Pearland, TX Solar Panels
Solar Power in Pearland
Pearland homeowners are discovering that solar energy offers a practical path to energy independence and long-term savings. With Texas electricity prices increasing 28% from 2020 to 2024, many residents are exploring how solar panels for home use can help stabilize their energy costs.
This guide covers what you need to know about solar installation in Pearland—from understanding local incentives to choosing the right system for your home.
How Much Do Solar Panels Cost in Pearland, TX?
Our calculator uses real installation data from Pearland homes—including neighborhoods like Silverlake, Shadow Creek Ranch, and Country Place—to show you accurate solar costs. Get personalized estimates based on actual local projects, 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
- Pearland receives abundant sunshine year-round with an average of 5.3 peak sun hours daily, making it an excellent location for solar energy production.
- Texas electricity rates increased 23% from 2021 to 2024, while solar panels lock in predictable energy costs and protect your budget from future rate hikes.
- A typical 10 kW system in Pearland costs around $27,296 and can save homeowners approximately $78,000 over 25 years with an 11-year payback period.
Pearland Electricity Prices
Understanding your electricity costs is the first step toward making informed decisions about your home’s energy future in Pearland.
Texas electricity rates have climbed from 12.1 cents per kilowatt-hour in 2021 to 14.9 cents in 2024—a 23% increase in just three years that directly impacts your monthly budget.
Solar panels generate electricity at a fixed cost, helping Pearland homeowners avoid these rate increases. Once your system is installed, sunlight becomes your primary energy source at a predictable price.
Over 25 years, this stability adds up. While grid electricity costs continue rising, solar owners lock in their energy expenses, protecting their household budget from future rate fluctuations.
Price of Energy: Texas vs National Average
Pearland Area Utility Providers
Understanding your electricity costs starts with knowing your utility provider. Pearland residents receive power from Entergy, which charged an average of 13.2¢ per kWh in 2023—the most recent data available.
Entergy’s rates sit below both the Texas state average of 14.5¢ per kWh and the national average of 16.0¢ per kWh. This competitive pricing reflects Texas’ diverse energy mix and deregulated market in surrounding areas.
While current rates are favorable, electricity costs have risen significantly in recent years. Solar panels lock in predictable energy costs, helping Pearland homeowners maintain budget stability regardless of future utility rate changes.
Pearland Utilities Electricity Rates
Texas Solar Incentives
Pearland residents can access solar incentives in Texas that help reduce the upfront and ongoing costs of solar installation.
Texas offers a property tax exemption that prevents your home’s value increase from solar panels from raising your property taxes. Additionally, while Texas doesn’t mandate net metering, most local utilities credit you for excess energy your system produces.
These incentives can change, so research current programs carefully. Understanding what’s available now helps you make an informed decision about solar for your home.
| 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, which means you won’t pay additional property taxes on the increased home value that results from your renewable energy installation. Without this exemption, adding solar panels could increase your property’s taxable value and result in higher annual property tax bills.
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, typically before the May 1st deadline. The exemption applies to both residential and commercial properties. Once approved, the exemption helps ensure that your investment in clean energy doesn’t result in higher property taxes, making solar more affordable over the long term. Contact your local county appraisal district to confirm specific application requirements and deadlines for your area.
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 work with a retail energy provider (REP) like Shell Energy or Green Mountain Energy to receive credits for your excess solar production.
The financial benefit depends on your specific utility. For example, Shell Energy’s Buyback Plan (available through major TDUs) credits excess solar at 7 cents per kWh as of April 2024, with unused credits rolling over monthly until December when they’re forfeited. Some cooperatives like Grayson Collin Electric offer true 1:1 net metering where credits carry over indefinitely, while others like CPS Energy in San Antonio provide monthly credits at around 1.65 to 2 cents per kWh. Austin Energy uses a unique “Value of Solar” approach, crediting all production at 9.91 cents per kWh regardless of when it’s generated. Most programs settle monthly, meaning any excess credits beyond what offsets your bill are either forfeited or valued at reduced rates. Be aware that some utilities charge additional monthly fees for solar customers, ranging from $10 to $30, which can impact your overall savings. It’s important to understand your specific utility’s policy before installing solar to accurately estimate your financial returns.
