star State. Here are a few of them.
Austin Energy
As an Austin resident, you can earn a solar rebate of $2500 just by participating in an educational course about solar. It’s a great way to learn the nuts and bolts of solar on the ground in your city, and earn some easy cash back when you get your solar panels installed.
You’re also eligible for their Value of Solar (VoS) rate tariffs. This credits you $0.097 per kilowatt hour generated by your solar panels on your electric bill.
CPS solar voltaics (PV) rebates
Solar rebates through CPS offer between $1500 and $2500 depending on when you take advantage of the incentive—the sooner the better, as funding decreases will mean a reduction in the rebate amount.
Oncor
If you get your power from Oncor, you can receive a cash rebate of about $538 per kilowatt hour for your solar panels. You’re also eligible for a credit similar to net metering.
More solar incentives for Texans
Homeowner property tax exemption
Installing solar is a huge improvement to your home and it increases your home’s value. This is great news especially if you’re looking to sell your house in the next few years. But if you got those solar panels so that you could enjoy the energy savings of solar for years to come, you might also be looking at an increase in property taxes with that bump up in value.
If you live in Texas, however, having solar installed won’t cost you any extra in local property taxes. That’s because solar is one of the ways you become eligible for exemption.
Net metering in Texas through utilities
Although these solar energy credits for the power your panels generate aren’t statewide, several utility companies throughout Texas do offer net metering for solar homeowners.
Solar rights laws with HOAs
If you live in a Texas community where homeowners’ associations (HOAs) rule the roost, you have protection from restrictions or halting of your solar install. Although HOAs still retain the right to prohibit solar installation if it’s outright dangerous, and a few other restrictions, you probably wouldn’t want that kind of solar anyway.
Federal Tax Credit for Texans
Of course, you can’t overlook one of the major incentives for installing solar: the 30 percent federal solar tax credit, which is still in full swing for systems in service by the end of 2019.