Texas Home Power · Cost Calculator

Find the lowest-cost home power option for your situation.

Compare Base Power, Generac, solar, and standard grid power for your Texas home over 1, 3, 5, and 10 years — using your own usage and rate.

See your results instantly. No email required.
Start comparing → What do these options mean?
The calculator

Six quick questions. Your 10-year total-cost comparison.

We'll ask about your usage, your current rate, and what you're trying to solve for. Then we'll model each of the four options over 10 years side-by-side.

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Methodology

How we calculate the numbers

Every number on this page comes from a simple, transparent model. No black boxes. Here's what goes in.

Universal formula

Total cost = energy cost + fixed overhead − offsets. Applied over 1, 3, 5, and 10 years.

Cost = P × Q (rate × kWh)

Standard retail power

Annual usage × your effective kWh rate. No install, no overhead, no offset.

annual_kwh × price_per_kwh

Base Power + Backup

Base energy rate applied to usage (tiered by monthly kWh), plus a monthly membership, plus a one-time install. Battery count (1 or 2) sets the install and membership tier.

$0.132–$0.140/kWh · $19–$29/mo · $695–$995 install

Generac + Retail

Standard grid bill, plus annual maintenance and fuel/testing, plus a one-time generator install. Generator size is derived from your home's square footage and highest monthly bill, then rounded up to the nearest standard unit.

equipment + $4,000 labor · $400 + $200 /yr

Solar + Retail

System size derived from your daily kWh usage divided by 4.5 peak sun hours. Install cost is $2.25/watt all-in (equipment + labor). Savings estimated at 70% of your annual grid spend — a conservative figure that accounts for real-world production shortfalls and export limitations.

solar_kw × $2,250/kW · 70% offset
Honest note on this model's bias. Every projection holds electricity prices flat over the 10-year window. In reality, retail rates have historically risen faster than fixed-rate options like Base Power's energy rate. That means this model is directionally conservative for Base and Solar — real-world savings are more likely to be larger than shown, not smaller. Retail and Generac (which pay retail rates) benefit most from the flat assumption.

Frequently asked

Why isn't this a traditional power-plan comparison?

Retail plan shopping tells you who is cheapest this month. This calculator is about long-term strategy: whether it makes more sense to stay on the grid, add backup, or own the equipment outright.

Where do the Base Power defaults come from?

We used a midpoint of publicly advertised install ($695–$995) and membership ($19–$29/mo) tiers. You'll get a custom quote from Base if you actually sign up. These are directional MVP assumptions, not locked prices.

Why does the solar estimate use 70% rather than 100%?

Real solar savings depend on system size, roof orientation, weather, usage timing, and how your utility handles exports. A 1:1 offset assumes perfect production every day — 70% is a more realistic long-run average for most Texas homes. If your system outperforms that, your actual savings will be higher.

What happens to my data?

Nothing leaves your browser unless you choose to download the PDF breakdown. The calculator itself runs entirely client-side.

Why is my rate higher than what I was sold?

Advertised rates almost never include TDU delivery, base fees, or minimum-use adjustments. Your effective rate — total bill divided by kWh used — is usually 40–60% higher than the marketing number. Our usage guide walks through the math on a real bill.