Round Rock, TX Solar Panels
Solar Power in Round Rock
If you’re a Round Rock homeowner thinking about solar, you’re not alone. Texas electricity prices have risen 28% from 2020 to 2024, and many residents are looking for ways to take control of their energy costs. Solar panels for your home can be a practical, long-term option worth understanding.
This guide walks you through everything you need to know about solar installation in Round Rock — from how the process works to what you can realistically expect to save.
How Much Do Solar Panels Cost in Round Rock, TX?
This calculator uses real installation data from Round Rock and nearby communities like Pflugerville, Cedar Park, and Georgetown to give you an accurate estimate of what solar costs in your area. See what your neighbors are actually paying.
System
- No upfront investment
- Palmetto handles all maintenance
- 90% Production Guarantee
- Comprehensive protection program included
Key Takeaways
- Round Rock gets 5.4 peak sun hours per day, making it one of the stronger solar markets in Texas — with average 25-year savings around $80,000.
- Texas offers a 100% property tax exemption on the added home value from solar, plus legal protections that prevent HOAs from blocking your installation.
- You don’t need to pay upfront to go solar — Palmetto’s LightReach lease lets Round Rock homeowners start saving with payments as low as $89/month.
Round Rock Electricity Prices
Electricity costs in Round Rock have been climbing. Here’s what the data shows — and why it matters for your home.
Texas electricity rates rose from 12.1¢ per kWh in 2021 to 14.9¢ in 2024 — roughly a 23% increase in just three years. While Texas rates remain below the national average of 16.5¢, the upward trend is consistent and worth watching.
Solar panels can help Round Rock homeowners reduce how much electricity they pull from the grid. By generating your own power, you become less exposed to future rate increases — regardless of where prices go.
Over a 20–25 year system lifespan, that insulation from rising rates can add up meaningfully. Many homeowners find that locking in a more predictable energy cost is one of solar’s most practical long-term benefits.
Price of Energy: Texas vs National Average
Round Rock Area Utility Providers
Round Rock homeowners are primarily served by Austin Energy and Pedernales Electric Cooperative. Based on 2023 data — the most recent available — Austin Energy charges 13.0¢/kWh and Pedernales Electric Cooperative charges 11.7¢/kWh.
Both rates fall below the 2023 Texas state average of 14.5¢/kWh and the national average of 16.0¢/kWh. Austin Energy’s diversified energy mix and Pedernales Electric Cooperative’s nonprofit cooperative structure help keep local rates comparatively low.
Even below-average rates add up over time. Solar can help Round Rock homeowners lock in a more predictable energy cost — reducing long-term exposure to rate increases that have affected Texas residents in recent years.
Round Rock Utilities Electricity Rates
Texas Solar Incentives
Round Rock homeowners can access several solar incentives in Texas that help reduce the overall cost of going solar.
The most broadly available benefit is the Texas Solar Property Tax Exemption, which exempts 100% of the added home value from solar from your property taxes. Texas law also protects your right to install solar, even in an HOA community.
Some utility-specific rebates may apply depending on your provider. If you lease solar through Palmetto’s LightReach program, Palmetto handles the commercial tax credit and passes savings through lower monthly payments.
| Incentive | Type | Description | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas Solar Property Tax Exemption | Property Tax Exemption | Texas homeowners receive a 100% property tax exemption on the added home value from a solar installation under TX Tax Code Section 11.27. | Learn More |
| Texas Solar Energy Devices Franchise Tax Exemption | Tax Credit | Texas businesses can deduct the cost of a solar energy device from their state franchise tax liability. | Learn More |
| Tesla Electric Virtual Power Plant (VPP) Program | Rebate | Powerwall owners in Oncor and CenterPoint service territories can earn a $10/month electric bill credit by enrolling their battery in Tesla Electric’s Virtual Power Plant program. | |
| Texas Solar Rights Protection (HOA Solar Access Law) | Net Metering | Texas law prohibits HOAs, municipalities, and other entities from preventing homeowners from installing rooftop solar panels. | Learn More |
Under Texas Tax Code Section 11.27, the added value that a solar energy system brings to your home is 100% exempt from property tax assessments. Since solar panels can increase a home’s market value by $15,000–$25,000, this exemption can save homeowners an estimated $400–$600 per year in property taxes — potentially more than $10,000 over the lifetime of the system.
