Installation process
How solar installation works in Texas
A residential solar project in Texas takes about 6 to 12 weeks from signed agreement to permission to operate. Roughly 1 to 2 weeks for survey and engineering, 2 to 4 weeks for permitting and HOA approval, 1 to 2 days on the roof, then 2 to 5 weeks for city inspection and utility interconnection. Pure Solar files every permit and interconnection application for you.
The eight steps
- 01
Free consultation and usage review
We pull twelve months of your electricity usage and review your roof, orientation, and shading. You get an honest read on whether solar makes sense for your home before anyone talks price.
- 02
Site survey
A technician measures the roof, checks structure and roof age, and evaluates your main electrical panel's capacity. This is where surprises get found — before you sign, not after.
- 03
Design and engineering
We produce the array layout, one-line electrical diagram, and structural details stamped as your city requires. Typically 1 to 2 weeks.
- 04
Permitting and HOA approval
We file the electrical and building permit with your city and prepare the HOA submittal where one applies. Typically 2 to 4 weeks, and the most variable step in the whole project.
- 05
Installation
Racking, panels, inverter, conduit, and the tie-in to your panel. One to two days for most homes; add a day for battery storage or a service panel upgrade.
- 06
City inspection
Your municipality inspects the work before it can be energized. We schedule it and meet the inspector on site.
- 07
Utility interconnection and meter swap
Your utility reviews the interconnection and exchanges your meter for a bi-directional one. Typically 2 to 5 weeks depending on the utility.
- 08
Permission to operate
The utility issues PTO, we commission the system with you, walk you through monitoring, and the system starts producing.
What varies by city and utility
Permitting speed is a city function and interconnection speed is a utility function, so the same system can take eight weeks in one market and twelve in another. Municipal utilities such as Austin Energy, CPS Energy, and Denton Municipal Electric own every step in house, which tends to be more predictable. Deregulated markets split delivery (Oncor, CenterPoint, AEP Texas) from billing, which adds a coordination step.
Your market's specifics are on your local service area page.
If your roof is near end of life
Mounting a new array on shingles with a few years left means paying later to remove and reinstall it. We check roof age during the survey and will tell you when replacing first is the cheaper path — we handle roofing and removal and reinstall in house.
Common questions
How long does solar installation take in Texas?
Most Texas projects run 6 to 12 weeks from signed agreement to permission to operate. The rooftop work itself is usually one to two days; the rest is engineering, permitting, inspection, and utility interconnection.
What slows a solar project down?
Permitting queues in busy cities, HOA review, utility interconnection backlogs, and electrical panel upgrades. These are the four causes behind nearly every delayed project.
Will my power be shut off during installation?
Briefly. There is a short planned outage while we tie into your electrical panel, usually an hour or less.
Can I use my solar the day it is installed?
No. You have to wait for city inspection and your utility's permission to operate before the system can be energized. Turning it on early violates the interconnection agreement.
Do I have to deal with the permits and utility myself?
No. We prepare the engineering drawings, file the city permit, submit the utility interconnection application, and schedule the inspections and meter exchange.
Get a straight answer for your home
Every Texas roof, utility, and bill is different. Call or text 806-454-7873 or send us your details for a free consultation.
Request a free consultation