Solar Savings Analysis — Arlington, Texas

Electricity Market Structure in Arlington

Arlington occupies a central position in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan corridor and is served by Oncor Electric Delivery for transmission and distribution services. As part of the deregulated ERCOT market, Arlington residents choose among multiple retail electricity providers competing on price and contract terms.

Arlington is classified within the ERCOT North Load Zone. The city's substantial commercial and entertainment infrastructure, including major stadium and venue facilities, contributes to distinctive load patterns in the local distribution network. Residential solar considerations in Arlington are evaluated against this broader grid context.

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 — Arlington

Arlington, Texas receives an estimated annual average solar irradiation in the range of 4.9 to 5.2 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 5.0 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 — Arlington

As part of the deregulated ERCOT market, Arlington residents choose among multiple retail electricity providers competing on price and contract terms.

Oncor Electric Delivery does not set retail electricity prices in the deregulated Texas market. Retail rates are established by competing retail electricity providers (REPs) operating under Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) oversight. The delivery charge component of a retail electricity bill — covering Oncor's transmission and distribution infrastructure — is regulated separately and appears as a line item in monthly billing. Solar savings projections on this platform address the energy supply component of the retail bill, not the regulated delivery charge component. Methodology detail is available at SunScore™ Projection Methodology.

Retail Electricity Baseline — Arlington (EIA 2024 Reference Year)

EIA Form 861 data for the 2024 reference year establishes the residential rate baseline used in SunScore™ modeling for the Arlington area. Competitive retail electricity pricing in Tarrant County, combined with the city's mid-density residential profile, shapes the savings scenario inputs for this market.

All rate references on this page are derived 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 Arlington vary by retail electricity provider, contract type, and enrollment date. Consumers seeking current rate information should consult the Power to Choose portal maintained by the Public Utility Commission of Texas.

Avoided Cost & Export Compensation Context — Arlington

Arlington's position within the ERCOT North Hub means avoided cost is modeled using wholesale-proxy marginal generation cost data for that settlement zone. Wholesale values remain substantially below retail rates, influencing the relative economic weight assigned to self-consumption versus grid export in SunScore™ projections.

In the ERCOT market structure, the avoided cost concept is central to understanding the economic dynamics of solar energy for Texas homeowners. 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 used in this platform is available at Avoided Cost Explained.

Federal Incentive Layer — Arlington (ITC 30% Reference)

The federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) is available to qualifying homeowners in Arlington who install eligible solar photovoltaic systems. As of the 2024 reference year, the ITC is structured at 30% of eligible system cost under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). This credit is non-refundable, meaning it reduces federal income tax liability but does not generate a direct cash payment if the credit amount 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 ITC application. A detailed explanation of the federal solar tax credit as it applies to Texas homeowners is available at Federal Solar Tax Credit Explained.

Arlington homeowners are subject to the same Texas state incentive environment as other ERCOT-territory cities: eligibility for the property tax exemption on solar system added value, access to the federal ITC, and the absence of a mandatory state net metering requirement. Export terms are provider-specific.

Modeled Projection Context — Arlington

Arlington's residential stock reflects a mix of construction eras, with significant mid-20th-century neighborhoods alongside newer suburban developments in the city's northern and southern sectors. This variation in roof age, pitch, and orientation produces a wider range of solar siting conditions than in cities with more uniform construction timelines. SunScore™ projections for Arlington addresses incorporate this variability through system-size range modeling.

SunScore™ projections for Arlington are generated by synthesizing NREL irradiation data for the Arlington 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. Results will vary based on actual system performance, roof characteristics, shading, consumption patterns, and future retail rate changes. Full methodology documentation, including data sources and modeling assumptions, is available at SunScore™ Projection Methodology, GetSunScore Data Sources, and Modeling Assumptions.

Solar Installation Pathway in Arlington

Homeowners in Arlington 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.

Homeowners evaluating solar installation in Arlington typically proceed through structured qualification and installer evaluation stages, beginning with a property assessment to confirm roof suitability, structural capacity, shading conditions, and utility interconnection eligibility under Oncor Electric Delivery's interconnection standards.

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.