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Get a Free QuoteDFW has dozens of solar companies competing for your business. Some are excellent. Some are average. A few are outright problematic. This guide gives you the criteria that separate the best from the rest -- specific to north Texas climate, Oncor territory, and the DFW market in 2026.
Dallas-Fort Worth is not Austin, Houston, or San Antonio. The solar market here has unique characteristics that affect which company is right for you.
DFW sits at the convergence of warm Gulf moisture and cold fronts from the plains. This creates the most active hail corridor in Texas. Tarrant County alone averages 8-10 hail events per year with stones large enough to damage standard solar panels. Panel durability is not a luxury in DFW -- it is a necessity.
More than 60% of DFW single-family homes are in HOA-governed communities. While Texas law protects your right to solar, the HOA application process adds 2-4 weeks and requires specific panel aesthetics in many neighborhoods. Experienced local installers navigate this routinely.
Most of DFW is served by Oncor for transmission and distribution. Unlike municipal utilities (Austin Energy, CPS Energy), Oncor does not sell electricity. You choose a retail provider (REP) and their solar buyback plan. This adds complexity but also opportunity -- the right buyback plan maximizes your savings.
DFW averages 2,400 heating degree days vs Houston's 1,500. North Texas winters are colder, which means solar-plus-heat-pump bundles offer greater value here. A company that understands both technologies can optimize your whole-home energy strategy.
DFW's suburban footprint means many homes have 0.15-0.5 acre lots with usable yard space. Ground-mount solar is viable for homes with unfavorable roof orientation, significant shade, or roofs approaching replacement age. Not every installer offers ground-mount.
The Section 25D federal residential solar tax credit expired December 31, 2025. This means DFW homeowners are paying cash price for solar in 2026. System cost and financing terms matter more than ever. Texas still offers solar property tax and sales tax exemptions.
Cost per watt
$2.85-$3.45
Typical system size
8.5-12 kW
Total installed cost
$24,200-$41,400
Oncor interconnection
15-30 days
Permitting timeline
5-15 business days
Estimated payback
9-13 years
Costs reflect typical residential rooftop systems with hail-rated panels in Oncor territory. Ground-mount systems add 10-20%. Battery storage adds $10,000-$18,000. No federal residential tax credit applies in 2026.
Not all comparison criteria are created equal. Some are deal-breakers, others are important differentiators, and a few are nice-to-haves. Here is how to weight your evaluation, ranked by priority for a DFW homeowner.
Why it matters: Texas requires all solar installers to hold a valid Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) electrical license. Operating without one is illegal and voids your consumer protections.
What to look for: Ask for TDLR license number and verify at tdlr.texas.gov. Confirm general liability ($1M+) and workers compensation insurance. A legitimate company will provide this on request without hesitation.
Why it matters: DFW is in the heart of Texas hail alley. Tarrant, Dallas, Collin, and Denton counties average 7-12 significant hail events per year. Panel durability is not optional here.
What to look for: Require Class 3 or Class 4 hail-rated panels (IEC 61215 certified). Ask about the installer's hail damage warranty separate from the manufacturer warranty. Top DFW installers offer 10-25 year hail coverage.
Why it matters: Texas has no statewide net metering. DFW homeowners in Oncor territory need a retail electricity provider (REP) with a solar buyback plan to get credit for excess production. The plan you choose can swing your annual savings by $300-800.
What to look for: Ask if the company helps you select and enroll in a solar buyback plan. The best DFW installers model multiple plans and recommend the one that maximizes your specific usage pattern.
Why it matters: DFW's north Texas climate, building codes, HOA density, and Oncor interconnection process are unique. A company experienced in Houston or Austin may not know DFW-specific requirements.
What to look for: Ask how many DFW installations they have completed, which cities they have permitted in, and whether they have a local warehouse or office (vs fly-in crews).
Why it matters: DFW averages 5.1 peak sun hours per day, but shade, orientation, and system design all affect output. A production guarantee holds the installer accountable.
What to look for: Look for a written Year 1 production guarantee in kWh. If the system underproduces, the company should compensate you. Avoid companies that only provide estimates without guarantees.
Why it matters: Some DFW solar companies embed $5,000-$15,000 in dealer fees into loan pricing. This makes the system appear affordable monthly but far more expensive over the loan term.
What to look for: Ask for the cash price AND the total financed cost (principal + interest + fees). Compare the dealer fee. A transparent company will show both numbers without being asked.
