Cost guide
Solar Installation Cost in Texas
Labor, permitting, electrical upgrades, and interconnection make up close to half of a Texas solar quote. Here is what each piece should cost.
Hardware gets the attention, but installation and soft costs are where Texas quotes diverge. Labor, permits, inspections, and electrical work typically account for 40% to 50% of the total contract.
Line items in an installation bill
Ask any installer to break the price into these buckets. Reputable local companies will.
- Crew labor: $0.40-$0.70 per watt depending on roof complexity
- Permit and plan review: $150-$900 by jurisdiction
- Utility interconnection application: $0-$300
- Main service panel upgrade when required: $1,800-$4,000
- Roof repair or partial re-deck: quoted separately
- Engineering letter for wind loading in coastal counties: $300-$800
How long installation takes
The rooftop work is the short part, usually one to three days. The calendar is dominated by permitting and utility interconnection, which run three to ten weeks in most Texas jurisdictions.
Municipal utilities like Austin Energy and CPS Energy have their own queues and inspection steps. Oncor and CenterPoint territories add a retail electric provider step for buyback enrollment.