Go solar with Sunnova in the solar capital of Texas
San Antonio is home to The Alamo, where Texans fought for their independence and ended the Texas Revolution. Nearly 200 years later, the city is fighting a different battle — one against carbon emissions — in pursuit of energy independence.
In 2022, San Antonio maintained its rank as the top solar city in Texas and the fifth in the U.S. for the total amount of solar electric capacity installed. With nearly 355 megawatts of solar (spanning all sectors), that’s a 39% growth in overall capacity since 2020.*
Basking in more than 250 days of sunshine each year, San Antonio is a mecca for solar energy. What’s more, the south-central Texas city was the fastest growing in America between 2021 and 2022.* This is also good news for our planet. As more people flock to the metropolis rich in cultural heritage and home to world-class museums, we can only expect solar adoption to continue soaring.
A new revolution is underway in the Alamo City: a clean energy revolution.
Where are San Antonio Electricity Prices Headed?
CPS Energy is the municipal utility serving the City of San Antonio. Fun fact: it’s also the largest municipally owned utility in America, providing electricity to more than 840,700 ratepayers and natural gas to more than 352,500.*
The connection between size and rising prices is this — few people in San Antonio will be unaffected.
CPS Energy raised its rates 4% this year, but the average residential electric gas bill spiked 22% from March of last year to March 2022. Why? The cost of producing electricity went up about 16% while the cost of natural gas fuel skyrocketed more than 70% over the same period.*
Natural gas prices are influenced by both domestic and international market drivers. For instance, the global demand for natural gas has outpaced production, weather-related events have depleted storage inventories, and the Ukraine crisis has led to shortages as the EU works to cut its reliance on Russian gas.
Winter Storm Uri also played a role in the escalating price of electricity in Texas, but that pales in comparison to rising fuel costs.
Where does that leave us?
“Remember the Alamo.” The battle cry for Texans in their fight for independence remains a signal of strength and courage when a situation seems hopeless.
But there’s hope yet. As CPS Energy customers face rate hike after rate hike, they can arm themselves with the power of sunshine.*
Are Solar Panels Worth it in San Antonio, Texas?
We can’t control the market forces, but we can change our response to them. As such, more residents in San Antonio, Texas are installing home solar panels and locking in their electricity prices.
Instead of worrying about how much your CPS Energy bill is going to rise this month, this year, or in five years’ time, you can install solar panels in San Antonio and take the guesswork out of your bill. Depending on which financing arrangement you choose, you can opt for a fixed solar rate or an escalator. Either way, with most solar energy plans, you’ll pay a set amount each month and won’t have to worry about volatile utility prices.
In a solar-friendly city like San Antonio, there’s also a community benefit to going solar, such as helping create clean energy jobs and releasing fewer CO2 emissions into the air when powering your home. How much, exactly?
A single solar panel can offset the carbon emissions of about 10 trees.*
Are solar panels in San Antonio worth it? Without a doubt. Not only can you benefit financially, but you’re also helping the Alamo City reach its climate goals, while reducing your need for fossil fuels from the grid — making solar in San Antonio an all-around win.
How Much do Solar Panels in San Antonio Cost?
CPS Energy doesn’t allow for residential solar owned by a third party, so all solar customers must buy their systems upfront with cash or finance them with a loan.
The cost of installing solar panels in San Antonio varies considerably for each home, even by the thousands. Your final cost will depend on factors such as:
- What equipment you choose (number of panels, panel wattage, inverter, etc.)
- Which solar financing option you select
- Any applicable federal and local incentives
CPS Energy offers a full-retail rate for net metering for customers who own their solar systems. This means, whenever your San Antonio solar panels produce energy that you can’t use, you may receive credits on your electric bill when you send that energy back to the grid.
The utility also offers a solar PV rebate for customers who buy their systems outright and the installer is registered by CPS Energy. Set to expire at the end of this year, the PV incentive offers customers a one-time rebate of $2,500 and another $500 if the panels are produced locally.* At Sunnova, a majority of our solar installers are CPS Energy solar contractors, so be sure to ask about this incentive when you get a quote.
In addition, if you finance your San Antonio solar panels with a loan, you may also be able to take advantage of the solar investment tax credit (ITC).* This federal credit enables system owners to deduct 26% of their solar installation cost from you’re their federal taxes. In 2023, the credit falls to 22% before expiring at the end of the year, unless extended by Congress.
Why Choose Sunnova as Your San Antonio Solar Company?
With all the solar companies in San Antonio, why choose Sunnova? Founded right here in Texas, we've served more than 7,200 homeowners across the Lone Star State. We work with a select network of high-quality dealers and solar installers in San Antonio who have first-hand knowledge of the Alamo City and back each system with our 25-year system coverage.
Our mission is to provide you with a better energy service at a better price. We're witnessing a profound paradigm shift to cleaner, cheaper and more reliable energy solutions. And we're proud to be helping pioneer the energy transition in our home state.
