Solar Savings Analysis — Allen, Texas

Electricity Market Structure in Allen

Allen is served by Oncor Electric Delivery for transmission and distribution services and operates within the ERCOT deregulated retail electricity market. Located in Collin County between McKinney and Plano, Allen has grown significantly as a residential destination within the northern DFW suburban ring.

Allen is positioned within the ERCOT North Load Zone. The city's rapid residential development over the 2000s and 2010s has produced a housing stock that is predominantly newer construction, with distribution infrastructure built to accommodate continued growth. Allen's grid characteristics within the broader Oncor North Texas network reflect a suburban load profile with relatively low commercial load density.

For additional context on Oncor Electric Delivery's role as the transmission and distribution operator in this market, see the Oncor Electric Delivery utility authority node.

Solar Irradiation Context — Allen

Allen, Texas receives an estimated annual average solar irradiation in the range of 4.9 to 5.3 kWh per square meter per day, based on NREL National Solar Radiation Database reference data for the North Texas geographic zone. This translates to approximately 5.1 peak sun hours per day on an annualized basis, representing a moderately high solar resource consistent with the broader Texas solar production environment.

City-level irradiation data is applied in SunScore™ modeling as a primary energy yield input. No ZIP code-level or address-level irradiation claims are made on this page. Actual solar output at any specific property will vary based on roof pitch, azimuth, shading obstructions, and system configuration.

Utility Territory & Delivery Structure — Allen

Oncor Electric Delivery serves Allen as the regulated transmission and distribution operator under PUCT oversight. Oncor does not set retail electricity prices in the deregulated Texas market. Retail rates are established by competing retail electricity providers (REPs). The delivery charge component of a retail electricity bill — covering Oncor's transmission and distribution infrastructure — is regulated separately from the energy supply charge. SunScore™ projection modeling addresses the energy supply component of the retail bill, not the regulated delivery charge. Methodology detail is available at SunScore™ Projection Methodology.

Retail Electricity Baseline — Allen (EIA 2024 Reference Year)

Residential electricity rate modeling for Allen uses EIA Form 861 data for the 2024 reference year for the Oncor delivery territory in Collin County. The competitive retail electricity market serving Allen reflects North Texas deregulated market dynamics, with rate variation dependent on provider, plan type, and contract terms.

All rate references on this page derive from publicly available EIA Form 861 data for the 2024 reference year and represent historical average figures. They are not real-time rates, guaranteed future rates, or provider-specific quotes. Actual retail electricity prices in Allen vary by retail electricity provider, contract type, and enrollment date. Consumers seeking current rate information may consult the Power to Choose portal maintained by the Public Utility Commission of Texas.

Avoided Cost & Export Compensation Context — Allen

Avoided cost for Allen is modeled using the ERCOT North Hub wholesale-proxy baseline, consistent with all other Oncor-territory North Texas cities. Solar self-consumption in Allen avoids the applicable retail rate, while grid export is valued at wholesale-proxy cost levels substantially below retail rates. This differential is a core input in SunScore™ projection modeling for this market.

In the ERCOT market structure, solar energy consumed on-site avoids the retail rate, while energy exported to the grid is compensated at or near wholesale-proxy levels — a materially lower value. SunScore™ projections distinguish between self-consumption and export scenarios in the modeled output. A detailed explanation of the avoided cost framework is available at Avoided Cost Explained.

Federal Incentive Layer — Allen (ITC 30% Reference)

The federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC), currently structured at 30% of eligible system cost under the Inflation Reduction Act as of the 2024 reference year, is available to qualifying homeowners in Allen who install eligible solar photovoltaic systems. This credit is non-refundable — it reduces federal income tax liability but does not generate a direct cash payment if the credit exceeds tax liability in the installation year. Unused credit amounts may carry forward to subsequent tax years subject to applicable IRS rules.

The federal ITC is incorporated as an incentive layer input in SunScore™ projected payback and return scenarios. GetSunScore does not provide tax advice. Homeowners should consult a qualified tax professional to assess personal eligibility and application. A detailed explanation is available at Federal Solar Tax Credit Explained.

Modeled Projection Context — Allen

Allen's residential landscape is dominated by planned subdivisions developed primarily since the 1990s, a characteristic that produces broadly favorable conditions for solar siting analysis. Newer construction in Allen typically features consistent roof pitches, south-to-west-facing rear exposures common in subdivision layouts, and minimal shading from mature vegetation. This building profile generally reduces the property-specific variability that older housing stocks introduce into solar assessments. SunScore™ projections for Allen reflect this context through the city-level irradiation and system performance assumptions applied in modeling scenarios.

SunScore™ projections for Allen are generated by synthesizing NREL irradiation data for the Allen geographic zone, EIA Form 861 rate baselines for the 2024 reference year, publicly available residential system performance assumptions, and applicable federal and state incentive layer inputs. The output is a modeled estimated savings range expressed as an annual and cumulative scenario over a defined projection horizon.

All SunScore™ projections are non-binding modeled scenarios. They do not constitute financial advice, a solar installation quote, or a guaranteed savings figure. Full methodology documentation is available at SunScore™ Projection Methodology, GetSunScore Data Sources, and Modeling Assumptions.

Solar Installation Pathway in Allen

Homeowners in Allen who have reviewed GetSunScore's modeled solar savings projection and wish to proceed with installation evaluation may do so through the standard residential solar qualification and contractor evaluation process.

GetSunScore does not install solar systems, endorse specific solar contractors, or recommend providers. Qualified homeowners seeking installation evaluation may consult the installer directory referenced in GetSunScore's partner network documentation.