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CPS Energy eliminated solar rebates. The federal ITC expired. The company you choose — and the financing structure — determines whether solar saves you money or costs you.
Three things changed. If your solar company does not address all three, walk away.
CPS Energy phased out its residential solar rebate program. The SolarHost program funds are exhausted. San Antonio homeowners get $0 in utility rebates.
The residential solar ITC (Section 25D) expired December 31, 2025 under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Cash and loan buyers get $0 from the IRS.
CPS Energy pays avoided-cost rates of approximately 3-4 cents per kWh for exported solar energy. The retail rate is 12.5 cents. You sell low, buy high.
Ask every solar company these seven questions. If they cannot answer all of them, keep looking.
Ask: “Will I own the panels?”
Solar leases and PPAs mean someone else owns your panels for 20-25 years. You are renting your own roof.
Propel: a third-party owner holds the system for 5 years to capture the commercial ITC, then full ownership transfers to you. By year 5, the panels are yours. No buyout. No escalator. No landlord on your roof.
In San Antonio, this matters more than most cities. CPS Energy has no solar rebate program. Every dollar of savings comes from your system — and ownership means those savings compound for 20+ years after transfer.
Ask: “Does my payment increase over time?”
Many solar leases include 2-3% annual escalators. A $130/month payment becomes $195/month by year 15 and $235/month by year 20.
Propel: $135/month fixed for the entire financing period. No escalators. Period. Your CPS Energy bill goes up 3-4% per year on average — your solar payment stays exactly the same.
CPS Energy residential rates have increased 28% over the past decade. A fixed solar payment creates a widening gap between what you would have paid CPS and what you actually pay.
Ask: “How do I get the tax credit if 25D expired?”
If you buy solar with cash or a loan in 2026, you get $0 in federal tax credits. The residential Section 25D credit expired December 31, 2025.
Propel uses a Section 48/48E hybrid structure. The third-party system owner claims the 30% commercial ITC for projects beginning construction before July 4, 2026. Those savings flow to you as a lower monthly payment.
This is the only way to access any federal tax benefit for residential solar in San Antonio in 2026. No other financing structure gives you this advantage.
Ask: “Where are the panels manufactured?”
Most budget installers use Chinese-manufactured panels. These panels do not qualify for FEOC (Foreign Entity of Concern) bonus credits and face potential tariff increases.
Propel requires Silfab 440W panels — manufactured in the USA. FEOC-compliant. 25-year product warranty, 30-year performance warranty. Rated for Texas heat and hail.
San Antonio averages 8 hail events per year. American-made panels with proper hail ratings (UL 61730 certified) protect your investment. Cheap imported panels with questionable hail performance are a risk in South Texas.
Ask: “What happens if something breaks?”
Many installers offer 10-year workmanship warranties or rely solely on manufacturer warranties. If the installer goes out of business, you are on your own.
Propel includes 25-year Silfab panel warranty + 25-year Enphase IQ8 microinverter warranty. Free maintenance during the financing period. After ownership transfer, manufacturer warranties continue.
Texas heat accelerates equipment degradation. Enphase microinverters are rated for -40 to 65 degrees Celsius. San Antonio regularly hits 100+ degrees Fahrenheit in summer. String inverters with 10-year warranties will likely need replacement during the system lifetime.
Ask: “Can I visit their office?”
National door-to-door companies have no local office, no local service team, and no accountability. FTC solar complaints increased 700% from 2020-2024. The Maine Attorney General sued three national solar companies for deceptive practices — the same companies operate in Texas.
Choose a company with a physical Texas presence, verified TDLR electrical contractor license, and local installation crews. If something goes wrong at year 8, you need someone who answers the phone — not a 1-800 number.
San Antonio has a smaller solar installer market than DFW or Houston. This makes it easier for national companies to dominate. Get at least 3 quotes and verify each company has a Texas electrical contractor license through TDLR.
Ask: “Is my system sized correctly for CPS Energy?”
Oversized systems export excess energy to CPS Energy at only 3-4 cents per kWh. If your system produces more than you use, you are selling electricity at a 70% discount.
The right installer sizes your system to match your daytime consumption, not to maximize panel count. Every kWh you self-consume saves 12.5 cents. Every kWh you export earns only 3-4 cents.
CPS Energy does NOT offer net metering. They pay avoided-cost export credits of approximately 3-4 cents per kWh — one of the lowest export rates of any major Texas utility. Self-consumption optimization is not optional in San Antonio; it is the difference between a 9-year payback and a 14-year payback.
Real numbers for a typical 10 kW system on a San Antonio home with CPS Energy service.
Average CPS Energy bill
$150/mo
Increases 3-4% annually
Propel Solar fixed payment
$135/mo
Fixed. No escalators. Ever.
Day 1 savings: 10% — $15/month, $180/year
Gap widens every year as CPS raises rates
The best solar company in San Antonio in 2026 offers panel ownership (not just a lease), uses American-made FEOC-compliant panels like Silfab 440W, provides fixed monthly payments with no escalator clauses, and optimizes your system for self-consumption since CPS Energy only pays 3-4 cents per kWh for exports. NuWatt Energy meets all seven criteria through its Propel Solar program: $0 down, $135/month fixed, full ownership by year 5, and 25-year panel + inverter warranties.
Yes, but only with the right financing structure. The federal residential solar tax credit (Section 25D) expired December 31, 2025. Homeowners who buy with cash or a loan get $0 in federal credits. However, through Propel Solar, a third-party owner claims the 30% commercial ITC (Section 48/48E) for projects beginning construction before July 4, 2026, and passes those savings into a lower fixed monthly payment. With CPS Energy rates at 12.5 cents per kWh, a fixed $135/month payment that is 10% lower than the average CPS bill makes solar financially viable even without the residential ITC.
Watch for three red flags: (1) Escalator clauses that increase your monthly payment 2-3% per year, meaning you could pay 50% more by year 15. (2) Companies that promise the "30% tax credit" without clarifying that the residential Section 25D credit expired and only third-party-owned systems can use Section 48. (3) National companies with no local presence — FTC solar complaints increased 700% between 2020-2024, and national companies are disproportionately represented. Always verify the company has a physical Texas office and check their TDLR electrical contractor license.
Propel Solar is a $0-down solar financing program. A third-party financing company owns your solar system for the first 5 years and claims the 30% commercial ITC (Section 48/48E). The savings are passed to you as a lower fixed monthly payment of approximately $135/month — about 10% less than a typical $150/month CPS Energy bill. After year 5, full ownership transfers to you at no additional cost. The system uses American-made Silfab 440W panels and Enphase IQ8 microinverters with 25-year warranties. Free maintenance is included during the financing period.
See your exact Propel numbers for your CPS Energy bill and San Antonio address. $0 down, fixed payments, ownership by year 5.
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