To qualify, the solar system must be owned (not leased) and primarily used to produce and distribute energy consumed on-site. Eligible systems include solar photovoltaic panels for electricity generation as well as solar thermal devices such as solar water heaters. The exemption has been available to Texas homeowners since 1978 and applies statewide.
To receive the exemption on your tax bill, homeowners in Round Rock must file Form 50-123 with your county appraisal district by April 30 of the tax year. This is a permanent, ongoing benefit — one of the most valuable solar incentives available to Texas homeowners in 2026.
Texas law allows businesses to deduct the full cost of a qualifying solar energy device from their state franchise tax. This incentive is designed for commercial and business entities — not individual residential homeowners — and can meaningfully reduce the upfront cost of a commercial solar installation.
Qualifying solar energy devices include systems that convert solar energy into thermal, mechanical, or electrical energy, as well as systems that store or distribute that converted energy. This makes both solar PV systems and solar thermal installations eligible for the deduction.
Businesses considering a solar installation in Round Rock should consult a tax professional to determine how this deduction interacts with other business tax strategies. For more details, visit the Texas Comptroller’s franchise tax page or contact the Comptroller’s office directly.
Tesla Electric offers a Virtual Power Plant (VPP) program for Powerwall owners in select areas of Oncor’s and CenterPoint’s service territories in Texas. Participants receive a $10 per month electric bill credit in exchange for allowing Tesla to discharge their Powerwall’s stored energy back to the grid during periods of high demand or grid stress.
To participate, homeowners must use Tesla Electric as their Retail Electricity Provider (REP) and own a Tesla Powerwall battery system. The program is designed to support grid reliability on the ERCOT grid while providing Powerwall owners with a modest ongoing financial benefit that helps offset the cost of their battery investment.
This program is particularly relevant given Texas’ history of grid reliability challenges. Homeowners in Round Rock interested in enrolling should visit Tesla’s website or contact Tesla Energy directly to confirm current eligibility, service territory coverage, and enrollment steps.
Texas has strong solar access protections enshrined in state law that prevent homeowners associations (HOAs), municipalities, villages, and other private entities from prohibiting or unreasonably restricting the installation of rooftop solar panels. This means that even if your HOA has aesthetic guidelines, it cannot outright ban solar installations on your home.
While HOAs may still impose reasonable restrictions related to placement or appearance — such as requiring panels not to be visible from the street — they cannot use these rules as a de facto ban on solar. This protection gives Round Rock homeowners the legal right to go solar regardless of their HOA’s preferences, removing a common barrier to adoption.
If you believe your HOA is unlawfully restricting your ability to install solar panels, you may wish to consult the relevant sections of the Texas Property Code or seek legal advice. This protection applies statewide and is an important foundational right for all Texas solar homeowners.
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 QuoteRound Rock 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.
Round Rock enjoys over 220 sunny days annually, warm summers, and mild winters — making it a strong candidate for solar. Even partly cloudy months still generate meaningful energy production.
Solar Production in Round Rock 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 Round Rock
We’ve mapped every solar installation across the U.S. to show you just how many Round Rock neighbors have made the switch. Explore the heatmap below to see which local neighborhoods and communities are going solar — you might be surprised how many homes near you are already powered by the sun!
Leasing Solar Panels
Not everyone wants to pay for solar panels upfront — and in Round Rock, you don’t have to. Palmetto’s LightReach program offers an alternative: a solar lease that lets you go solar with no large upfront investment. Palmetto owns and maintains the system, and you simply pay a predictable monthly payment — starting as low as $89/month for smaller homes.
