Plano sits in Oncor territory, so Oncor delivers your power while you pick a retail provider for the buyback rate. Our Oncor territory solar guide walks through the interconnection and buyback steps. Texas has no statewide net metering, so surplus credit varies by plan. A 7 kW roof here makes about 10,616 kWh a year (PVWatts), offsetting power that costs about 16.44 cents per kWh (EIA).
If you own a home in Plano, rooftop solar works differently here than in most of the country, because Texas is a deregulated electricity market. Oncor owns the poles and wires and delivers your power, but you choose a separate retail electric provider (REP), and that REP sets what your extra solar power is worth. There is no statewide net metering rule, so the buyback varies by plan. This page covers what solar actually costs to run in Plano, who your utility really is, how surplus credit works under a deregulated REP, the Plano and Collin County permitting steps, and what the end of the 30% federal tax credit, which expired after December 31, 2025, means for your 2026 numbers. Then you can check your address in about a minute.
Why solar math is different in Plano
The single most important fact about solar in Plano is that Texas is deregulated. Plano is in the ERCOT grid and inside Oncor’s service territory, which covers most of North Texas including the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex (Oncor; ZIP 75074 is an Oncor delivery area, confirmed on the Public Utility Commission of Texas Power to Choose shopping tool). Oncor does not sell you electricity. It only delivers it and maintains the grid. You buy your power, and sell your surplus back, through a retail electric provider you choose yourself.
| Plano solar snapshot (2026) | Figure |
|---|---|
| Delivery utility (TDU) | Oncor Electric Delivery (ZIP 75074 in Oncor territory) |
| Texas residential rate | About 16.44 cents per kWh (EIA, May 2026) |
| Modeled 7 kW production | About 10,616 kWh a year (NREL PVWatts v8, ZIP 75074) |
| Statewide net metering | None; export buyback varies by retail provider plan |
That means the number that drives your payback is the rate you pay for grid power. Texas residential electricity averaged about 16.44 cents per kWh (EIA, May 2026), a bit below the national average, so the bill your solar offsets is moderate rather than extreme. Because Texas is deregulated, your own cents-per-kWh depends on the plan you signed, so read the Electricity Facts Label on your current plan for your exact rate rather than trusting a single statewide figure.
A 7 kW system at a Plano ZIP (75074) is modeled to produce about 10,616 kWh a year (NREL PVWatts v8). At the Texas residential average of 16.44 cents per kWh (EIA, May 2026), that is roughly $1,745 of grid electricity a year that solar could offset if you used it all on-site, before any export credit. Your real number depends on your roof, your usage, and your REP plan.
Your production is what turns that rate into savings. North Texas gets strong sun, and a well-placed Plano roof offsets a large share of a normal home’s yearly use. Output depends on your roof’s pitch, shading, and orientation, so estimate your specific roof with NREL’s free PVWatts calculator rather than a generic figure. For the statewide cost picture, see our Texas solar cost guide, and for the full state overview see our Texas solar hub.
See what solar programs are available at your Plano address
Retail plans, buyback rates, installer availability, and delivery charges change by REP and location. Enter your ZIP and we’ll match you with licensed installers who serve your area.
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Who is your utility in Plano, and how buyback works
Your delivery utility is Oncor, but your solar buyback comes from your retail provider. This is the part that trips up Plano homeowners who read national solar pages. In a regulated state, one utility both sells you power and credits your exports one-to-one. In deregulated Texas, those jobs are split. Oncor delivers the electricity and installs the bidirectional meter that measures what you import and export, while your REP decides how, and whether, to pay you for the surplus you send back (Public Utility Commission of Texas). Oncor is one of several Texas delivery utilities; for other providers see our solar by utility hub.
| Detail | What to know in Plano |
|---|---|
| Delivery utility (TDU) | Oncor Electric Delivery, the wires company for Plano and most of North Texas |
| Who sells your power | A retail electric provider (REP) you choose, not Oncor |
| Statewide net metering | None. Texas has no mandated net-metering credit; buyback varies by REP plan |
| Surplus credit | Set by a solar buyback plan; some REPs credit near retail, others less. Verify a current plan before you size a system |
| Metering | Oncor installs a bidirectional meter and grants Permission to Operate after interconnection |
Note: pick your solar buyback plan as carefully as your panels. Because there is no statewide credit, the value of your exported power in Plano is a shopping decision. Some Texas REPs offer solar buyback or surplus-credit plans that pay near the retail rate for what you send back, while others pay a lower wholesale-style rate or cap the credit. The right plan can change your payback by years, so compare current buyback plans on the Public Utility Commission’s Power to Choose tool and confirm the exact terms with the REP before you commit. To understand the mechanics behind crediting, see how net metering and export credit work.
Permitting solar in Plano and Collin County
Yes, Plano requires permits for rooftop solar. A grid-tied system needs a City of Plano building permit and an electrical permit before you install. Plano runs its own permitting, which is why it is not the same as a Dallas project. Plano is in Collin County and the City of Plano Building Inspections division is the authority having jurisdiction for a residential rooftop system, separate from the City of Dallas and its own rules (City of Plano Building Inspections). A grid-tied install in Plano generally needs a building permit and an electrical permit, plans showing panel layout and the electrical single-line, and a final inspection before Oncor grants Permission to Operate. If your home is in Dallas rather than Plano, use our Dallas solar page instead, since the permitting office and fees differ.
