Solar Payback Period in San Antonio, Texas: When Does It Pay Off?

When Does Solar Pay Off in San Antonio?

A 7kW system in San Antonio costs approximately $21,000 at $3/watt. With annual savings of $1,272 (based on CenterPoint Energy's 11.5¢/13.5¢ rate tiers), the break-even point is approximately 16.5 years.

Without Solar: Projected CenterPoint Energy Bills

CenterPoint Energy rates have increased 20% (2014-2024). If that trend continues, the average San Antonio bill looks like this:

Projections use the 20% (2014-2024) 10-year CAGR as a straight-line estimate. Actual rate changes vary. Solar bill estimates assume fixed system output.

The Compounding Advantage

The payback period calculation above uses today's rates. In reality, as CenterPoint Energy rates rise each year, your solar savings grow too — because every kWh your panels produce is worth more. This means the effective payback period is typically shorter than the static calculation suggests, and the 25-year savings figure grows significantly with each rate increase.