Abilene, TX Solar Panels
Solar Power in Abilene
Abilene homeowners are discovering that solar energy isn’t just an environmental choice—it’s also a smart financial move. With Texas electricity prices jumping 28% from 2020 to 2024, more residents are exploring how solar panels for home use provide long-term energy savings.
This guide breaks down everything you need to know about solar panel installation in Abilene, from local incentives to system costs and what to expect during the process.
How Much Do Solar Panels Cost in Abilene, TX?
Our calculator uses real installation data from Abilene homes to estimate your solar costs. Drawing from actual projects across neighborhoods like Wylie, Elmwood West, and College Heights, you’ll see pricing based on what local homeowners actually paid—not generic estimates.
System
Cost
Savings
You can still access the solar tax credit through Palmetto. Talk to us today to find out how.
Key Takeaways
- Abilene’s abundant sunshine creates excellent solar conditions with 5.9 peak sun hours daily, making solar panels highly productive year-round.
- A typical 10 kW system costs around $27,296 and can save Abilene homeowners approximately $88,000 over 25 years.
- Texas offers a property tax exemption for solar installations preventing any increase in assessed value from adding solar panels to your home.
Abilene Electricity Prices
Understanding electricity costs is essential when considering your home energy options. Here’s what Abilene residents should know about local rates.
Texas electricity rates have climbed steadily, rising from 12.1 cents per kWh in 2021 to 14.9 cents per kWh in 2024—a 23% increase in just three years that impacts every household budget.
Solar panels generate electricity at a fixed cost, protecting Abilene homeowners from these price fluctuations. Once installed, your system produces power at the same rate for decades, regardless of utility price changes.
Over a typical 25-year system lifespan, this price stability can translate to substantial savings. While grid rates continue rising, solar owners lock in predictable energy costs from day one.
Price of Energy: Texas vs National Average
Abilene Area Utility Providers
Abilene residents benefit from electricity rates below both state and national averages. According to 2023 data, Bluebonnet Electric charges 11.1¢ per kWh while Tri-County Electric charges 14.1¢ per kWh—both competitive compared to the national average of 16.0¢.
These lower rates reflect Texas’ deregulated energy market and the region’s access to diverse energy sources. However, utility rates have steadily increased over recent years, and Abilene homeowners should expect this upward trend to continue as infrastructure costs rise.
Even with competitive rates today, locking in predictable energy costs becomes increasingly valuable. Solar panels allow Abilene homeowners to generate their own electricity, providing protection against future rate increases while reducing reliance on the grid over time.
Abilene Utilities Electricity Rates
Texas Solar Incentives
Abilene residents can reduce solar installation costs through state and local programs. Understanding available solar incentives in Texas helps you maximize savings.
Texas offers a property tax exemption that prevents your home’s assessed value from increasing when you add solar panels. Additionally, while Texas lacks statewide net metering laws, most utilities—including those serving Abilene—credit you for excess energy your system produces at retail rates.
These programs change periodically, so research current offerings carefully. Acting promptly ensures you secure available benefits before potential policy adjustments occur.
| Incentive | Type | Description | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property Tax Exemption | State tax exemption | No property tax increase from solar installations. Example: $20k system saves ~$400/year at 2% tax rate. | Learn More |
Texas offers a property tax exemption for homeowners who install solar or wind-powered energy devices on their property. This exemption prevents any increase in your property’s assessed value due to the installation of renewable energy equipment, meaning you won’t pay additional property taxes on the added value that solar panels bring to your home. Since there is no state property tax in Texas, this exemption applies to local property taxes assessed by your county, city, school district, and other local taxing units.
To qualify for this exemption, you must own the solar or wind-powered energy device and it must be installed on property you own in Texas. You’ll need to file Form 50-123 (Exemption Application for Solar or Wind-Powered Energy Devices) with your county appraisal district. The general deadline for filing is before May 1st, though you should contact your local appraisal district to confirm specific requirements and timing. This exemption helps ensure that investing in clean energy for your home doesn’t result in higher property tax bills, making solar more affordable over the long term.
Net metering and net billing policies in Texas vary significantly depending on your utility provider or electric cooperative. Unlike traditional net metering where excess solar energy is credited at full retail rates, most Texas utilities now offer net billing programs that credit exported solar energy at lower wholesale rates, typically ranging from 3 to 8 cents per kilowatt-hour. Some utilities like Grayson Collin Electric Cooperative still offer true 1:1 net metering where credits carry over indefinitely, while others provide monthly settlements with no rollover of excess credits.
For customers in deregulated areas served by transmission and distribution utilities (TDUs) like Oncor, CenterPoint, AEP Texas, and TNMP, solar compensation depends on your chosen Retail Energy Provider (REP). Shell Energy’s Buyback Plan, for example, credits exported energy at 7 cents per kilowatt-hour (reduced from 15 cents in April 2024), with a $4.95 monthly fee. Excess credits roll over month to month but are forfeited each December without payout. Municipal utilities and cooperatives have their own distinct policies—CPS Energy in San Antonio offers monthly net metering with seasonal credit rates, while Austin Energy uses a unique “Value of Solar” rate of 9.91 cents per kilowatt-hour where all production and consumption are measured separately.