Why it matters: DFW has one of the highest HOA densities in the country. Texas Property Code Section 202.010 protects your right to install solar, but HOAs can still regulate placement, aesthetics, and timelines.
What to look for: Ask if they handle HOA applications for you. Experienced DFW installers submit architectural review committee (ARC) applications as part of their standard process.
The DFW solar market has grown rapidly, and not every company entering the market operates with the same standards. These red flags apply to any solar company, but they are particularly common in fast-growing markets like Dallas-Fort Worth.
Legitimate solar is a $25,000-$50,000 investment. Any company pressuring you to sign before comparing quotes does not have your best interest in mind. Texas law gives you 3 business days to cancel a door-to-door sale, but the best approach is to never sign under pressure.
The Section 25D residential solar tax credit expired on December 31, 2025. Any company still advertising a 30% federal tax credit for residential solar is either uninformed or deliberately misleading. There is no federal residential solar tax credit in 2026.
If they cannot or will not provide their Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation license number, do not proceed. This is legally required for electrical work in Texas.
If the sales presentation only shows monthly payments without disclosing the total system cost, dealer fees, and interest rate, the numbers likely include significant hidden costs.
Any installer recommending standard Class 1 or 2 panels for a DFW installation either does not understand the local climate or is cutting costs at your expense. Hail damage claims in north Texas are among the highest in the nation.
Companies flying crews in from other states may offer lower prices but provide limited post-installation support. When your system needs service or a hail inspection, response time matters.
The Green Flag Counterpart
Great DFW solar companies proactively share their TDLR license, provide transparent cash and financed pricing, recommend hail-rated panels by default, assist with HOA applications, and help you optimize your solar buyback plan. They welcome comparison shopping and do not pressure you to sign on the spot.
The Dallas-Fort Worth solar market includes national players, Texas-based regional companies, and local installers. Each category has strengths and trade-offs. Understanding these helps you make an informed choice.
Companies like Freedom Power, Sunrun, and other national brands operate across multiple states. They typically have strong financing options and brand recognition. Trade-offs can include less flexibility on equipment choices and longer response times for service calls, though this varies by company and region.
Texas-based companies with operations across multiple TX metros. These often have strong Oncor interconnection experience and understand the ERCOT market structure. They may offer a good balance of scale and local expertise.
Companies headquartered in the DFW metroplex with deep local roots. These often have the fastest service response times and strongest relationships with local permitting offices. Trade-off: smaller companies may have limited financing options.
Our Recommendation
Get at least 3 quotes from different company types. Include at least one local DFW installer and at least one regional or national company. Compare apples to apples: same system size, same panel hail rating, same warranty terms, and both cash and financed pricing. The right company for you depends on your priorities -- price, service speed, equipment quality, or financing flexibility.
These questions cut through the sales pitch and reveal the substance of a solar company's offering. Ask every company you evaluate. The quality of their answers will tell you more than any advertisement.
Why this matters: This is the baseline. Any legitimate Texas solar installer will answer immediately. Verify the license at tdlr.texas.gov before your next meeting.
Why this matters: Manufacturer warranty and installer warranty are different. The manufacturer covers defects; the installer should cover hail damage to the installation. In DFW, this distinction matters.
Why this matters: Dealer fees are how financing companies compensate the installer. They range from 10% to 35% of the system cost. A $30,000 cash system can cost $35,000-$42,000 financed once dealer fees are included.
Why this matters: Your electricity rate plan determines how much credit you get for excess solar production. In Oncor territory, some buyback plans offer 1:1 kWh credits while others pay wholesale rates. This choice affects your ROI by hundreds of dollars per year.
Why this matters: Permitting processes vary significantly across DFW cities. Dallas, Fort Worth, Frisco, Plano, and Arlington all have different permitting timelines and requirements. Local experience means fewer delays.
Print This List
These 5 questions work as a comparison framework. Ask each company and write down their answers side by side. The differences in response quality, transparency, and specificity will make your decision clearer than any review website.
Solar pricing in DFW has a unique wrinkle that catches many homeowners off guard: dealer fees. Understanding how they work is essential to comparing quotes accurately.
When comparing cash prices, you are comparing the actual cost of the system: equipment, labor, permitting, and interconnection. DFW cash prices typically range from $2.85-$3.45 per watt for hail-rated panels.
Solar loans through installer-arranged financing often include dealer fees (also called origination fees) of 10-35% of the system cost. These are baked into the loan principal, making a $30,000 system cost $33,000-$40,500 before interest.
