Solar Panels in Dumas, TX: Cost, Payback & Savings

A typical 8.0 kW home solar system in Dumas costs about $32,000 and pays for itself in about 19.4 years, saving roughly $11,801 over 25 years at Texas' average electricity price of 16.1¢/kWh. Power you send back to the grid earns only about 6.0¢/kWh here, which is built into these numbers.

Slow paybackpayback 19.4 years
System size
8.0 kW
20 × 400 W panels
Upfront cost
$32,000
at Texas median $4.00/W
First-year savings
$1,370
solar worth 10.0¢/kWh after export credits
25-year net savings
$11,801
after paying for the system
Production
13,664 kWh/yr
104% of a typical home's use
Peak sun hours
6.1/day
1,708 kWh per kW per year

Monthly solar production in Dumas

Estimated output of a 8.0 kW south-facing roof system. May is the strongest month (1,363 kWh); Dec the weakest (852 kWh).

02004006008001,0001,2001,4001,600Jan: 904 kWhJanFeb: 938 kWhFebMar: 1,224 kWhMarApr: 1,268 kWhAprMay: 1,363 kWhMayJun: 1,323 kWhJunJul: 1,348 kWhJulAug: 1,261 kWhAugSep: 1,166 kWhSepOct: 1,066 kWhOctNov: 954 kWhNovDec: 852 kWhDec

Solar production (kWh) Typical home use, 1,096 kWh/month

Solar payback calculator for Dumas

Pre-filled with Dumas's sunshine and Texas' average electricity price. Enter your own bill and an installer's price per watt to see your payback.

Leave export credit blank where the utility offers full net metering. Where exports earn less, solar used at home as it's produced is worth the full price and the rest earns the export credit.

System
Cost
Year-1 savings
Payback
25-yr net savings

How Dumas compares

Net metering, tax credits and incentives in 2026

Texas pays less than retail for exported solar power. Under Retail provider solar buyback plans, power you send to the grid earns about 6.0¢/kWh, against 16.1¢ for power you buy. We assume 40% of a no-battery system's output is used at home as it's produced (worth the full price) and the rest is exported, so each solar kWh is worth about 10.0¢. Using more of your solar yourself, by running appliances midday or adding a battery, raises that.

Texas has no statewide net metering. In competitive areas the export credit depends on your retail plan: most buyback plans pay about 3-9¢, a few match retail. Austin Energy pays a 9.9¢ value-of-solar rate; CPS Energy about 3-4¢. Source.

There is no federal tax credit for buying home solar installed in 2026. The 30% Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended for systems placed in service after December 31, 2025, so the costs and paybacks on this page include no federal credit.

Texas and local utilities may still offer rebates, performance payments, property-tax or sales-tax exemptions. Search the DSIRE incentives database for Texas and ask installers which programs they apply for you.

Frequently asked questions

Is solar worth it in Dumas, TX?

For a typical home, a solar system pays for itself in about 19.4 years and then keeps saving money. Over 25 years the estimated net savings are $11,801. Verdict: slow payback. Your own payback depends on your roof, your bill and the quotes you get.

How many solar panels do I need in Dumas, TX?

A home using 1,096 kWh a month (the Texas average) needs about 20 panels of 400 W — a 8.0 kW system — to cover its annual use. Divide your own yearly kWh by 1,708 to get the kW you need.

How much do solar panels cost in Dumas, TX?

At 4.00 dollars per watt, a 8.0 kW system costs about $32,000 before any state or utility incentives. There is no federal tax credit for systems installed in 2026.

How much sun does Dumas get?

Dumas averages 6.1 peak sun hours per day, so each kilowatt of panels produces about 1,708 kWh a year.

Does Texas have net metering?

Not full retail net metering. Under Retail provider solar buyback plans, exported solar power earns about 6.0¢ per kWh, versus 16.1¢ for power bought from the grid. Solar you use at home as it's produced still saves the full price.

How much does electricity cost in Texas?

Residential electricity in Texas averages 16.1¢ per kWh, and a typical home uses 1,096 kWh a month (EIA).

Solar payback in nearby places

Solar guides