Eligibility typically requires installing an approved solar system and enrolling in your utility’s distributed generation program. Some utilities charge additional monthly fees ranging from $10 to $30 for solar customers, while others have minimum monthly bills. It’s important to understand that in most cases, any solar energy you use immediately in your home avoids the full retail electricity rate, while excess energy sent to the grid receives a lower credit rate. The specific financial benefit depends heavily on your utility provider, your energy consumption patterns, and how much solar energy you export versus consume directly. Contact your local utility or electric cooperative to confirm current rates and program details, as these policies can change and credit rates may adjust annually based on wholesale energy costs.
Ready to start saving with solar?
Speak with a Palmetto solar expert to find out exactly how much you can save with Texas incentives.
Get a Free QuoteAbilene Solar Irradiance
Solar panel production varies throughout the year based on daylight hours, weather patterns, and sun intensity. Understanding how seasons affect your solar system helps set realistic expectations for your investment.
Abilene’s abundant sunshine and clear skies create excellent solar conditions year-round. While summer heat peaks production, even cooler months generate strong output, making solar a smart investment here.
Solar Production in Abilene by Month
What Can Your Solar System Power?
Summer Production (July)
In July, your 10 kW system could power:
- 3.6 average homes (15 kWh/day per home)
- or Run central AC for 18 hours AND power all other appliances
- or Fully charge 5.4 Tesla Model 3 electric vehicles
Winter Production (December)
In December, your 10 kW system could power:
- 2 average homes (15 kWh/day per home)
- or Keep your home heating system running for 15 hours
- or Fully charge 3 Tesla Model 3 electric vehicles
Annual Production
Over a year, your 10 kW system could:
- Offset 10 tons of carbon dioxide emissions
- or Equal the environmental benefit of planting 175 trees
- or Save approximately $4,234 in electricity costs
Want to know exactly how much solar can power your home?
Get a personalized solar analysis based on your actual home, energy usage, and roof characteristics.
Get My Custom EstimateSolar Panel Systems in Abilene
We’ve mapped every solar installation across Abilene to help you discover which neighborhoods are embracing clean energy. Explore this interactive map to see how many homes in your community have already made the switch to solar.
Leasing Solar Panels
Abilene homeowners have flexible financing options that make solar accessible without large upfront costs. Through Palmetto’s LightReach program, you can access solar power with no installation costs, no maintenance responsibilities, and immediate savings on your electricity bills.
Most Abilene residents are served by utilities like Bluebonnet Electric Co-op and Tri-County Electric Co-op, where lease agreements are available. With a solar lease, you pay a predictable monthly amount while Palmetto handles all system maintenance, monitoring, and repairs. This means you enjoy solar savings without worrying about equipment upkeep or unexpected costs.
Compared to purchasing a system outright, leasing eliminates the financial burden of ownership while still providing energy bill savings from day one. You avoid the responsibility of maintaining the panels, dealing with repairs, or monitoring system performance—Palmetto takes care of everything. Learn more about whether leasing or buying makes sense for your situation.
Go solar without the investment
With LightReach, there are no investment costs to recoup, loan payments to manage, or maintenance needs to take on. As soon as your panels are active, your solar savings are too!
Learn MoreFrequently Asked Questions
Yes, solar makes excellent sense in Abilene. With 5.9 peak sun hours daily and abundant sunshine year-round, solar panels produce strong energy output consistently. A typical 10 kW system costs around $27,296 and can save approximately $88,000 over 25 years.
Texas offers a property tax exemption for solar installations, and most local utilities credit excess energy at retail rates. With electricity prices rising 23% from 2021 to 2024, solar provides protection against future rate increases while reducing your carbon footprint.
Abilene residents are primarily served by Bluebonnet Electric Co-op and Tri-County Electric Co-op, which offer different solar compensation policies. Bluebonnet provides net billing with exports credited at approximately 6 cents per kWh on an instantaneous basis with monthly settlement. Tri-County offers monthly net metering where production is netted 1:1 against consumption, though excess generation above monthly usage receives no credit and doesn’t roll over.
Unlike traditional net metering, most Abilene utilities credit exported solar energy at wholesale rates rather than full retail rates. Contact your specific utility provider to confirm current solar compensation rates and program details, as policies can change.
Yes, solar panels typically increase home value in Abilene. A Zillow study found that homes with solar panels sell for 4.1% more on average than comparable homes without solar.
In Abilene’s housing market, this could mean thousands of dollars in added value. Additionally, Texas’ property tax exemption ensures your assessed value won’t increase from adding solar panels, so you gain equity without higher property taxes.
Solar panel costs in Abilene vary by system size and home energy needs. A typical 10 kW system costs around $27,296, which works out to approximately $2.81 per watt based on actual local installations.
System prices range from about $20,256 for smaller homes (7 kW) to $35,795 for larger homes (13 kW). These costs reflect complete installation including equipment, labor, permits, and warranties.
Yes, solar is financially worth it in Abilene. A typical 10 kW system costs around $27,296 and generates approximately $88,000 in savings over 25 years—a strong return on investment.
With Texas electricity rates rising 23% since 2021 and Abilene averaging 5.9 peak sun hours daily, solar panels lock in predictable energy costs while protecting against future rate increases. Most systems pay for themselves in under 10 years through monthly electricity savings.
We’re Palmetto Solar, a national solar company with deep local expertise. Since 2020, we’ve completed 3,810 installations across Texas, bringing clean energy to communities throughout the state.
We offer some of the industry’s best financing options and work with a trusted network of local installers who understand Abilene’s climate and building requirements. Our approach combines national resources with local knowledge to deliver quality solar installations.