Solar in Austin, TX
With Austin Energy's electricity at about 13.6¢ per kWh and 1,483 kWh of sun per kW, solar is worth it for a typical Austin home today: about a 10.9-year payback.
- Payback, typical home
- 10.9 yrsTexas: 14 yrs
- 25-year net
- $11,086after paying $6,640
- Sun
- 1,483kWh per kW per year
- Electricity
- 13.6¢24% below U.S. average
A typical Austin home, by the numbers
| Utility | Austin Energy |
|---|---|
| Electricity use | 835 kWh a month |
| Best-value system | 3.4 kW, about 8 panels, 5,043 kWh a year (50% of use) |
| Cost | $10,640, or $6,640 after state incentives |
| First-year savings | $639 |
| Payback | 10.9 years |
| Exported power | 9.91¢/kWh (Austin Energy) |
Cash purchase, no federal credit, 2.9% yearly rate increases. Run it with your own numbers.
Homes in Austin
- Owner-occupied homes
- 43%
- Single-family detached
- 43%
- Median home value
- $555k
- Median year built
- 1994
- Population
- 979,539
- Solar installs, last 3 years*
- 1,816
- Roofs suitable for solar†
- 89%
Census ACS 2020–2024. *Installations in public records for this area's ZIP codes. †Share of 188,522 buildings Google Project Sunroof rated technically suitable (2019 snapshot).
Installers working in Austin
Companies with the most installations in Austin's ZIP codes over the last 3 years, from public records. We don't take payment for placement.
- Freedom Solar Power Tx 455 installs
- Lighthouse Solar 425 installs
- Freedom Forever 152 installs
- 512 Solar 110 installs
- PowerHouse Solar 82 installs
- Longhorn Solar 75 installs
- Hesolar 56 installs
- Greenbelt Solar 43 installs
- ION Solar 38 installs
- J C Energy Enterprises 37 installs
Always verify the license and get at least three quotes. Compare quotes side by side.
Questions about solar in Austin
Is solar worth it in Austin, TX?
For a typical home in Austin, solar is worth it at 2026 prices: a 3.4 kW system costs about $6,640 after state incentives, saves about $639 in year one and pays back in about 10.9 years. Enter your address for an estimate based on your roof and bill.
How much solar power does a system produce in Austin?
About 1,483 kWh per year for each kW of panels on a south-facing roof, based on PVWatts and local weather. That's 2% less than the Texas average. East- or west-facing roofs produce roughly 10–20% less.
Who is the electric utility in Austin?
Most homes in Austin are served by Austin Energy, at about 13.6¢ per kWh on average. Some areas are served by Pedernales Electric Cooperative, Bartlett Electric Cooperative, Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative.
How much do solar panels cost in Austin?
A fair cash price is around $2.60 per watt before incentives, so about $10,640 for a 3.4 kW system. There's no federal tax credit for homeowners who buy in 2026.
Nearby
- Pflugerville 10.7 yrs
- Cedar Park 13.4 yrs
- Round Rock 13.4 yrs
- Leander 13.4 yrs
- Hutto 13.4 yrs
- Kyle 17.7 yrs
- Georgetown 13.5 yrs
- San Marcos 17.4 yrs
- All of Texas
Data: PVWatts (National Laboratory of the Rockies), EIA-861 2025 adjusted to 2026, U.S. Census ACS, LBNL Tracking the Sun, state policy research as of October 2026.