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 QuotePearland 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.
Pearland’s Gulf Coast location brings abundant sunshine year-round, though summer humidity and occasional cloud cover affect output. With proper system design, your panels will generate reliable clean energy throughout all seasons.
Solar Production in Pearland 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 Pearland
We’ve mapped every solar installation across America to help you explore the clean energy movement in your community. Click any hexagon to discover how many of your Pearland neighbors have already made the switch to solar power.
Leasing Solar Panels
Pearland residents served by CenterPoint Energy have access to Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) through Palmetto’s LightReach program. With a PPA, you pay only for the electricity your panels produce at a set rate per kilowatt-hour, typically lower than your current utility rate.
This financing option removes the upfront investment barrier that stops many homeowners from going solar. Instead of paying $20,000-$35,000 upfront, you start saving immediately while Palmetto handles all system maintenance, monitoring, and repairs throughout the agreement term.
Compare this to purchasing outright: while ownership offers maximum long-term savings, it requires significant capital and responsibility for maintenance. A PPA provides predictable energy costs without the financial burden or maintenance concerns. Learn more about whether buying or leasing 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 strong financial sense in Pearland. With 5.3 peak sun hours daily and Texas electricity rates rising 23% since 2021, solar panels provide excellent returns. A typical 10 kW system costs around $27,296 and saves approximately $78,000 over 25 years with an 11-year payback period.
Pearland’s abundant sunshine, combined with Texas’ property tax exemption for solar installations, creates favorable conditions for homeowners. Your panels generate predictable energy costs while protecting your budget from future utility rate increases.
Pearland residents served by Entergy do not have traditional net metering. Instead, Entergy offers a net billing program that credits excess solar energy at the avoided cost of power, typically 3-5 cents per kilowatt-hour. This rate is significantly lower than the retail electricity rate you pay for grid power.
Under this arrangement, your solar production first offsets your home’s electricity usage at the full retail rate. Any excess energy exported to the grid receives credits at the wholesale rate, which are applied to your current month’s bill. Unlike traditional net metering that credits at 1:1 retail rates, this system values your exported solar energy at Entergy’s cost to generate electricity.
Yes, solar panels typically increase home value in Pearland. Research from Zillow shows homes with solar panels sell for about 4.1% more than comparable homes without them.
For a median-priced Pearland home around $300,000, this translates to approximately $12,300 in added value. Additionally, Texas’ property tax exemption means your solar installation won’t increase your annual property taxes, allowing you to benefit from the added home value without the tax burden.
Solar panel costs in Pearland vary by home size and energy needs. A typical 10 kW system costs around $27,296 ($2.81 per watt) based on actual local installations. Smaller homes may need a 7 kW system for approximately $20,256, while larger homes might require 13 kW systems costing around $35,795.
These prices reflect complete installation including equipment, labor, permits, and interconnection. Your actual cost depends on your roof characteristics, energy usage, and system design. Most Pearland homeowners see payback periods of 10-11 years with 25-year savings averaging $78,000.
Yes, solar is financially worth it in Pearland. A typical 10 kW system costs around $27,296 and generates approximately $78,000 in savings over 25 years with an 11-year payback period.
With Texas electricity rates rising 23% since 2021 and Pearland receiving 5.3 peak sun hours daily, solar panels lock in predictable energy costs while protecting your budget from future utility rate increases.
We’re Palmetto Solar, a national company with strong local roots in Texas. Since 2020, we’ve completed 3,810 installations across the state, bringing reliable solar energy to communities like Pearland.
We offer flexible financing options and work with trusted local installation partners to ensure quality service. Our approach combines national expertise with local knowledge, making solar accessible and straightforward for Pearland homeowners.