In short: Wichita Falls has about 102,400 people and sits in Wichita County. Which company supplies power depends on the street address, so check your bill first. FEMA rates Wichita County hail “relatively high”. Rooftop solar here makes roughly 1,450 kWh a year per kW of panels by our estimate, which is good for solar.
This page covers what is local to Wichita Falls: its utility, outage records, sunshine, weather risks and charging. Statewide rules such as net metering, incentives and electrician licensing are in our Texas energy guide.
Wichita Falls at a glance
- Place: Wichita Falls, Wichita County, Texas; about 102,372 residents (Census Bureau estimate, July 2024).
- Sun: 4.97 kWh per square meter per day on average, from 2.69 in December to 7.07 in June (NASA POWER). Our rough estimate: about 1,450 kWh a year per kW of panels.
- Climate: about 2,710 cooling degree-days and 2,800 heating degree-days a year (base 65°F, NASA POWER), so heating and cooling both matter.
- Top hazards in Wichita County: hail “relatively high”, drought “relatively high” and tornadoes “relatively high” (FEMA National Risk Index; overall county risk rated “relatively moderate”).
- Public charging: 24 ports at 12 locations in Wichita Falls, 10 of them DC fast (AFDC, October 20, 2026).
Your utility and what it means
We could not match a utility in the federal data for Wichita County. Look at the top of your electric bill for the company name, then check its page for solar, battery and EV-charger programs.
Net metering, export rates and incentives are set at state level and by each utility. Start with the Texas guide and then ask your utility for its current interconnection steps before you sign anything.
Backup power in Wichita Falls
- Hail (relatively high): Hail is hard on rooftop solar; ask installers about impact-rated panels and your insurer about coverage.
- Drought (relatively high): Drought raises fire and heat risk and strains wells. If you rely on a well pump, include it in your backup plan.
- Short outages: a portable power station covers phones, Wi-Fi, a CPAP and lights; a home battery switches over automatically.
Size your setup with the generator sizing tool and the battery backup calculator, and compare options in backup power. Generator safety (CPSC): outdoors only, at least 20 feet from the house, exhaust away from doors and windows, never in a garage, and battery-powered carbon monoxide alarms inside. A licensed electrician should install any transfer switch, with a permit; see generator installation.
Solar in Wichita Falls
By our rough estimate each kW of panels makes about 1,450 kWh a year in Wichita Falls (NASA sunshine data times 365 days times 0.80 for system losses). Production swings with the seasons: June is the sunniest month at 7.07 and December the dimmest at 2.69, a 2.6-to-1 gap.
Check your own roof with the solar potential tool, see solar costs and net metering vs net billing, and read the steps in solar installation. Hail and storm exposure are worth raising with installers and your insurer.
Batteries and EV charging
A home battery earns its place when outages are frequent, when your utility pays little for exported solar, or when evening prices are high; compare in home batteries and battery costs. Wichita Falls has 24 public charging ports in the federal station list including 10 DC fast, but home charging is cheaper and easier: see the EV charging cost calculator and EV charger installation.
Drive on another fuel? See every alternative fuel station in Wichita Falls: hydrogen, propane, natural gas, E85 ethanol, biodiesel and renewable diesel.
Permits and inspections
Solar, generator transfer switches and EV chargers normally need an electrical permit from the Wichita Falls building or permitting department, or from Wichita County if you live outside city limits, and often a utility interconnection approval. We have not verified a local permit page for Wichita Falls, so check the city and county websites or ask your electrician, who will know the process. Hire only a licensed electrician or installer; the Texas guide lists the state licensing rules.
Nearby guides
More local guides: see all of Texas, or the whole Texas energy guide.
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Wichita Falls energy FAQ
How much power will solar make in Wichita Falls?
About 1,450 kWh a year per kW of panels by our estimate, so a 6 kW system would make roughly 8,700 kWh. Shade, roof direction and tilt change this; run your address through the solar potential tool for a better number.
Is a generator or a battery better for tornadoes in Wichita County?
It depends how long the outage lasts. A battery is quiet, automatic and good for short outages and for pairing with solar; a standby generator keeps going as long as it has fuel, which suits multi-day events. Many homes use a battery for everyday outages and add a generator for the rare long one.
Do I need a permit for solar or a generator in Wichita Falls?
Almost always an electrical permit for a transfer switch, solar or an EV charger, issued by the city or county where you live. Your licensed electrician or installer normally pulls it. Never connect a generator to your house wiring without a transfer switch.
Sources: EIA Form 861 (2024) for utility prices and outages; NASA POWER climatology (2001 to 2025) for sun and degree-days; FEMA National Risk Index for county hazards; AFDC station locator for public charging; Census Bureau for population. Estimates are ours and are not promises; see our editorial policy. Prices and programs change, so check each program page.