As of August 2026, solar makes sense for many Arlington, Texas homes. A typical 6 kW system produces about 9,200 kWh a year (NREL PVWatts, ZIP 76010), offsetting power that Texans buy at roughly 16 cents per kWh. Oncor delivers your electricity, but your solar buyback comes from the retail provider you choose, so the plan you pick matters. Our Oncor territory interconnection guide covers those steps in detail.
Arlington sits in a corner of the U.S. energy map that trips up a lot of solar shoppers, so it is worth getting the basics right before you sign anything. Texas runs a deregulated retail market inside the ERCOT grid, which means one company delivers your power over the wires and a different company sells it to you. For solar, that split changes how you get paid for the energy your roof sends back. This page covers what solar really costs in Arlington, who your utility actually is, how Texas buyback plans credit your exports, and the Arlington permit steps, then you can check your address in about a minute. (If you were looking for Arlington, Virginia, this page is about Arlington, Texas, in Tarrant County.)
Why Arlington’s power prices make solar worth a look
Solar pays off in Arlington because of the price of the power it replaces. The Texas average residential electricity price is about 16 cents per kWh (U.S. Energy Information Administration, period 2026-05), and Texas retail rates move with the wholesale market and the season, so a hot North Texas summer can push your rate well above that average. Every kilowatt-hour your roof makes is one you do not buy from the grid at that price.
Your production is what turns that rate into savings. Arlington gets a strong solar resource for the country, and NREL’s free PVWatts calculator estimates that a typical 6 kW system at ZIP 76010 produces about 9,217 kWh a year. Because output depends on your roof’s pitch, shading, and direction, model your specific roof rather than trust a generic number. According to MySolarFY’s analysis (August 2026), that 6 kW Arlington system is worth roughly $1,500 a year in avoided grid power at the state’s average residential rate near 16 cents per kWh, before you factor in your specific buyback plan and Oncor delivery charges. For the full cost picture, see our Texas solar cost guide.
See what solar options are available in your Arlington ZIP code
Retail plans, buyback credits, installer availability, and electric rates change by provider and location. Enter your ZIP and we will match you with licensed installers who serve your area.
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Who delivers your power in Arlington: Oncor
Your wires company in Arlington is Oncor. Texas restructured its ERCOT market so that a regulated transmission and distribution utility (a TDU) owns the poles, wires, and meters, while a separate retail electric provider (a REP) sells you the energy and sets your rate (Public Utility Commission of Texas, as of 2026). Oncor is the TDU for Arlington and most of the Dallas-Fort Worth area (Oncor Electric Delivery, as of 2026), and it delivers your power no matter which REP you buy from. Oncor does not set your solar buyback.
| Who | What they do | What they set for solar |
|---|---|---|
| Oncor (your TDU) | Delivers power over the wires, owns the meter, handles interconnection | Delivery charges and the interconnection approval; not your buyback rate |
| Your REP (retail provider) | Sells you the energy and bills you | Your energy rate and your solar buyback or bill credit for exports |
Texas solar buyback: how Arlington gets credit for exports
Texas has no statewide net metering, so the credit you get for the power you export is set by your retail plan, not by state law. This is the single biggest difference between going solar in Texas and going solar in a net-metering state. Some REPs offer a solar buyback plan that credits your exported kilowatt-hours at close to the retail energy rate, while others pay a lower fixed rate per exported kilowatt-hour, and the credits are usually applied to your bill rather than paid in cash (TXU Energy solar buyback terms, as of 2026). You still pay Oncor’s delivery charges on the power you pull from the grid, so a buyback plan offsets the energy portion of your bill, not the whole thing. For how export credits work in plain terms, see how net metering and buyback credits work.
The practical move is to verify a current buyback plan before you commit, because the terms change. Ask your installer and a couple of REPs three things: what rate each exported kilowatt-hour earns, whether unused credits roll over or expire, and whether the credits have any cash value. Then size your system to your own usage so most of your production offsets power you would otherwise buy, rather than banking credits at a low rate. The statewide framework is covered on our Texas solar guide.
Arlington solar permits and Oncor interconnection
Arlington uses a single Solar Panel permit for rooftop solar. It combines the building and electrical review into one filing, which keeps the paperwork simpler than in many cities. You apply through the City of Arlington online permit portal, your installer must hold active building and electrical contractor registrations with the city, and the job needs both a building final and an electrical final inspection to close out (City of Arlington Permits, as of 2026). Confirm the current permit fee and submittal checklist with the city before you file, since those are set by ordinance and can change.
Alongside the city permit, your system needs an interconnection agreement with Oncor before it can safely send power to the grid. Your installer normally files the Oncor interconnection application and coordinates the meter swap, so ask any company you talk to how many Arlington and Oncor projects they have completed and who handles that paperwork for you.
What the federal tax-credit change means for Arlington
The federal homeowner solar credit has ended. The 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended for systems placed in service after December 31, 2025, under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, so an Arlington homeowner who buys solar with cash or a loan in 2026 cannot claim it (IRS Residential Clean Energy Credit, as of 2026). You will still see installer pages asking whether the 30% credit is going away; the accurate answer for 2026 is that the homeowner version already ended. For the full timeline, see what the federal solar tax credit change means in 2026.
