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Solar Atlas · Texas

Is solar worth it in Dallas, TX?

A 7 kWdc rooftop array in Dallas makes about 10,543 kWh a year (NLR PVWatts, modeled) and pays back in more than 25 years at the Texas average 16.1¢/kWh residential rate (Jan–Jul 2026), with no federal credit. Exports follow Texas retail-choice solar buyback (set by your retail provider), paid at a buyback rate set by the retail electric provider you choose — fixed-credit plans listed on 2026-09-25 pay 3¢/kWh, most others the real-time wholesale price, so that payback assumes 3.0¢/kWh; with full retail net metering it would be 14.5 years.

32.78°N · 9.8–14.2 h daylight · site signature

Result7 KWDC · $3.00/W · 25-YR · 6.24% NOMINAL · VS UTILITY ONLY
Specific yield
1,506kWh/kWdc
PVWatts v8.5.0 · fetched 2026-09-24
Attention: Simple payback
> 25yr
with full net metering 14.5 yr
on $21k, no credit
Year-one savings
$853
$181 export credit
25-yr NPV
−$12.52k
after O&M, discounted
Residential rate
16.1¢/kWh
EIA state avg · Jan–Jul 2026
Used on site
43%
same hour, estimated
Production
1,506 kWh per kWdc per year · capacity factor 17.2% AC

Source: NLR PVWatts v8.5.0 (NSRDB PSM V3 GOES tmy-2020 3.2.0) — 1 kW, tilt 20°, azimuth 180°, roof mount, 14% losses · fetched 2026-09-24 · modeled, not metered

Residential rate
16.1¢/kWh · Texas average (no single utility)

Source: EIA state average · Jan–Jul 2026

Texas competitive-retail area: your price depends on the retail electricity provider you choose, so no single utility rate applies — showing the EIA Texas average. Enter the ¢/kWh from your bill for an exact answer.

Exported solar
Texas retail-choice solar buyback (set by your retail provider) · 3.00¢/kWh (assumption)

Source: Homes in Texas competitive-retail areas (Oncor, CenterPoint, AEP Texas, TNMP wires): the retail electric provider’s plan sets the credit · checked 2026-09-25

Climate
humid subtropical (Köppen Cfa) · 19.2 °C mean, 940 mm/yr

Source: NOAA NCEI Climate Normals 1991–2020, DALLAS FT WORTH AP, TX US (24.3 km away) · fetched 2026-09-24

Export
NLR PVWatts v8.5.0 · NSRDB PSM V3 GOES tmy-2020 3.2.0 · tilt 20°, roof mount, 14% losses · fetched 2026-09-24
Export credit is an assumption
Payback is 14.5 years if your utility credits exports at the full retail rate (net metering), or more than 25 years if exports earn only 3.0¢/kWh, an assumed value for Texas retail-choice solar buyback (set by your retail provider), paid at a buyback rate set by the retail electric provider you choose — fixed-credit plans listed on 2026-09-25 pay 3¢/kWh, most others the real-time wholesale price; enter yours.

No federal credit: the homeowner credit (§25D) ended for systems installed after 2025-12-31. A lease or PPA price may reflect the lessor’s §48E credit. 26 U.S.C. §25D(h) and (e)(8)(A) · policy as of 2026-09-24

Make it your answer

Start from your bill. Everything else is prefilled from this page and can be changed.

$/mo
JAN–JUL 2026
¢/kWh
$/W

Your exact roof, or a business

The payback calculator runs hourly PVWatts at your address. The Modeler opens a grid-tied home at Dallas. A business goes to the Quote Studio with the 8.6¢/kWh commercial rate.