Solar Companies in Fort Worth
How Much do Solar Panels Cost in Fort Worth, Texas?
Solar panels in the Fort Worth area are going to cost you something like $2.50 to $2.75 / watt, and most solar panels sold for home use come in 250 watt sizes. This means standard solar panels are going to cost you something like $625-$650. Most homes are going to need around 6 to 8 kilowatts of energy to be completely self-sufficient of the grid. This equates to 24-30 solar panels, once again if you’re trying to be completely self-sufficient, and that’s going to cost somewhere between $15,000 to $20,000 just for the panels. And that’s a lot of money, without a doubt, but don’t let that big number scare you away before you’re aware of the kinds of incentives, rebates and other possibilities that can bring that price down significantly.
What are the benefits of going solar?
In an oil state like Texas, you wouldn’t think there was a lot of emphasis placed on alternative energy sources, but you’d be wrong. Texas actually has a lot of incentives available for solar customers, and a lot of those will greatly benefit those who see the high initial cost of a system as a discouragement.
State Energy Rebates: Many local utility companies and governmental bodies in Texas offer rebates for customers who choose to go solar, so it would be a good idea to check on your local electricity provider before taking the plunge. Different companies handle it in different ways, sometimes offering a cash payment to qualifying homeowners, or in other cases offering to pay a part of the installation bill.
“PACE” Financing: The “Texas Property Assessed Clean Energy Financing” program offers qualifying Texans the opportunity to finance their solar panel purchase and installation by doing a property assessment. The amount you finance can then be paid either via property taxes or on an annual basis until the system is paid off. Not all municipalities participate in the PACE program however, so check on it before you make a decision if that will affect your decision on how to handle your solar panel installation.
Texas Interconnection Standards: The state of Texas has statewide interconnection standards, which means connecting your solar panels to the grid should be an easier and cheaper job for your solar installer.
Property Tax Exemptions: Anyone who knows anything about Texas knows two things- There is no state income tax and property taxes are unbelievably high. Therefore, any break in taxes in the Lone Star state is going to be a big benefit. The state offers property tax exemptions on solar installations, meaning people who choose to install solar energy upgrades on their property cannot have their property tax liability reassessed because of it, therefore not increasing their tax bill.
Federal Income Tax Credit: Any tax payer installing a solar panel system is eligible to claim up to 26% of the total cost of the installation and solar panels as a tax write off to their federal income tax liability. The benefit here is obvious of course, as this can save you thousands of dollars in and of itself.
Net Metering: Though the state itself does not mandate any form of net metering, many local energy companies and municipalities offer net metering benefits. Net metering is the method by which an energy company can measure the output of your energy system as well as measuring the amount of energy your system feeds back into the grid. It is through net metering that a utility company can “pay” you for the excess energy your home produces and feeds into the grid, whether by sending you an actual cash payment or by issuing “credits” of kilowatt hours toward future electric bills in months when your solar panels do not produce as much electricity as your home requires to operate.
Increased Home Value: The value of your home can be increased by anywhere from $10,000 to $20,000 or possibly even more after the installation of solar panels. The exact amount is difficult to estimate and a real estate agent can give you a better idea of how much you may be able to add to the asking price of your home with the installation of solar panels. What is not in dispute however is the fact that homes with solar panels almost always sell faster than homes without them.
How much solar power do I need to power my home?
A modern American home requires something between 6 and 8 kilowatts of energy to operate self-sufficiently. This number can vary a lot depending on a variety of factors, such as the size of the family living in the home, their activities, how warm or cool you keep your house in summer and winter months. Your solar installer shoulder be able to examine your past electric bills to give you a good idea of how much electricity your home actually uses.
What is the “Payback” period for Solar Panels in Fort Worth, Texas?
Solar panels in Texas will pay for themselves in 9-12 years, depending on a variety of factors. However, it should be noted, that even at 12 years, your solar panels will still have 12-15 more years of operation time after they have “paid” for themselves through electricity savings, rebates, tax credits, etc. This is a huge bonus for people who install solar panels since you are not only eliminating your electric bill, you are actually generating “revenue” once the panels have paid for themselves, either in the form of actual cash payments or as “credits” toward future electric bills. Overall, you can expect a lifetime savings of around $40,000 or more.
How long do solar panels last?
Most solar panels sold for residential use are warrantied for 20-25 years. Additionally, most solar companies warranty their work for a similar amount of time. Therefore it is reasonable to assume that your solar panels will continue to produce reliably for no less than 20 years, possibly as long as 25 years or even more. Given that your solar panels should pay for themselves in no more than 12 years, you can expect at least 8 years of completely “free” electricity, possibly with additional revenue from the energy you feed back into the grid. So it is possible your solar panels could actually operate at a profit for 8 years or more.
What kind of solar panels and inverters are right for me?
It would be a good idea to have a general idea of what kind of solar panels might be available before making a decision on what’s best for your home. In general, there are two major kinds of solar panels that are used for most home installations- Monocrystalline and Polycrystalline. Monocrystalline panels are smaller and more efficient, they are also more expensive and work better with less direct sunlight, as well as lasting longer. Polycrystalline panels on the other hand are bigger and are often installed on the ground. They are less efficient and don’t last as long, but are also cheaper.
In addition to solar panels, you’ll also need inverters to convert captured sunlight to usable electricity for your home. There are three major kinds of inverters used in home installations- String inverters, Micro-inverters and Power optimizers. String inverters are the standard inverters found in most installations, they are the cheapest and considered the industry standard. Micro-inverters work well even when exposed to less direct sunlight, but are more expensive than string inverters. Power optimizers are more efficient than string inverters, but also more expensive (though not as expensive as Micro-inverters). They require direct sunlight however.