A 10 kW system with a cash price of $30,000:
| Scenario | Dealer Fee | Loan Principal | 25yr Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash purchase | $0 | N/A | $30,000 |
| Loan (low dealer fee) | $3,000 (10%) | $33,000 | $47,500 |
| Loan (mid dealer fee) | $6,000 (20%) | $36,000 | $51,800 |
| Loan (high dealer fee) | $10,500 (35%) | $40,500 | $58,300 |
Assumes 5.99% APR, 25-year term. The difference between cash and high-dealer-fee financing is $28,300 over the loan term. This is why asking about dealer fees is critical.
This is one area where DFW is fundamentally different from markets like Austin or San Antonio. In Oncor territory, you need to understand two separate relationships: your connection to the grid (Oncor) and your electricity plan (your REP).
After your solar system is installed and passes local inspection, your installer submits an interconnection application to Oncor. This process takes 15-30 days and results in a bi-directional meter that measures both consumption and export. You cannot legally export power until Oncor grants permission to operate (PTO).
What your installer should handle: Application submission, meter upgrade coordination, and PTO confirmation. If they tell you to handle Oncor yourself, that is a red flag.
Once Oncor installs your bi-directional meter, you need a REP with a solar buyback plan. These plans credit you for excess solar production exported to the grid. The credit structure varies significantly:
A good DFW solar company will model your expected production and consumption profile against at least 2-3 buyback plans and recommend the best fit. This service separates knowledgeable installers from those just selling panels.
Direct answers to the most common questions from DFW homeowners shopping for solar.
Dallas-Fort Worth solar installations cost $2.85-$3.45 per watt in 2026, putting a typical 10 kW system at $28,500-$34,500 before any local incentives. The federal Section 25D residential tax credit expired December 31, 2025. Costs vary based on roof complexity, panel selection (hail-rated panels cost slightly more), and installer. Always get at least 3 quotes from licensed DFW installers.
Yes. DFW sits in one of the most active hail corridors in the United States. Dallas, Tarrant, Collin, and Denton counties experience 7-12 significant hail events per year. Class 3 or Class 4 hail-rated panels (tested to withstand 1.75-2 inch hailstones at 70+ mph) are strongly recommended. The incremental cost of hail-rated panels ($0.05-$0.15/W more) is far less than a hail damage claim.
Oncor is the transmission and distribution utility for most of DFW, but they do not sell electricity directly. You buy power from a retail electricity provider (REP). REPs offering solar buyback plans credit you for excess solar production exported to the grid. Credit structures vary widely: some offer 1:1 kWh credits, others pay a fixed rate per kWh (typically $0.05-$0.12/kWh). Your installer should help you evaluate and select the best plan for your usage pattern.
No, they cannot outright prevent it. Texas Property Code Section 202.010 protects homeowners' right to install solar energy devices. However, HOAs can regulate placement (not blocking more than 10% of roof area), require specific aesthetics (black-on-black panels, for example), and mandate an architectural review application. Most DFW HOA approvals take 2-4 weeks. Experienced local installers handle this process for you.
With the federal Section 25D residential solar tax credit expired, DFW homeowners should focus on: Texas solar property tax exemption (100% — your home value increase from solar is not taxed), solar sales tax exemption, solar buyback plan credits from your REP, and the Section 48/48E commercial ITC (still active for third-party-owned systems through July 2026 construction start). Some REPs also offer modest sign-up incentives for solar customers.
DFW suburban lot sizes, typically 0.15-0.5 acres, can accommodate ground-mount systems in many cases. Ground-mount is ideal when your roof orientation is unfavorable, the roof is shaded by mature trees, or the roof will need replacement within 5-10 years. Ground-mount systems cost 10-20% more than rooftop but offer easier maintenance, optimal tilt angle, and no roof penetrations. Check your HOA rules — some restrict ground-mount visibility from the street.
From signed contract to permission to operate (PTO), DFW solar installations typically take 6-12 weeks. The breakdown: engineering and design (1-2 weeks), permitting (5-15 business days depending on city), HOA approval if applicable (2-4 weeks, can run parallel), physical installation (1-3 days), Oncor inspection and interconnection (15-30 days). The longest delays are usually permitting and Oncor interconnection, not the actual installation.
Get personalized quotes from vetted, licensed solar companies serving Dallas-Fort Worth. Every installer in our network carries proper TDLR licensing, hail-rated panels, and transparent pricing. Compare side by side with no pressure.