Incentive status
Incentives can materially change net cost, but SolarCalcNow does not include them in default calculations unless they are source-checked, dated, active, eligibility-scoped, and explicitly included in the data model.
Source coverage: Austin Energy
$4,000 for eligible homes: at least 3 kW DC, participating contractor, rebate quiz and confirmation letter before installation. This is an Austin Energy offer, not a Texas-wide rebate.
Read the primary source — Austin Energy Residential Solar RebateSource checked: · Next review due: 2026-10-04
Program documented; eligibility required · Not subtracted from calculator cost
IRS Section 25D: no credit for expenditures after December 31, 2025. Timing follows completed installation, not merely a deposit. New 2026 estimates include $0 federal homeowner credit; ask a tax professional about an earlier qualifying installation or carryforward.
Read the primary source — IRSSource checked: 2026-09-04 · Not subtracted from calculator cost
Before signing, obtain the program's written eligibility decision, eligible cost basis, payment schedule and ownership terms. A tax reduction, a production-credit sale and an upfront rebate affect cash flow differently. No program amount below is automatically included in payback.
The calculator shows gross cost first. A verified incentive can be shown as a separate note or included in net cost only after its source, active status, eligibility rules, and date are reviewed. This keeps outdated tax credit assumptions from quietly changing payback math.