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NuWatt designs, installs, and manages solar, battery, heat pump, and EV charger systems across 9 states. One company, one warranty, one point of contact.
Get a Free QuoteThe ITC is gone. TX has door-to-door sales, licensing scams, and hail risk. Choosing the right installer is now the single biggest factor in your solar ROI. Here are the 7 criteria that separate the best from the rest.
The best solar installer in Texas in 2026 should have: TDLR electrical contractor license (verified), NABCEP certification (voluntary but gold standard), a 25-year workmanship warranty with hail coverage, solar buyback plan expertise (REP selection), Propel certification (for 30% ITC capture), transparent pricing under $3.00/W including sales tax, and 4.5+ Google stars with 100+ reviews. Get at least 3 quotes and compare line-item pricing.
When the 30% federal ITC existed, it covered a lot of sins. Overpay by $5,000? The tax credit absorbed $1,500 of that mistake. Choose the wrong installer? The ITC made the math work anyway.
With the federal ITC expired, there is no 30% cushion. Every dollar of your system cost comes directly out of pocket. Plus TX adds ~8.25% sales tax. Your installer choice — including their REP buyback expertise and hail warranty — directly impacts your bottom line.
Licensing Scams
Some companies sell solar but are not TDLR-licensed to install. They use subcontractors with unclear accountability.
Door-to-Door Pressure
TX has a massive door-to-door solar sales culture. High-pressure tactics, inflated savings claims, and expired tax credit promises are common.
Hail Exposure
DFW and Central TX are in a severe hail corridor. Workmanship warranties that exclude hail damage leave you exposed.
The difference between a $2.40/W installer and a $3.20/W installer on a 10kW system is $8,000
That's 2+ extra years of payback — plus sales tax on top.
Evaluate every installer against these seven criteria. Ask the specific questions listed under each one. The answers will tell you everything you need to know.
The legal minimum — and the first thing to verify
Ask the installer:
“What is your TDLR electrical contractor license number? Are any of your installers NABCEP-certified?”
Worth $1,000+ per year — and most installers ignore it
Ask the installer:
“Which REP solar buyback plan do you recommend for my utility territory, and why? Have you helped previous customers switch REPs?”
TX gets severe hail — does the warranty actually cover it?
Ask the installer:
“Does your workmanship warranty explicitly cover hail damage to mounting hardware and wiring? Can I see the warranty terms in writing?”
If using Propel financing, this is mandatory
Ask the installer:
“Are you Propel-certified? If not, can you offer equivalent third-party ITC capture financing?”
Austin Energy vs Oncor vs CenterPoint — each is different
Ask the installer:
“How many interconnections have you completed in my utility territory? What is your average timeline from permit to PTO?”
Line-item quotes with sales tax included — not hidden
Ask the installer:
“Does your quoted price include sales tax? Can I see a line-item cost breakdown?”
What actual TX customers say — and what the AG found
Ask the installer:
“How long have you been installing solar in Texas specifically? Have you had any TX AG complaints?”
The Texas Attorney General has taken action against solar companies for deceptive practices. If you see any of these warning signs, proceed with extreme caution — or walk away.
The Section 25D residential solar ITC expired December 31, 2025. If an installer quotes you a 30% credit on a cash or loan purchase in 2026, they are either uninformed or deliberately misleading you. The TX AG has flagged deceptive solar sales practices.
Some companies sell solar but are not licensed by TDLR to install it. They act as brokers and hire subcontractors for the actual work. If something goes wrong, accountability is murky at best. Verify the TDLR license before signing.
If the installer does not know which REPs offer the best solar buyback plans in your utility territory, they are leaving $1,000+/year on the table for you. This is a basic competency for a TX solar installer — not an optional add-on.
Texas gets severe hail. If the workmanship warranty does not explicitly cover hail damage to mounting, wiring, and racking, you are accepting significant risk. Panel manufacturer warranties cover the panels — but not the installation hardware.
High-pressure closing tactics are a red flag. A legitimate installer will hold a quote for 30 days or more. Solar panels are not going anywhere overnight. If they pressure you to sign immediately, ask yourself why.
TX charges ~8.25% sales tax on solar equipment — there is no exemption. Some installers leave tax out of their quoted price to appear cheaper. On a $25,000 system, that is a $2,063 surprise. Always ask: "Is sales tax included?"
The right process will save you thousands. Follow these steps to find the best value — not just the cheapest price.
