Texans are in a great position to save money with solar. We're in one of the sunniest states in the country, which means that your solar panels will be up and running for a long time. But exactly how much money can you save with solar panels?

The average American household uses approximately 11,000 kWh (kilowatt-hours) per year, and one kWh in Texas costs $0.1140. This means that the average Texan spends around $1,200 on electricity per year. The installation cost of a 6 kW solar system in Texas is $12,000. It would take the average household 12 years to recoup their costs on their installed system. Afterward, their electricity would be free forever. You'd be able to save around $13,720 in 20 years if you installed solar today. And that's not even counting rebates and other incentives that can lower your solar costs and save you even more money.

Net-metering is a system designed to compensate solar owners for the electricity their home generates. During those times when your system produces more electricity than it uses, such as on hot days when you're away from home, the electricity is sent out through your electric meter back into the power grid. You will then receive credits on your monthly bill for the excess electricity. You can use these credits to buy extra electricity on the days that your system isn't producing enough electricity, such as on rainy or cloudy days, instead of having to pay cash. 

Most states require utilities to offer net-metering, but Texas has yet to implement similar regulations. However, there are many utilities that offer net-metering, especially if you live in a major metropolitan district. You can get in touch with your local utility to find out if the service is offered in your area.

There are many stories of Texans saving money by installing solar panels. While they might not completely eliminate your electric bill, they can come pretty close. Take Chris and Krista, who live in West Austin with their two children. They decided to install solar panels as a way to lower their utility bills while powering their electric car. After six months, they noticed that their solar panel installation had cut their electric bill in half. They produce enough electricity on sunny days to supply electricity back to the utility and get extra credit.

Mike Fisher realized that installing solar power was a way to keep up with the growing energy demands of his family. He took advantage of Texas' great incentives and rebates for installing solar panels and is pleased with the result.

Solar panels aren't only for residential customers; they can also help keep expenses low in affordable housing developments. Properly installed solar panels can keep a duplex of affordable housing apartments running without the need for outside electricity, except on days where solar power is limited.

How much you save on solar will depend largely on how much electricity you already use. Solar panels can produce enough energy to power most of your household, and the average Texan can expect to save up to $14,000 in 20 years while being less reliant on external utilities.