Across the state and the nation, consumer interest in solar power has steadily increased. 

Last October, a story in the Dallas Observer reported that Texas ranks No. 3 in the country for the most residential solar power. Furthermore, a 2024 report from Environment Texas found that the state’s solar power generation increased by nearly 3,700 percent in the last decade. 

Unfortunately, solar scams have also flourished under the current conditions.

Between 2018 and 2023, the number of consumer complaints related to solar panels jumped 818 percent at the Texas Office of the Attorney General and 576 percent at The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

United has seen the same exponential growth in scammers coming through the service territory often promising members fantastical energy production and energy savings while providing slipshod installations.

To combat the hype and set the record straight for United members, United launched a behind-the-meter solar program in March 2024, assisting members with everything from education to installation. 

Not to be confused with United’s Community Solar Program, United’s Solar Solution is a hassle-free way for members to learn about solar savings. The co-op developed the program to educate its members interested in installing solar at their metering location. United’s solar education program was designed to promote thought and analysis into all aspects of installing solar before making an expensive, long-term investment.  

During the process, members considering solar panels are encouraged to explore the following topics:

Return on Investment (ROI)—Solar panels will reduce the monthly utility bill. However, all members should ask how long will it take for their initial investment to yield a return.
 
Federal Tax Credit—Currently, a 30 percent federal tax credit is available for qualifying solar system owners. The credit helps to reduce the overall cost of the system when considering the ROI. United encourages all members to seek a tax professional for guidance. At the time of this publication and according to the draft of the federal budget bill, this credit is poised to be phased out by 2027.
 
Energy Audit Results—Solar is a solution, not a bandage. United’s most beneficial tool for assessing a member’s energy usage is performing an energy audit. Energy audits encompass a range of topics, from underlying issues within the home to thermostat habits. 

Suitable Roof/Land Availability for Solar—Residential solar panels range between 18 to 23 square feet a panel. Solar goals and available space may not align. 

Price per Watt (PPW)—Getting multiple bids for a solar system is encouraged, but it can also be confusing at the same time. Finding the price per watt (PPW) is the easiest way to compare solar bids, particularly when each bid uses different equipment, such as panel wattage and count. Example: Overall system cost divided by the system size in watts gives the PPW, leveling the bid comparing process. 

The measure of United’s Solar Solution success is not in record-breaking sales, said Seth Rosser, United’s energy solutions manager. Instead, the co-op’s energy solutions team gauges success by the number of members it can educate and engage in honest discussions about producing solar energy at home. 

Since March of 2024, Rosser said 248 members have started their Solar Solutions journey and taken advantage of United’s free solar energy audit. After completing the educational portion of the Solar Solution, where members received honest information and a competitive solar installation bid, 244 of those participants decided that solar was not the right fit for them.

“When members have all the real information in front of them, and they get to see how much a solar system costs and how long it will take for them to see a return on their investment, the vast majority of members we have educated are reluctant to move forward with their plan to install residential solar,” Rosser said. “We’ve also noticed that many of our Solar Solutions participants instead start working on the items we find during the energy audit to help them curb their overall energy usage for far less of a cash investment.”

As the co-op measures the impact of its solar education program on a broader scale, it’s essential to highlight the unique considerations some of the members faced when deciding if solar was right for them.

United member Tony Landrum of Walnut Springs, said he was excited to try United’s Solar Solution, as it offered him a one-stop shop not only to learn about solar, but also to install it if he so chose. 

He had already spent more than two years researching solar production before beginning his process with a solar energy audit from United. He said he chose to try United’s Solar Solution because he felt he could trust the co-op to give him a plan that fit his needs at a fair price, unlike other solar companies he had encountered in the past. 

His real surprise came after United’s energy solutions specialist performed the energy audit, he said. The energy solutions specialist determined that lowering his baseline usage will allow for a smaller and less expensive solar system in the future to meet Landrum’s energy needs. 

“Seeing my daily baseline usage when no one was home was concerning,” Landrum said. “The energy audit highlighted areas where I can improve the efficiency of my home before installing solar.” 

While Landrum said he still plans to install solar in the future, he first wants to address his pool pump’s runtime, attend to two water well pumps (one with a leak), investigate installing solar screens and improve the ventilation in his attic. 

David Taylor, a new United member who lives in Granbury, is in the process of moving from California to Texas. As an engineer and an experienced solar consumer, Taylor said he was eager to learn about United’s rates and net metering platform. 

“I applaud United’s forward-thinking to bring in qualified employees to help members interested in solar,” Taylor said. “With my first solar system in California, I had no help from my utility company. I had to do a deep dive and built my own spreadsheets.” 

Taylor said he is still processing the information he received during his energy audit, including the ROI on solar in Texas, since the electric rates here are cheaper than those in California.

The differences in energy economics between the two states are also impacting some of his other installation decisions. Though higher energy rates in California help make battery backup a wise consumer choice, he found they make less sense in the Lone Star State. Instead, he said  he is now  considering installing a backup generator rather than battery backup at his home.

The deciding factors for the Taylors to install a solar system rest on the ROI, resale value and the overall look of the panels on the home. However, Taylor said he now knows his family has a trusted energy adviser in United Cooperative Services.

Scott Hollis, also a new member in Burleson, found his new property came with extremely high electric bills when he first connected his service. Less than pleased, Hollis said he requested a solar energy audit, hoping a solar system would bring peace of mind. 

Hollis was unfamiliar with the heat pumps that came with his new property, as well as their control functions on the thermostat. The energy audit performed this February revealed that the heating systems were left in emergency heat mode, overriding the more economical heat pump setting. This resulted in much higher energy usage. 

“I encourage everyone new to the area to have United perform an energy audit,” he said. 

While the possibility of solar is still on the table for Hollis and his family, their focus now is performing the recommendations from the energy audit and taking advantage of United’s rebate program.

“In over 30 years of having an electric bill, I have never met anyone from the electric company in person,” he said. “All interactions were over the phone. In my first year with United, you came to my house and showed me how to save money. The experience was awesome; the only thing missing was some UCS swag I could wear.”

United’s Solar Solution prioritizes informed decision-making over aggressive sales tactics and fosters a culture of transparency and trust. 

Interested members can begin their Solar Solution journey by signing up for a free solar energy audit at www.ucs.net/energy-audits or by calling (817) 556-4000.