How to Afford Solar Panels in Houston Texas
If you’re considering installing solar panels on your home in Houston, Texas, you may be wondering how much they cost and what the federal tax credit is. You may also be wondering whether or not it’s legal to install solar panels in Houston TX. Luckily, there are several options that will help you determine the costs and benefits of installing solar panels on your home.
Texas Solar Group Solar Panel Installation Benefits
- Labor Warranty of 25 Years
- 25-year Solar Power Production Guarantee
- 25-year warranty for solar panel manufacturers
- 25-year Enphase Microinverter Warranty
- Energy Audit for your Home – Free
Our mission is to provide our customers with a reliable, efficient and cost-effective solar energy system that will power their homes using clean, renewable solar energy. Our highly skilled solar experts can help you get the job done right.
For a high-quality, professional solar panel installation in Houston, contact Texas Solar Group or complete our online form.
Houston Solar Panels Increase Home Value
Solar panels can also reduce the time your property is on the market. Another study by NREL found that solar properties sold 20% faster and earned 17% more at closing.
Exemption from Property Tax
A solar panel installation can increase the value of your home, but Texas’ tax code exempts 100%. The Texas property tax exemption lets you increase your home’s value by installing a solar power system that is efficient and clean without having to pay higher property taxes.
Houston Solar Access Rights Law
Houston homeowners who are members of a Homeowners Association (HOA), may be worried that their HOA might restrict or deny their right to use solar panels. Texas residents have the Solar Access Rights law. This law prohibits HOAs or other property owners associations from restricting homeowners’ right to install solar panel systems in their homes. Your HOA will not deny your right to have solar panels installed in your home as long as you follow their home improvement guidelines.
Average price of solar panels in Houston Texas
While the average price of residential solar panels in Houston Texas has dropped considerably in recent years, costs are still a major barrier for many people.
Despite the costs, going solar is a smart decision that can save money in many ways. Depending on your electricity costs, the amount of sunlight in your home, and government policies, solar power can significantly reduce your electric bills.
Although Texas does not have a statewide solar tax credit, local utilities have generous rebate programs to encourage people to switch to solar. Additionally, some manufacturers offer small discounts for solar installations.
While solar panels can be expensive, they can pay for themselves in less than 20 years. Depending on your system size and location, the average residential solar panel installation in Houston will save you between $2,200 and $6,500 annually.
Cost of solar panels in Houston
There are many financial incentives available to Houston area residents interested in going solar. There are federal tax credits that are worth up to 30% of the total cost of your solar system. You can also find local solar incentives through your local utility or governmental agency. These local incentives can reduce the cost of your solar installation in Houston by a considerable amount.
That’s about the same as the national average for a similar solar system. If you’re looking to save as much money as possible, a seven-kilowatt system can cover the energy needs of the typical Houston home.
Houston is one of the leading cities in the United States for rooftop solar potential. Increasing demand has led to improvements in solar panels that are more efficient than ever. As a result, solar panels in Houston have become more affordable than ever. You’ll also save a significant amount of money on your electric bill by using them.
Another big advantage of solar panels is their long-term return on investment. It is estimated that a solar panel system can save an average homeowner 20% or more of their electricity bills. That’s a good return on your investment.
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the average American solar purchaser will realize a return of at least 20% over the next several decades. In addition to the financial benefits, many solar panel systems can provide tax benefits.
If you’re looking for a solar company in Houston, Texas, you’ll find many solar companies that can help you go solar. Reliant Energy, the city’s primary utility, has a program called net-metering, which allows homeowners to supply their utility with any surplus renewable energy generated by their solar panels. This can mean free electricity during the months when solar energy is low. But in Houston, solar energy is available year-round.
There are several factors that determine the cost of solar panels in Houston, Texas. First, the size of your solar panel system will affect your overall cost. If you have a large roof, you may need a larger system than someone with a smaller roof. You should also consider the installation labor costs. These will vary depending on the size of your solar panel system and the type of installation you choose.
Net metering
One of the best incentives for installing solar panels is net metering. This is a billing arrangement between a utility and an electricity provider, in which the latter credits a customer’s electric bill for any excess energy generated by a solar energy system. The customer can use the credits to offset future electricity costs.
Entergy Texas offers net metering for residential Sola panels in certain markets. Its customers are credited for surplus electricity at an avoided cost, which is calculated based on the average of peak and off-peak rates reported to the Public Utility Commission of Texas. Entergy Texas also offers capacity payments to consumers who reduce its capacity costs. If the balance is in favor of the consumer, Entergy will send the consumer a check for the difference.
If you are planning to install solar panels on your home, consider contacting your utility company. Depending on your location, some utilities offer solar rebates and others offer energy efficiency rebates. In Texas, a few utilities have rebate programs for residential installations. CenterPoint is another utility that offers rebates for installing solar panels.
What will the solar tax credit look like in 2022?
The federal solar credit is the best financial incentive homeowners have for going solar. The 26 percent tax credit reduces your income tax dollar for dollar.
Many homeowners feel they are not eligible for the solar tax credit since they don’t have a tax bill at year end.
However, this is not true. The federal solar credit allows you to get a refund for taxes that you have already paid out of your weekly and biweekly paychecks.
You can also carry any remaining credits forward to future years if your tax liability is not sufficient to claim the credit.
Are you eligible to receive the federal solar tax credit?
The solar tax credit is available to any taxpayer who has paid for solar panels. You must own your solar panel system to be eligible for the tax credit. The tax credit is given to the solar company, not you when you lease the system. We recommend buying your system if you have the funds. You will end up saving more money in the long-term. It is also more difficult to sell your house if you lease it. Buyers won’t want to sign a 25-year lease.
Requirements to join a solar co-op in Houston
If you live in Houston, you may be interested in joining a citywide solar co-op. The city has partnered with a nonprofit organization called Solar United Neighbors (SUN) to bring solar panel installation to as many residents and businesses as possible. By grouping together, the group can lower costs and make it easier for residents to afford the cost of installing solar panels. However, before you can join a Houston solar co-op, you will need to meet certain requirements.
The co-op works by hiring local installers. Local installers submit their bids to the co-op. Then, the co-op has a selection committee that chooses the best bid. Once the selection committee has selected the winning bid, the Houston solar installer will visit members’ homes and prepare individual proposals. This process can take anywhere from six to eight months.
A solar co-op is a nonprofit organization that represents solar owners and supporters. Its mission is to create a new energy system using rooftop solar. It also organizes educational programs and advocates for fair solar policies. For members in Houston and throughout Texas, joining a solar co-op is a great way to get started on a solar system.
The Houston Solar Energy Co-op is open to homeowners, businesses, and nonprofits. It offers incentives to members and leverages its numbers to purchase individual solar systems at a reduced group rate. Membership is free and requires no purchase commitment. Membership in a co-op allows members to save more money than they would otherwise.
While deciding to join a solar co-op isn’t hard to get, it is necessary to understand your energy usage. Identifying your home’s energy usage allows you to assess the best solar system for your home. Fortunately, most Houstonians live in the service area of Center point, which offers detailed energy usage reports. All you need is a meter number and an ESI ID from your own electricity bill.
Houston has a strong solar market. According to the Environmental Texas Research and Policy Center, the city has doubled the amount of solar installations over the past two years. However, the city is still behind other Texas cities in total solar capacity.
