Estimate, not advice157 Texas cities
What would a roof pay back?
Pick a Texas city, a system size and a buyback plan. The output comes from the PVWatts model stored on that city's page, and every assumption below is yours to change. It is arithmetic, not a quote.
Inputs and resultsruns in your browser
Change anything. See the math move.
Method: annual kWh = size x the city's PVWatts kWh per kW x (1 - extra losses). Value = kWh used at home x your retail rate + kWh exported x the export rate, or, for Value of Solar, all kWh generated x the credit. Simple payback = net up-front cost / year 1 value. The longer payback applies the yearly rate change and panel aging for up to 25 years. Estimate, not advice.
Assumptionssources and dates
Every number, and where from.
The federal credit
The federal 25D credit is not available for property placed in service after 2025-12-31 (IRS, page updated 2026-07-04), so incentives start at $0. See the guide on the federal credit after 2025.
| Input | Starts at | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| City and production | Dallas: 1,500 kWh per kW | NLR PVWatts v8 run stored on the city page: fixed roof mount, 20 degree tilt, due south, 14% losses, typical-year weather. |
| System size | 7.7 kW DC | Berkeley Lab 2026 data update: median U.S. residential system size for 2025 installs. |
| Installed cost | $3.6 per watt | Berkeley Lab 2026 data update: median price of host-owned residential systems installed in 2025, in 2025 dollars, before incentives. The report shows $3.0 for known cash purchases and $4.5 for known loans. Read from a chart. |
| Retail rate | from the city's utility | EIA-861 2025 residential average price for the city's main supplier, or the median across Texas retail providers where homes choose a plan. Replace with the rate on your bill. |
| Buyback plan type | Fixed buyback rate | Your choice. Texas has no statewide net metering; the plan sets the rate. |
| Fixed or wholesale export rate | 5.0 and 3.0 cents | Placeholders, not market rates. Use the rate in your plan's terms. |
| Value of Solar credit | 12.89 cents per kWh generated | Austin Energy residential rate effective 2026-10-01 (utility page). |
| Share used in the house as made | 40% | Assumption, no source claimed. It depends on the household's schedule. |
| Extra losses | 0% | Added to PVWatts' 14% for shade, dirt or wiring. |
| Yearly retail rate change | 0.0% | Assumption: flat. Texas 2025 residential average was 15.4 cents per kWh (EIA). |
| Panel aging | 0.5% a year | Assumption, no source claimed. |
| Yearly cost of owning | $0 | Assumption: none. Add insurance, cleaning or an inverter reserve if you expect them. |
| Up-front incentives | $0 | The federal 25D credit is not available for property placed in service after 2025-12-31 (IRS). The state of Texas offers no solar grants or rebates (PUCT). |
What it leaves out
- Hourly timing of use and export. Self-use is one number you set.
- Monthly fees, credit caps, minimum bills and plan changes.
- Financing costs and taxes.
- Your roof: shade, pitch, direction and equipment. A model cannot see them.
- Inverter replacement unless you add it as a yearly cost.
Read next
Guides behind the inputs.
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Rates change. Get told.
One list, for Texas solar buyback plans. We write when a tracked rate changes and when new city data is published. Nothing else, and nothing until you confirm.