Solar Savings Analysis — Plano, Texas

Electricity Market Structure in Plano

Plano is served by Oncor Electric Delivery and participates in the ERCOT competitive retail electricity market. As a major suburban hub in Collin County, Plano has a predominantly residential and office-park load profile, with above-average household electricity consumption relative to the state median.

Plano's location in the ERCOT North Load Zone positions it within a transmission corridor that experiences periodic congestion related to North Texas metro-area peak demand. Residential solar adoption in Plano offsets load during afternoon peak windows, which correspond to the highest solar production periods.

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 — Plano

Plano, 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 — Plano

As a major suburban hub in Collin County, Plano has a predominantly residential and office-park load profile, with above-average household electricity consumption relative to the state median.

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 — Plano (EIA 2024 Reference Year)

Residential electricity rate data for Plano referenced in SunScore™ modeling derives from EIA Form 861 for the 2024 reference year. The competitive retail market in Collin County has historically produced rates in a range broadly similar to other major Oncor-territory cities, with variation based on plan type and contract duration.

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 Plano 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 — Plano

Avoided cost modeling for Plano uses the ERCOT North Hub wholesale-proxy baseline, consistent with other cities in this service territory. The wholesale marginal cost of generation in this zone is substantially lower than prevailing retail rates, a key modeling variable for net export scenarios.

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 — Plano (ITC 30% Reference)

The federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) is available to qualifying homeowners in Plano 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.

Plano homeowners qualify for the same Texas state incentive framework available across ERCOT-served territories, including the property tax exemption for solar equipment and federal ITC eligibility. Net metering is not mandated by state law in Texas; export compensation depends on retail provider contract terms.

Modeled Projection Context — Plano

Plano's built environment includes a high concentration of large-lot single-family homes, particularly in the Legacy corridor and older northern neighborhoods, where roof area and favorable south-to-west orientation are common. This physical characteristic supports higher average system capacity per household compared to more densely developed portions of the Dallas metropolitan area. SunScore™ models this profile when generating Plano-specific projection scenarios.

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

Homeowners in Plano 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 Plano 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.