Note: confirm the current Plano permit fee. Plano’s residential photovoltaic building permit has been reported around $150, with a separate electrical permit, but city fee schedules change, so verify the current residential PV permit fee and any electrical permit fee with the City of Plano before you budget (City of Plano Building Inspections). A licensed installer who works in Plano regularly will pull these permits for you and handle the Oncor interconnection paperwork.
What the end of the federal tax credit means in Plano
The 30% federal homeowner credit ended after December 31, 2025. Plan your 2026 Plano numbers without it. 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 a Plano homeowner who buys solar with cash or a loan in 2026 cannot claim it (IRS, as of 2026). Texas has no statewide solar income-tax credit to replace it, though it does exempt the added home value from your property taxes and some local utilities run rebate programs, so ask your installer what applies to your address. For the full timeline, see what the end of the federal solar tax credit means in 2026.
How to compare Plano solar quotes
Because the deregulated market puts more of the decision on you, a good Plano quote should spell out the pieces that actually move your payback:
- A written PVWatts-based production estimate for your specific roof, not a generic number.
- The REP solar buyback plan the installer expects you to use, with the current export credit in cents per kWh.
- Plano and Collin County permitting and the Oncor interconnection handled for you, with timelines.
- A clear workmanship and equipment warranty in writing.
- Your bill after solar using today’s rates and no assumed federal credit, since 25D ended after 2025.
MySolarFY matches you with licensed installers that serve your area so you can compare real local quotes side by side, with no obligation. Learn more about how MySolarFY works.
Check which solar programs are available at your Plano address →
Frequently asked questions
Who is my electric utility in Plano, Texas?
Oncor Electric Delivery is the transmission and distribution utility that delivers power to Plano and most of North Texas, and ZIP codes like 75074 sit inside Oncor’s territory (Oncor). Oncor owns the poles, wires, and your meter, and it restores power after outages, but it does not sell you electricity. In deregulated Texas you buy your power from a retail electric provider you choose, and that provider, not Oncor, sets what your exported solar power is worth. You cannot pick a different delivery utility; Oncor is assigned by location.
Does Plano have net metering?
No. Texas has no statewide net-metering rule, so there is no guaranteed one-to-one credit for the solar power you export in Plano (Public Utility Commission of Texas). Instead, some retail electric providers offer solar buyback or surplus-credit plans that pay for the power you send back, and the value ranges from near the retail rate to a lower wholesale-style rate depending on the plan. Because the credit varies by REP, compare current buyback plans on the Power to Choose tool and confirm the terms with the provider before you size your system.
How much does solar produce in Plano?
A 7 kW rooftop system at a Plano ZIP (75074) is modeled to produce about 10,616 kWh a year, based on NREL’s PVWatts v8 using local sun data (PVWatts). At the Texas residential average of about 16.44 cents per kWh (EIA, May 2026), that output is worth roughly $1,745 of grid electricity a year if you use it all on-site, before any export credit. Your actual production depends on your roof’s pitch, shading, and orientation, so run your own address through PVWatts for a real estimate.
Do I need a permit to install solar in Plano?
Yes. A grid-tied residential system in Plano generally needs a building permit and an electrical permit through the City of Plano Building Inspections division, which is the authority having jurisdiction, separate from Dallas or other nearby cities (City of Plano). You submit plans showing panel layout and the electrical single-line, pass a final inspection, and then Oncor grants Permission to Operate. Plano’s residential photovoltaic permit fee has been reported around $150, but fee schedules change, so confirm the current amount with the city. A licensed local installer normally handles the permits and the Oncor interconnection for you.
What happened to the federal solar tax credit for Plano homeowners?
It 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 a Plano 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 leased and PPA systems, but the business that owns the system claims it, not the homeowner. Texas has no statewide solar income-tax credit, so plan your 2026 numbers around your production, your rate, and your REP buyback plan.
Can I get solar with no up-front cost in Plano?
Some homeowners can, through a lease or power purchase agreement (PPA) where eligible, which can mean no out-of-pocket cost at installation in exchange for monthly payments. This is not free solar; it is a long-term agreement, typically 20 to 25 years, and total payments may exceed the cost of a cash purchase. On a lease or PPA the third-party owner, not you, owns the system and any credit it qualifies for, while your benefit is a lower or more predictable power cost. If you want to own the system yourself, a cash purchase or solar loan keeps that control. Check what you qualify for before deciding.
Reviewed by the MySolarFY team. Figures were verified against the linked EIA, NREL PVWatts, Public Utility Commission of Texas, Oncor, City of Plano, and IRS sources as of August 2026; Texas retail buyback plans, Oncor delivery charges, and Plano permitting fees can change, so confirm current terms with your retail electric provider, Oncor, and the City of Plano 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 the system and any credit it qualifies for go to the company that owns it, 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. Eligibility, savings, incentives, buyback rates, and delivery charges vary and are not guaranteed. See our full disclaimer.