One federal credit still exists, but it is not yours to claim. A separate commercial credit, Section 48E, is claimed by the business that owns a leased or PPA system, not by the homeowner (IRS Clean Electricity Investment Credit, as of 2026). On a leased system the company that owns the panels claims that credit; you do not file for a federal credit yourself. The 25D homeowner credit, by contrast, ended after December 31, 2025.
Paying for solar in Arlington: cash, loan, lease, or PPA
There is no single right way to pay for solar. The best fit depends on whether you want to own the system and keep the tax benefits and buyback credits yourself, or avoid an up-front cost. A lease or PPA can mean no up-front cost for eligible homeowners, but it is a long-term agreement with monthly payments, so solar is not free, and the company that owns the system, not you, collects any credit that goes to the owner. To weigh the long-run numbers, see whether solar panels are worth it and how a solar lease compares to a PPA.
| Path | Up-front cost | Best when |
|---|---|---|
| Cash purchase | Full system cost | You want the fastest payback and the most lifetime savings |
| Solar loan | Little to none, financed | You want ownership without paying cash up front |
| Lease or PPA | $0-up-front where eligible | You prefer no up-front cost and a simpler monthly bill, and do not need to own the system |
How to choose a solar installer in Arlington
Arlington has an active market of licensed installers, which is good for you because it means real competition on price and service. Rather than chasing a “best installer” list, screen any company against objective criteria:
- A valid Texas electrical contractor license through the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, plus the city contractor registrations Arlington requires.
- NABCEP certification, the industry’s professional standard for PV installers.
- Real experience with Oncor interconnection and Arlington permitting, so the paperwork and meter swap go smoothly.
- A clear written workmanship and equipment warranty, and a written production estimate for your specific roof.
- A plain explanation of your buyback options, including which REP plans they see customers use and how exports are credited.
For a full checklist, see the right questions to ask a solar installer. MySolarFY matches you with licensed installers that serve your area so you can compare real local quotes side by side, with no obligation.
Frequently asked questions
Is solar worth it in Arlington, TX in 2026? For many owner-occupied Arlington homes with decent sun, yes. Texas power costs about 16 cents per kWh on average and can spike in summer, and a typical 6 kW roof produces roughly 9,200 kWh a year at ZIP 76010 (NREL PVWatts, as of 2026). Because Texas has no statewide net metering, your savings depend on the retail buyback plan you choose, so compare a current plan before you decide.
Who is my electric utility for solar in Arlington? Your wires company is Oncor, the regulated transmission and distribution utility for Arlington and most of the Dallas-Fort Worth area (Public Utility Commission of Texas, as of 2026). Oncor delivers your power and handles interconnection, but a separate retail electric provider sells you the energy and sets your solar buyback.
Does Texas have net metering for Arlington solar? No. Texas has no statewide net-metering rule, so there is no guaranteed one-to-one credit. Instead, individual retail providers offer solar buyback plans that credit your exported power, usually as a bill credit at a plan-specific rate (TXU Energy solar buyback terms, as of 2026). Verify a current plan’s export rate, rollover, and cash value before you sign.
Do I need a permit for solar panels in Arlington? Yes. Arlington uses a single Solar Panel permit that combines the building and electrical review, filed through the city online portal by a registered contractor, with a building final and an electrical final inspection to close out (City of Arlington Permits, as of 2026). Your system also needs an interconnection agreement with Oncor.
What happened to the federal solar tax credit for Arlington homeowners? The 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended for systems placed in service after December 31, 2025, so an Arlington homeowner who buys solar in 2026 with cash or a loan cannot claim it (IRS, as of 2026). A separate commercial credit, Section 48E, can apply to a leased or PPA system, but the company that owns the system claims it, not you.
Reviewed by the MySolarFY team. Figures were verified against the linked EIA, NREL PVWatts, Public Utility Commission of Texas, City of Arlington, and IRS sources as of August 2026. The Texas residential rate is an EIA average and varies by retail plan and season, production is an NREL PVWatts estimate for ZIP 76010, and solar buyback terms are set by individual retail providers and change often, so confirm current rates, plans, and permit fees before you decide. MySolarFY does not provide tax or financial advice; consult a licensed professional about your own situation. Learn more about the MySolarFY team and how we work.
MySolarFY is a free service that matches homeowners with licensed solar installers. We are not an installer, financing company, or government program. “No up-front cost” refers to qualifying lease or PPA financing, where eligible homeowners may have no out-of-pocket cost at installation. Lease and PPA terms typically run 20 to 25 years, may include an annual price escalator, and total payments may exceed the cost of a cash purchase; on a lease or PPA any owner tax benefit and buyback credit go to the company that owns the system, not the homeowner. Homeowners do not get the federal residential credit that ended after December 31, 2025. Solar panels are not free and monthly payments apply. Buyback credits are variable and not guaranteed. Eligibility, savings, incentives, and rates vary and are not guaranteed. See our full disclaimer.