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Solar panels in Eagle Pass, TX

Roofs in Eagle Pass get about 1,827 hours of usable sunlight a year — more than 86% of the cities we've measured. Here's what that means in cost, savings and payback, using real rooftop data rather than a national average.

1,827Sun hours / yr
18Panels typical
$14,364Cost after credit
8.7 yrPayback
Solar is reasonable in Eagle Pass, not spectacular. A 8.7-year payback still beats most savings accounts over the panel's 25-year life, but it is not the slam dunk you'll see advertised.

Check your specific roof in Eagle Pass → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.

What a typical Eagle Pass solar system costs

A 18-panel system (7.2 kW) is about right for an average Eagle Pass home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 11,181 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.

Estimated economics by system size in Eagle Pass, at 15.1¢/kWh after the 30% federal tax credit
SystemSizekWh/yr Net costSaves/yrPayback
8 panels3.2 kW 4,969$6,384 $750 8.5 yrs
12 panels4.8 kW 7,454$9,576 $1,126 8.5 yrs
16 panels6.4 kW 9,939$12,768 $1,501 8.5 yrs
20 panels8 kW 12,424$15,960 $1,692 9.4 yrs
26 panels10.4 kW 16,151$20,748 $1,833 11.3 yrs

How we worked this out for Eagle Pass

Every number on this page comes from these seven steps. Nothing is a national average — the sunlight figure is measured from Eagle Pass rooftops.

#StepResult
1What one panel makes here
400W ÷ 1000 × 1,827 sun hrs × 0.85 system losses
621 kWh/yr
2Panels needed to cover typical usage
10,800 kWh ÷ 621 kWh per panel
18 panels
3System size
18 panels × 400W
7.20 kW
4Annual production
7.20 kW × 1,827 hrs × 0.85
11,181 kWh/yr
5Installed cost
7,200 W × $2.85 per watt, then −30% federal credit
$14,364
6Annual saving
3,780 kWh used as generated × 15.1¢  +  7,401 kWh exported × 15.1¢
$1,645/yr
7Payback
$14,364 ÷ $1,645 per year
8.7 years

Step 6 matters more than it looks. Only 34% of what a system this size produces in Eagle Pass is used the moment it is generated; the other 7,401 kWh is exported and credited one-for-one under net metering. Because exports here are credited at or near retail, that split changes the payback very little — 8.5 years against the 8.7 we show. In places where exports pay a fraction of retail the same split moves payback by years, which is why we model it explicitly rather than assuming.

Assumptions: 400W panels, 15% system losses (inverter, wiring, heat, soiling), $2.85/W installed, 10,800 kWh typical annual household use, 15.1¢/kWh electricity. Change any of those and every figure above moves — which is exactly why a single national "solar costs X" number is misleading.

Notice that payback barely improves as systems get bigger, and eventually gets worse. That's because you can only save money on electricity you were going to buy anyway. Once a system covers your usage, extra panels mostly generate exports at a much lower rate.

Why Eagle Pass gets 1,827 sun hours

That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Eagle Pass — it already accounts for shading from trees, chimneys and neighbouring buildings, which is why it's lower than the raw "hours of daylight" figures you'll see elsewhere. An unusually open, unshaded roof in Eagle Pass reaches about 1,875 hours, roughly 3% better than typical.

The numbers behind this page

Typical usable sunlight1,827 hrs/yr
Unshaded roof1,875 hrs/yr
Electricity rate (Texas avg)15.1¢/kWh
Installed cost assumed$2.85/W
Panel size assumed400 W
Federal tax credit30%
Typical household usage10,800 kWh/yr
Power used as generated34%
Paid for exported powerfull retail (net metering)
Rooftops sampled here7
Google imagery from2015

When Eagle Pass actually produces

Annual totals hide the thing that catches people out: 32% of Eagle Pass's yearly sunlight arrives in May–July, and just 17% across November–January.

Estimated usable sun hours by month in Eagle Pass (latitude 28.7°)
MonthSun hrsShare of year
Jan 105
Feb 127
Mar 153
Apr 177
May 191
Jun 196
Jul 193
Aug 182
Sep 161
Oct 134
Nov 110
Dec 99

Output is unusually steady — only about 2.0× between Jun and Dec. Eagle Pass is close enough to the equator that seasonal variation is mild, which makes sizing a system considerably more predictable.

The annual total is measured from Google's rooftop imagery. Its split across months is calculated from solar geometry at Eagle Pass's latitude, not separately measured, so treat the monthly figures as the shape of a typical year rather than a forecast.

How Eagle Pass compares to the other 788 cities

MeasureEagle Pass Rank of 788
Usable sunlight1,827 hrs113th
Sunlight lost to shade3%675th most
Median roof size108 m²685th largest
Electricity rate15.1¢505th highest
Payback8.7 yrs198th fastest
Grid carbon639 kg/MWh411th dirtiest

What actually stands out about Eagle Pass:

  • Older imagery. Google's aerial capture of Eagle Pass dates from 2015. Tree growth and new construction since then are not reflected.

Cities with almost the same sunlight

These are the closest matches to Eagle Pass's 1,827 usable sun hours from other states and provinces. Same sunlight, different electricity prices — which is usually what decides whether solar is worth it.

CitySun hrs RatePayback
Fresno, CA 1,82731.2¢ 8.8 yrs
North Platte, NE 1,82711.2¢ 11.8 yrs
Vernal, UT 1,82511.2¢ 11.8 yrs
Price, UT 1,82511.2¢ 11.8 yrs

Nearby cities

See all of Texas → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.

Eagle Pass solar questions

How many solar panels do I need in Eagle Pass?

About 18 panels for an average home using 10,800 kWh a year. Eagle Pass roofs get 1,827 usable sun hours, so each 400W panel produces roughly 621 kWh annually. A typical Eagle Pass roof fits about 33 panels, so check your usable roof area before assuming that many will fit.

Is solar worth it in Eagle Pass?

At 15.1¢/kWh and 1,827 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 8.7 years and returns roughly $26,766 over a 25-year panel life. That is a solid return, and it improves further if electricity prices rise. Exported power earns full retail credit here.

How much do solar panels cost in Eagle Pass?

A 7.2 kW system costs about $20,520 before incentives and $14,364 after the 30% federal tax credit. That works out near $2.85 per watt installed. Roof pitch, shading, electrical panel upgrades and equipment choice move the price most, which is why quotes for the same house can differ by thousands.

Worth reading before you buy

Estimates only, generated 2026-08-22 from Google Solar API rooftop samples and average Texas electricity rates. Not a quote and not financial advice. Your roof, usage, utility plan and local incentives will change these numbers — get real quotes before buying.