Contact at least 3 different installers. Mix local TX companies, regional installers, and (optionally) one national brand for comparison. Make sure all quotes include sales tax.
Don't just compare totals. Look at the per-watt price (including tax), equipment costs, labor, permits, and overhead separately. TX fair range: $2.16-$2.80/W in 2026.
For each installer, verify TDLR license, NABCEP certification, hail warranty, buyback plan expertise, Propel certification, pricing transparency, and reviews.
Verify the TDLR electrical contractor license on the TDLR website. Check the TX Attorney General complaint database. Unresolved complaints or unlicensed operation are disqualifying.
Use the "Ask the installer" questions from each criterion above. Their answers — or inability to answer — will tell you everything.
Don't automatically choose the cheapest or the most expensive. The best value is quality equipment + hail warranty + buyback expertise + Propel access at a fair per-watt price.
We wrote these 7 criteria because we meet them. Here is exactly how NuWatt stacks up — judge for yourself.
TDLR License
NABCEP Certification
Buyback Plan Expertise
Hail Warranty
Propel Certification
Pricing Transparency
Google Reviews
NuWatt also installs heat pumps, batteries, and EV chargers — one company for your entire home electrification.
Common questions about choosing a solar installer in Texas.
The best solar company in Texas in 2026 should have: a TDLR electrical contractor license, NABCEP-certified installers (voluntary but gold standard), a 25-year workmanship warranty with hail coverage, expertise in solar buyback plan selection, Propel certification (if you want 30% ITC capture), transparent per-watt pricing under $3.00/W including sales tax, 4.5+ Google stars with 100+ reviews, and experience with your specific utility interconnection (Oncor, CenterPoint, Austin Energy, CPS). NuWatt Energy meets all of these criteria.
Get at least 3 line-item quotes (with sales tax included). Verify TDLR license on the TDLR website, ask about NABCEP certification, check workmanship warranty hail coverage, ask about REP solar buyback plan recommendations, verify Propel certification if applicable, and check Google review scores. Use the 7 questions in this guide for each installer.
Texas requires a TDLR (Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation) electrical contractor license for solar installation. NABCEP certification is the gold standard in the industry but is not legally required in Texas. Only about 15% of solar installers nationwide hold NABCEP certification. Always verify the TDLR license on the TDLR website before signing any contract.
Fair pricing in Texas in 2026 is $2.16-$2.80 per watt including sales tax for quality Tier-1 equipment (Silfab, REC, Hyundai) with Enphase microinverters. A typical 10kW system should cost $21,600-$28,000 before property tax exemption benefits. The federal 25D residential tax credit is $0 in 2026 — it expired December 31, 2025. Anything over $3.00/W in TX requires specific justification.
Texas has a large and competitive solar market, which attracts both excellent installers and bad actors. Common issues include: companies selling but not holding TDLR licenses (using subcontractors), claiming the expired 30% federal tax credit, excluding sales tax from quotes, door-to-door sales with high-pressure tactics, and no hail coverage in workmanship warranties. The TX Attorney General has taken enforcement actions against multiple companies. Always verify the TDLR license.
In ERCOT deregulated areas (DFW, Houston, most of TX), your REP solar buyback plan determines what you earn for exported solar. The best plans pay 1:1 retail credit. The worst pay wholesale ($0.03-$0.05/kWh). The difference is $800-$1,200/year or $20,000-$30,000 over 25 years. An installer who does not help you select the right REP is leaving significant money on your table.
All Tier-1 solar panels pass IEC 61215 hail testing (1-inch ice ball at 51 mph). Some manufacturers offer enhanced hail ratings. More importantly, your installer's workmanship warranty should cover hail damage to mounting hardware, wiring, and racking — not just the panels. Texas hail can damage the installation infrastructure even if the panels survive. Get the hail warranty terms in writing.
Propel certification means the installer is qualified to offer Propel financing — a concert loan plus prepaid ESA structure that captures the Section 48E commercial ITC (30%+) through third-party ownership. Texas is one of only two Propel states. The homeowner pays ~70% of system cost. Without a Propel-certified installer, you cannot access this 30% cost reduction. Propel requires FEOC-qualifying panels (Silfab 440W).
No expired tax credit promises. No high-pressure sales. No hidden sales tax. Just honest 2026 numbers, 3 panel tier options, REP buyback guidance, and a line-item quote you can compare against anyone.
Explore more: TX Solar Guide • TX Solar Costs 2026 • Solar Buyback Guide • Hail-Resistant Panels