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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.
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Texas solar quotes vary by 30-40% for the same system size. Most homeowners compare only the bottom-line price -- missing the five factors that determine whether your system actually delivers the savings promised. Here is what to check.
With the Section 25D residential ITC gone ($0 for homeowners) and no statewide net metering, Texas solar economics depend on details that are invisible on a standard quote. The buyback plan alone can swing your 25-year savings by $10,000-$20,000.
The #1 Texas-specific question most homeowners miss
Texas does not have traditional net metering. Instead, you get a "solar buyback" plan from your Retail Electric Provider (REP). The buyback rate varies wildly -- from $0.00/kWh to $0.10+/kWh -- and directly determines your financial return.
In ERCOT deregulated areas (85% of TX), your electricity comes from a REP but delivery is through Oncor, CenterPoint, AEP Texas, or TNMP. Solar buyback plans are offered by REPs like TXU, Reliant, Green Mountain, and Chariot. Each has different rates, terms, and conditions. A good installer will recommend specific plans for your utility territory and size the system to maximize self-consumption, not just oversell panels.
The universal metric for comparing solar quotes
Price-per-watt ($/W) is the only apples-to-apples way to compare solar quotes. In Texas, fair pricing in 2026 ranges from $2.80-$3.50/W for a cash purchase with no federal tax credit. Anything above $3.80/W demands an explanation.
Texas has some of the lowest solar installation costs in the country due to competition and scale. A 10 kW system should run $28,000-$35,000 ($2.80-$3.50/W) for cash. If you are quoted $4.00+/W, ask why. Common legitimate reasons: steep or complex roof, ground mount, premium panels, or battery add-on. Common illegitimate reasons: inflated price to cover dealer fees, or quoting "before 30% tax credit" when the residential ITC is dead.
TX heat performance matters more than nameplate wattage
Texas rooftops regularly exceed 150°F in summer. Every solar panel loses output as temperature rises -- the rate of loss is the "temperature coefficient." In Texas, this specification matters more than almost any other state.
At STC (Standard Test Conditions, 25°C cell temp), a 440W panel produces 440W. On a 150°F Texas roof, cell temperature can reach 70°C -- a 45°C rise. With a -0.34%/°C coefficient, you lose 15.3% of output. With a -0.28%/°C coefficient, you lose only 12.6%. Over 25 years and a 10 kW system, that 2.7% difference translates to roughly $2,000-$3,000 in additional energy production. Panels with better heat performance: REC Alpha (good), Silfab (good, FEOC), Hyundai (acceptable). Panels with average heat performance: LONGi, Canadian Solar, Jinko.
String vs. micro vs. hybrid -- affects output, monitoring, and battery-readiness
The inverter converts DC from panels to AC for your home. In Texas, where hail damage, shading from trees, and future battery additions are common, inverter choice significantly impacts long-term value.
For Texas specifically: Microinverters (Enphase IQ8+) are ideal for hail-prone areas because if one panel is damaged, only that panel's output drops -- the rest of the array keeps producing. String inverters (SolarEdge, Fronius) are cheaper but a single shaded or damaged panel drags down the entire string. If you plan to add a battery within 5 years, ensure the inverter is hybrid-compatible or choose Tesla Powerwall 3 which includes its own inverter. Always get panel-level monitoring -- it detects hail damage early.
The fee that turns a good deal into a bad one -- and your new legal protections
Dealer fees are charges the installer pays to the financing company, then passes to you by inflating the system price. They can add $3,000-$10,000+ to a solar loan. SB 1036 (effective Sept 2025) gives you new rights to demand transparency.
Texas SB 1036 (Solar Energy Consumer Protection Act, effective September 1, 2025) requires: written disclosure before signing, 3-business-day right to cancel, prohibition on misrepresenting financial benefits, and disclosure that panels may affect roof warranty. If a solar company does not provide the SB 1036 disclosure document, that is an immediate disqualification. Regarding dealer fees: a $30,000 system with a 15% dealer fee actually costs you $34,500. The Propel Concert Loan charges $0 dealer fee. Always ask: "What is your cash price?" and "What is the dealer fee on the financed price?"
Here is how three quotes for a similar 10 kW system look when you apply the 5-point checklist. Quote B looks cheapest at first glance -- but has a hidden $7,000 dealer fee and no buyback plan specified.
| Item | Quote A | Quote B | Quote C |
|---|---|---|---|
| System Size | 10 kW | 10.2 kW | 9.6 kW |
| Panel | Silfab 440W | "Tier 1 440W" | REC 460W |
| Inverter | Enphase IQ8HC | String (unspecified) | SolarEdge + optimizers |
| Cash Price | $32,000 | $29,500 | $35,800 |
| $/W (Cash) | $3.20 | $2.89 | $3.73 |
| Financed Price | $32,000 | $36,500 | $35,800 |
| Dealer Fee | $0 (Propel) | $7,000 (hidden) | $0 (HELOC) |
| True $/W | $3.20 | $3.58 | $3.73 |
| Buyback Plan | TXU Solar Buyback 36 | Not specified | Chariot Solar Buyback |
| Temp Coefficient | -0.34%/°C | Not provided | -0.26%/°C |
| SB 1036 Disclosure | Yes | No | Yes |
| Monitoring | Enphase App (free) | Not included | SolarEdge App (free) |
$3.20/W with $0 dealer fee (Propel), FEOC-compliant Silfab panels, Enphase microinverters, specific buyback plan named, SB 1036 compliant. True cost = quoted cost.
Looks cheapest at $2.89/W cash but financed price jumps to $3.58/W ($7K dealer fee hidden). No panel brand, no inverter spec, no buyback plan, no SB 1036 disclosure. Disqualified.
$3.73/W is high but justifiable: REC 460W panels with best-in-class -0.26%/°C temp coefficient, SolarEdge with optimizers, $0 dealer fee via HELOC. Premium equipment, transparent pricing.
Installer must provide written specs, pricing, and production estimates BEFORE you sign.
3 business days to cancel any residential solar contract without penalty.
Illegal to misstate financial benefits, including claiming 25D ITC still exists.
Must disclose in writing that solar may affect your existing roof warranty.
If any installer does not provide the SB 1036 disclosure document, they are either unfamiliar with current Texas law or intentionally avoiding compliance. Either way, move on. File a complaint with the Texas AG at texasattorneygeneral.gov or call 800-252-8011.
NuWatt provides all five checklist items upfront: specific buyback plan recommendation, clear $/W pricing, named panel and inverter specs, $0 dealer fee with Propel, and full SB 1036 compliance. No surprises.