Arlington, TX Solar Panels
Solar Power in Arlington
Arlington homeowners face a clear challenge: Texas electricity prices have increased 28% from 2020 to 2024. Solar panels for your home offer a practical way to manage rising utility costs while gaining more control over your energy future.
This guide covers what you need to know about solar installation in Arlington. You’ll learn about costs, available incentives, and how to choose the right system for your home.
How Much Do Solar Panels Cost in Arlington, TX?
Our calculator uses real installation data from Arlington homes—including neighborhoods like Dalworthington Gardens, Pantego, and surrounding areas—to show you accurate solar costs. Get personalized estimates based on what your neighbors actually paid, not generic numbers.
System
Cost
Savings
You can still access the solar tax credit through Palmetto. Talk to us today to find out how.
Key Takeaways
- Arlington electricity rates increased 23% since 2021 while solar panels lock in fixed energy costs for decades of predictable savings.
- A typical 10 kW system costs $27,296 and could save Arlington homeowners approximately $82,000 over 25 years.
- Texas offers property tax exemptions for solar so your home’s assessed value won’t increase when you add panels.
Arlington Electricity Prices
Understanding electricity costs in Arlington, TX helps you make informed decisions about your home’s energy future and long-term budget planning.
Texas electricity rates have climbed from 12.1 cents per kWh in 2021 to 14.9 cents per kWh in 2024—a 23% increase in just three years that directly impacts your monthly utility bills.
Solar panels generate electricity at a fixed cost, protecting you from these rate increases. Once installed, your system produces power at the same price for decades, while grid rates continue climbing.
Over 25 years, this price stability adds up significantly. While your neighbors face unpredictable rate hikes, solar homeowners lock in predictable energy costs and redirect savings toward other household priorities.
Price of Energy: Texas vs National Average
Arlington Area Utility Providers
Arlington residents are served by two electric cooperatives: Denton County Electric Cooperative at 12.8¢ per kWh and Tri-County Electric Cooperative at 14.1¢ per kWh (2023 data). Both rates fall below the national average of 16.0¢ per kWh.
These cooperatives maintain competitive rates through their nonprofit structure and local distribution networks. However, electricity costs continue rising year over year, making long-term budgeting challenging for Arlington homeowners seeking predictable monthly expenses.
Solar panels allow you to generate electricity at a fixed cost, protecting against future rate increases. By producing your own power, you reduce dependence on utility pricing while maintaining the grid as backup when needed.
Arlington Utilities Electricity Rates
Texas Solar Incentives
Arlington homeowners can reduce solar installation costs through state and local programs. These solar incentives in Texas make the switch more affordable.
Texas offers a property tax exemption that prevents your home’s assessed value from increasing when you add solar panels. Additionally, net metering programs from local utilities let you earn credits for excess energy your system produces.
Review the incentives table below to understand what’s available. These programs change periodically, so research current offerings and act when timing works for you.
| 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 your local appraisal district from adding the value of your solar or wind energy system to your property’s assessed value for tax purposes. Without this exemption, installing solar panels could increase your home’s appraised value and result in higher property taxes. With the exemption in place, you pay property taxes as if the solar system wasn’t there, protecting you from any tax increase related to your clean energy investment.
To qualify for this exemption, you must own the solar or wind-powered energy device installed on your property. The exemption applies to both residential and commercial properties 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 exemption applications is before May 1st, though you should contact your local appraisal district to confirm specific deadlines and requirements. Since property tax in Texas is locally assessed and administered, the chief appraiser in your county’s appraisal district will determine whether your system qualifies for the exemption.
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 use net billing programs that credit exported solar energy at lower wholesale rates, typically ranging from 3 to 8 cents per kilowatt-hour. In deregulated areas served by transmission and distribution utilities (TDUs) like Oncor, CenterPoint, and AEP Texas, you’ll need to enroll with a Retail Energy Provider (REP) like Shell Energy to receive export credits, which are currently set at 7 cents per kWh as of April 2024.