With a lease, your monthly payment is fixed, so you always know what to expect. This is different from a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), where you pay per kilowatt-hour generated — meaning your bill can vary with the seasons. In Round Rock, the utility providers serving most homes (Austin Energy and Pedernales Electric Cooperative) are eligible for a Lease through LightReach. Learn more about how leasing compares to buying.
Beyond predictable payments, leasing through Palmetto means you’re never responsible for maintenance, repairs, or monitoring — Palmetto handles all of that. You also benefit from a 90% production guarantee, so if your system underperforms, Palmetto makes it right. For Round Rock homeowners who want the benefits of solar without the complexity of ownership, a LightReach lease is a straightforward way to get started.
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 sense for Round Rock homeowners. The area receives 5.4 peak sun hours per day and over 220 sunny days annually — conditions that support meaningful energy production year-round. Texas electricity rates have risen 23% since 2021, and solar can help reduce your exposure to future increases. Average 25-year savings for Round Rock homeowners are estimated around $80,000.
Upfront cost doesn’t have to be a barrier. Palmetto’s LightReach solar lease lets Round Rock homeowners go solar with no money down, starting as low as $89/month — with savings beginning from day one.
Round Rock is primarily served by Austin Energy and Pedernales Electric Cooperative — and neither offers traditional net metering. Austin Energy uses a Buy-All, Sell-All “Value of Solar” model: all solar production earns a credit of ~$0.0991/kWh, while all consumption is billed at the retail rate separately. Excess credits roll over monthly but are forfeited each December.
Pedernales Electric Cooperative uses Net Billing: solar you use directly offsets retail-rate purchases, while excess power exported to the grid earns a credit of approximately 6 cents/kWh — settled monthly with no annual true-up. In both cases, self-consuming your solar production first maximizes your savings.
Yes, solar panels can increase your home’s value in Round Rock. According to a Zillow study, homes with solar panels sell for an average of 4.1% more than comparable homes without them. On a $400,000 Round Rock home, that could mean roughly $16,000 in added value.
Texas also makes this even more attractive with its 100% Solar Property Tax Exemption, which means that added home value from solar is completely exempt from your property tax assessment — so you keep more of that benefit.
The most accessible way to go solar in Round Rock is through Palmetto’s LightReach lease — with no upfront cost and a fixed monthly payment starting as low as $89/month for smaller homes. Palmetto owns and maintains the system, so there’s nothing out of pocket to get started.
For homeowners who prefer a cash purchase, a typical 9.72 kW system runs around $27,296. Note that the federal 30% residential solar tax credit is no longer available following the Big Beautiful Bill. Use the calculator above for a personalized estimate based on your home size.
For many Round Rock homeowners, solar can make strong financial sense — especially with a lease option. With Palmetto’s LightReach program, your monthly payment is typically less than your current electricity bill, meaning you can start saving from day one with no upfront investment required.
Texas electricity rates have risen 23% since 2021, and Round Rock homeowners see average 25-year savings around $80,000 with a cash purchase. Leasing removes the barrier of upfront cost entirely, making solar financially accessible for most households.
Palmetto Solar is a strong choice for Round Rock homeowners. We’re a national company with deep Texas roots — having completed 3,810 installations across Texas since 2020. Our vetted installer network ensures quality workmanship, and we back every system with a 90% production guarantee.
We also offer some of the most flexible financing in the industry, including our LightReach lease — with no upfront cost and payments starting as low as $89/month. Whether you prefer to lease or purchase, we make going solar in Round Rock straightforward and transparent.
With Palmetto’s LightReach lease, you pay one simple monthly payment that covers everything — the system, installation, monitoring, maintenance, and a 90% Production Guarantee. There is no upfront cost. Because Palmetto owns the system, it claims the commercial Investment Tax Credit (ITC) and passes those savings to you through lower monthly payments.
For a typical 9.72 kW system in Round Rock, the estimated monthly lease payment is approximately $125/month — often less than your current electricity bill, so many homeowners start saving from day one.