Solar Atlas · Texas
Is solar worth it in Houston, TX?
A 7 kWdc rooftop array in Houston makes about 9,950 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 15.6 years.
29.76°N · 10.1–13.9 h daylight · site signature
- Production
- 1,421 kWh per kWdc per year · capacity factor 16.2% AC
- Residential rate
- 16.1¢/kWh · Texas average (no single utility)
- Exported solar
- Texas retail-choice solar buyback (set by your retail provider) · 3.00¢/kWh (assumption)
- Climate
- humid subtropical (Köppen Cfa) · 21.4 °C mean, 1,317 mm/yr
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
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.
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
Source: NOAA NCEI Climate Normals 1991–2020, HOUSTON INTERCONT AP, TX US (24.5 km away) · fetched 2026-09-24
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.
Your exact roof, or a business
The payback calculator runs hourly PVWatts at your address. The Modeler opens a grid-tied home at Houston. A business goes to the Quote Studio with the 8.6¢/kWh commercial rate.