How does weather affect solar panels?
Another major consideration in the installation of solar panels is how the climate in your local area will affect their production. Some factors to consider:
- Fog / Cloud Cover- During times of heavy fog and cloud cover, your solar panel production can be reduced to as little as 10-30% as much as normal.
- Rain- Obviously cloud cover is a huge negative for solar panels, but the rain water itself is actually a positive, as it can help wash away the grime and dirt that can build up on them over time.
- Snow- Not a major concern in most parts of Texas, snow is a big negative for solar panels, as any significant accumulation can completely stop production. Luckily, this won’t make much difference in the vast majority of the state of Texas.
- Temperature- Contrary to popular belief, hotter temperatures are actually bad for solar panels, as it is estimated that their efficiency actually decreases by as much as 1% for every degree fahrenheit temperatures rise above 77.
- Sunny days- The state of Texas by and large averages well over 220 sunny days per year, with some parts averaging over 250. This is a big plus for solar panels as they obviously need those days of sunlight to produce efficiently.
Things to look for in a solar company:
As with everything else in life, when making a big investment in solar panels you’re going to want to make sure you go with the right company. But how do you know what to look for? Here’s a few things to keep your eyes on when looking into the solar companies available in the Fort Worth area-
Time in industry: Just like in any other industry, solar installers are generally going to be more trustworthy and reliable once they’ve been in the industry a long time. That doesn’t mean you should ignore newer companies- many of them are great and will do just as good a job as those veterans can. However, when something weird happens or comes up, you’re going to hope the company you’re using has seen it before and knows what to do, and that’s what a veteran can do for you.
Types of panels: Solar panels come in many different varieties, and you’re going to want to make sure the company you go with is comfortable using the kind of panels you want to go with. If they’re not, you may want to find a company that is.
Payment options: Some companies offer in-house financing and payment options, but some don’t. Make sure you clear that up before going ahead with your installation, or you could be left owing a lot of money without a clear plan on how to pay it.
Warranties: Most companies offer some form of warranty, that’s pretty much an industry standard. However, not all warranties are good ones. Make sure to check out the fine print and see whether or not you’re going to be on the hook for service fees everytime you need a repair or adjustment to your solar panels. Some companies will charge you a hundred dollars to come out and fix any problem with your panels, even if it was their fault. Other companies will fix any and every malfunction free of charge, whether you kick your solar panel over or a squirrel chews through your power-inverter. So make sure you know how it’s going to work and get it in writing.
Reviews: Maybe the most valuable tool in your toolbox for figuring out how good a company really is, online reviews can give you a very good idea of what you’re really getting into. Any company can say the right things on their website, but customer reviews will tell the true tale almost every time.
How do I get solar panels installed in Fort Worth, Texas?
There are innumerable options available to you in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex for solar installation- There are tons of companies available in the immediate area, plus quite a few in nearby areas that would likely be happy to travel a short distance for your business. Below we have taken a look at just a few of those companies available to you, with just a little bit of information about each:
Freedom Solar
3070 STORY Rd W, Irving, TX 75038
Freedomsolarpower.com
4 / 5 on Whodoyou, 5 / 5 on Yelp
Sunpro Solar
2035 Royal Lane Ste 205, Dallas, TX 75229
gosunpro.com/location/texas/dallas-texas-solar/
5 / 5 Yelp, 2.4 / 5 BBB
Denton Solar
Address: 608 E Hickory St, Ste 128-10, Denton, TX 76250
dentontxsolar.com/
Moxie Solar
603 Munger Ave Ste 100#1040, Dallas, TX 75202
moxiesolar.com/locations/texas-solar-company/dallas-solar-installer/
1 / 5 Yelp
Sunfinity Solar-Texas
17300 Dallas Pkwy Ste 2020, Dallas, TX 75248
Sunfinitysolar.com
4.7 / 5 Facebook, 4.3 / 5 Porch, 4.2 / 5 Birdeye
Kosmos Solar
1320 Post N Paddock St Ste 500, Grand Prairie, TX 75050
Kosmossolar.com
Good Faith Energy
13720 Diplomat Dr, Farmers Branch, TX 75234
goodfaithenergy.com
4.5 / 5 Better Business Bureau (6 reviews), 4.9 / 5 Birdseye (318 reviews), 5 stars Yelp (30 reviews)
Circle L Solar
3914 Sandshell Dr, Fort Worth, TX 76137
circlelsolar.com/
Reviews: 1.67 / 5 Better Business Bureau (6 reviews), 3.5 / 5 Facebook (2 reviews), 4 / 5 stars Yelp (8 reviews),
North Texas Solar
1452 Hughes Rd Ste 150, Grapevine, TX 76051
northtexassolar.com/
5 / 5 Facebook (3 reviews), 4 / 5 BBB (5 reviews), 5 / 5 Yelp (5 reviews)
Axium Solar
1005 Placid Ave 100, Plano, TX 75074
axiumsolar.com/
5 / 5 Facebook (12 reviews), 4.3 / 5 Glassdoor (5 reviews)
Elite Solar
1201 S Sherman St 204, Richardson, TX 75081
Elitesolar.us
Solartime USA
1149 Rockingham Dr, Richardson, TX 75080
Solartimeusa.com
5 / 5 Yelp
Final Word:
So after seeing just a few of the solar companies available to customers in the Dallas-Fortworth area, it should be obvious that there are more than enough solar installers to choose from. So if you have the means and time to invest in a solar installation, the state of Texas is primed and ready for solar power.