The financial benefit depends on your specific utility. Some cooperatives like Grayson Collin Electric Cooperative offer true 1:1 net metering where credits roll over indefinitely, while others like CPS Energy in San Antonio provide monthly net metering with credits valued at approximately 2 cents per kWh in summer and 1.65 cents per kWh in winter. Most programs settle monthly, meaning any excess credits either don’t roll over at all or are forfeited each December without payout. It’s important to note that some utilities charge additional fees—ranging from $10 to $30 per month—for solar customers, and REPs may add their own monthly charges (such as Shell Energy’s $4.95 fee). Before installing solar, check with your specific utility or electric cooperative to understand their exact crediting structure, as policies can change and directly impact your long-term savings.
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 QuoteArlington 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.
Arlington’s hot summers and ample sunshine create excellent conditions for solar energy production year-round. While occasional storms occur, modern solar systems are designed to maximize output in Texas’ diverse climate.
Solar Production in Arlington 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 Arlington
We’ve mapped every solar installation across the United States to help you explore the clean energy movement in your community. Discover which Arlington neighborhoods have already made the switch to solar and see how your neighbors are powering their homes with sunshine.
Leasing Solar Panels
Arlington homeowners served by Oncor Energy can access Palmetto’s LightReach Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). With a PPA, you pay for the electricity your solar panels generate at a set rate per kilowatt-hour—typically lower than your current utility rate—instead of a fixed monthly payment.
This means your solar costs align with production: higher bills during sunny summer months when panels produce more energy, and lower bills in winter. Over a year, your total costs remain predictable while you avoid the upfront investment of purchasing a system outright.
Unlike buying solar panels, a PPA requires no down payment and includes system maintenance, monitoring, and repairs. You gain immediate electricity savings without managing equipment or worrying about unexpected costs. Learn more about buying versus leasing solar to determine which option fits your budget and goals.
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 sense in Arlington. Texas electricity rates increased 23% from 2021 to 2024, while solar panels lock in fixed energy costs for decades. A typical 10 kW system costs around $27,296 and could save approximately $82,000 over 25 years.
Arlington receives excellent sunshine year-round, with average production of 49 kWh per day in summer and 29 kWh in winter. Texas also offers property tax exemptions for solar installations, preventing your home’s assessed value from increasing when you add panels.
Arlington residents don’t have traditional net metering. The city is served by Oncor Energy (a transmission and distribution utility), which requires homeowners to enroll with a Retail Energy Provider for net billing programs.
Shell Energy’s Buyback Plan credits excess solar energy at 7 cents per kWh (as of April 2024). These credits reduce your current month’s bill, with any remaining balance rolling over month-to-month. Unused credits are forfeited each December without payout. Shell Energy charges an additional $4.95 monthly fee on top of Oncor’s delivery charges.
Yes, solar panels increase home value in Arlington. Research shows that solar installations add approximately 4.1% to a home’s value, which translates to roughly $11,200 for a median-priced Arlington home.
Texas’ property tax exemption protects you from higher taxes on this added value. Your home’s assessed value won’t increase for tax purposes when you install solar, so you gain equity without additional property tax burden.
Solar installation costs in Arlington typically range from $20,256 for a small home system (6.97 kW) to $35,795 for a large home system (13.04 kW). A medium-sized home with a 9.72 kW system costs around $27,296, with an average price of $2.81 per watt.
These costs reflect the total system price without incentives. Texas offers a property tax exemption that prevents your assessed home value from increasing when you add solar panels, protecting you from higher property taxes.
Solar is financially worth it in Arlington. A typical 10 kW system costs $27,296 and could save approximately $82,000 over 25 years, with a payback period of about 10.4 years.
Texas electricity rates increased 23% from 2021 to 2024, while solar panels lock in fixed energy costs for decades. Plus, Texas’ property tax exemption means you won’t pay higher taxes when you add solar panels to your home.
We’re Palmetto Solar, and we’ve completed 3,810 installations across Texas since 2020. Our approach combines national resources with local expertise to serve Arlington homeowners effectively.
We offer flexible financing options and work with a trusted installation network to ensure quality service. Our team handles everything from system design to permitting, making the solar process straightforward for you.