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Two dates that matter. The 30% federal credit for homeowners who buy a system ended for property placed in service after December 31, 2025 (IRS). Oncor and AEP Texas rebate projects must be finished by November 30, 2026 to qualify, per each program's 2026 manual or guidebook (links below).
Where you live decides what solar pays in Texas. The wires company decides the rebate, and your electricity seller or utility decides what you earn for power you send back. The two tables below put both in one place, each row linked to the document it came from.
Rebates, by who delivers your power
Texas has no statewide solar rebate. Some wires companies and city utilities run one. Most pay the installer, not you, so ask for the rebate as its own line on the quote.
| Delivery company | What the program document says | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Austin Energy | $4,000 rebate; 3 kW DC minimum; use a participating contractor; get the confirmation letter before the install starts (Austin Energy's page). | None shown on the page |
| Oncor | Residential option with or without storage, paid through approved installers. The amount is calculated per project and never exceeds 50% of project cost. Systems may not exceed 20 kW DC or 75% of the site's peak demand over 12 months. Residential budget $1,774,000 (Oncor 2026 manual). | Finished, submitted and inspection-ready by 5 p.m. Central, Nov 30, 2026; approval by Dec 7 |
| CenterPoint | $135 per rated kW, paid to the participating installer, who must show it as a credit on your invoice. Houston Electric territory; $1,000,000 budget (CenterPoint 2026 summary). | Dec 31, 2026, or until funds run out |
| AEP Texas | $2,750 for 7.5 to 30 kW DC, solar only; $1,000 more with storage; paid to the enrolled installer. Its guidebook's incentive table is headed "Program year 2025" inside the 2026 guidebook, so confirm the amount with an enrolled installer. | Completed by Nov 30, 2026 |
| TNMP | EcoGen America reports $2,750 for 7.5 to 30 kW and $3,750 with a battery. We have not opened TNMP's manual. | EcoGen: Nov 30, 2026 |
| CPS Energy | EcoGen America lists a $0 home solar rebate. We did not open a CPS rebate page. | n/a |
What exported power earns
| Utility | Credit | Catch |
|---|---|---|
| Austin Energy | 12.89¢ per kWh your panels make | Austin Energy's page shows this rate as last reviewed 10/01/2026; EcoGen America says it is reset in the city budget process. |
| Pedernales (PEC) | 7.1921¢ per kWh sent out | The credit pays only against the 6.59¢ base power charge on power you buy, and unused credit expires each December (PEC and EcoGen America). |
| CPS Energy | 1.65¢ (Oct to May) or 2.02¢ (Jun to Sep) per kWh of net excess | Solar first offsets what you use in the month; only the excess is credited (CPS Energy's PDF). |
| Oncor, CenterPoint, AEP Texas, TNMP areas | Set by your retail plan | Read the Electricity Facts Label and get the buyback rate and its end date in writing (EcoGen America). |
For Austin Energy and PEC, our payback calculator shows what these credits mean in years.
What a system costs
Two sources, two different "typical" systems, so do not mix them:
| Source | System | Price before incentives | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| EnergySage, Texas | 13.23 kW average to cover the average Texas bill | $29,822 (range $25,349 to $34,295); payback 12.78 years on its page | Oct 23, 2026 |
| EnergySage, Austin | 12.43 kW average | $2.24 per watt | Oct 23, 2026 |
| EcoGen America, Texas | 9.29 kW median installed in 2025 (Berkeley Lab) | $2.57 per watt benchmark; $23,875 cash | Sept 2026 index |
These are modeled averages, not quotes. A system you own gets no federal credit after 2025.
Run your numbers
If you are in Austin Energy or Pedernales territory, use the Austin Energy vs PEC payback calculator. If you also want outage backup, the appliance runtime calculator shows how long a battery lasts.
Get these in writing
- Your delivery company, by name, and the rebate as its own line (and who is paid).
- The export credit as its own number, with the plan's or utility's end date.
- A second payback with a lower credit, in case the buyback drops.
- Price per watt, panel and inverter models, expected first-year production and the assumptions behind it.
- Cash price and financed price side by side, with any dealer fee.
- An electrical contractor license you can look up in the TDLR license search.
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Property tax, HOAs and the federal credit
- Federal credit: not available for property placed in service after Dec 31, 2025 (IRS). Leases and PPAs are priced differently; ask how an offer is built.
- Property tax: per EcoGen America's reading of Tax Code §11.27, 100% of the value added is exempt if you file Form 50-123 (Jan 1 to Apr 30).
- HOAs: per EcoGen America's reading of Property Code §202.010, an HOA may not ban panels but may set approval and placement rules.
How this page differs
EcoGen America publishes paybacks for a modeled typical system and is paid by solar providers when you request quotes. EnergySage gives averages and sells quote comparison. This page does not model one typical system; it lists each program's own document, deadline and limits, and says where we have not opened the primary source.
Frequently asked questions
Does Texas have net metering?
No statewide law requires it. In areas where you pick your electricity company (Oncor, CenterPoint, AEP Texas and TNMP wires), EcoGen America summarizes Texas Utilities Code §39.916 as letting you sell surplus power to your retail electric provider at a value you agree on, so the rate is in your plan. Austin Energy, CPS Energy and co-ops such as Pedernales set their own credit; see the table above.
Is the 30% federal solar tax credit still available?
Not for a system you buy. The IRS page for the Residential Clean Energy Credit says the credit does not apply to property placed in service after December 31, 2025. Ask any salesperson who quotes it to show you in writing which rule they rely on.
Will solar raise my property taxes?
EcoGen America, reading Texas Tax Code §11.27 and the Comptroller's materials, says Texas exempts 100% of the value solar adds, and you file Form 50-123 with your county appraisal district between January 1 and April 30. Confirm the filing window with your appraisal district.
Can my HOA ban solar panels?
EcoGen America, citing Texas Property Code §202.010, says an association may not ban solar panels but can ask for approval and set where they go. Read your HOA's rules and the statute before you design the system.
Sources and dates
| Document | Read |
|---|---|
| Austin Energy, solar for your home (rebate, 12.89¢ Value of Solar) | Oct 28, 2026 (page last reviewed 10/01/2026) |
| Pedernales Electric Cooperative, residential rates and 2026 rate update | Oct 28, 2026 |
| CPS Energy, Solar Billing Facts (PDF) | Oct 28, 2026 |
| Oncor, 2026 Solar Photovoltaic program manual (PDF) | Oct 28, 2026 |
| CenterPoint Energy, 2026 Residential Solar PV Program Summary (PDF) | Oct 28, 2026 |
| AEP Texas, 2026 SMART Source Program Guidebook (PDF) | Oct 28, 2026 |
| EcoGen America, Texas solar (TNMP, buyback law, tax and HOA summaries) | Oct 28, 2026 (page says updated Oct 19, 2026) |
| EnergySage, Texas solar panels | Oct 28, 2026 (page says data updated Oct 23, 2026) |
| EnergySage, Austin solar cost | Oct 28, 2026 (updated Oct 23, 2026) |
| IRS, Residential Clean Energy Credit | Oct 28, 2026 |
General information, not tax, legal or financial advice. Programs and rates change; confirm with your utility and installer.