Solar Savings Analysis — Carrollton, Texas

Electricity Market Structure in Carrollton

Carrollton is served by Oncor Electric Delivery and participates in the ERCOT deregulated retail electricity market. The city spans portions of Dallas, Denton, and Collin counties, making it one of the more geographically complex municipalities within the Oncor service territory. All three county portions fall within Oncor's delivery network and the ERCOT North Load Zone.

Carrollton's three-county footprint spans a range of distribution sub-network characteristics while remaining entirely within Oncor's transmission and distribution infrastructure. The city's position between the DFW core and the northern suburbs places it in a mid-corridor location within the ERCOT North Load Zone, with load characteristics reflecting both established residential areas and significant light industrial activity.

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 — Carrollton

Carrollton, 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 — Carrollton

Oncor Electric Delivery serves Carrollton 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 — Carrollton (EIA 2024 Reference Year)

Residential rate modeling for Carrollton uses EIA Form 861 data for the 2024 reference year for the Oncor service territory. The multi-county character of Carrollton does not produce materially different residential rate outcomes, as all portions fall within the same deregulated ERCOT North Texas market. Retail rate competition in this corridor is consistent with broader DFW area pricing dynamics.

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 Carrollton 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 — Carrollton

Avoided cost modeling for Carrollton applies the ERCOT North Hub wholesale-proxy baseline. Self-consumption of solar energy in Carrollton avoids the applicable residential retail rate, while grid export is compensated at wholesale-proxy values substantially below retail. GetSunScore's avoided cost methodology is detailed at our Avoided Cost methodology guide.

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.

Federal Incentive Layer — Carrollton (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 Carrollton 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 — Carrollton

Carrollton presents a more heterogeneous residential profile than many DFW suburban cities, with a mix of mid-20th-century neighborhoods in the southern portions of the city — closer to the Dallas boundary — and newer development in the northern sections approaching Denton County. This stratification means solar siting variables, including roof age, orientation, and shading, vary more widely across Carrollton's geography than in cities with more uniform development timelines. SunScore™ projections for Carrollton use city-level NREL irradiation data and note this variability as a reason individual property assessments may produce results meaningfully different from city-level modeled averages.

SunScore™ projections for Carrollton are generated by synthesizing NREL irradiation data for the Carrollton 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 Carrollton

Homeowners in Carrollton 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.