In short: Garland has about 250,400 people and sits in Rockwall County. Farmers Electric Coop, Inc serves the county, averaging 11.51¢ per kWh for homes in 2024 (EIA). FEMA rates Rockwall County tornadoes “relatively high”. Rooftop solar here makes roughly 1,370 kWh a year per kW of panels by our estimate, which is good for solar.
This page covers what is local to Garland: 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 and the wider area is covered in the Dallas–Fort Worth guide.
Garland at a glance
- Place: Garland, Rockwall County, Texas; about 250,431 residents (Census Bureau estimate, July 2024).
- Utility: Farmers Electric Coop, Inc (member-owned cooperative). Homes paid an average 11.51¢ per kWh in 2024 (EIA-861); the average customer lost 65 minutes of power on normal days and 135 counting major storms, with 1.0 interruptions a year (utility-wide, not just Garland).
- Sun: 4.71 kWh per square meter per day on average, from 2.59 in December to 6.73 in July (NASA POWER). Our rough estimate: about 1,370 kWh a year per kW of panels.
- Climate: about 2,810 cooling degree-days and 2,410 heating degree-days a year (base 65°F, NASA POWER), so air conditioning is the big load.
- Top hazards in Rockwall County: tornadoes “relatively high”, hail “relatively moderate” and heat waves “relatively moderate” (FEMA National Risk Index; overall county risk rated “relatively low”).
- Public charging: 29 ports at 11 locations in Garland, 5 of them DC fast (AFDC, October 20, 2026).
Your utility and what it means
Farmers Electric Coop, Inc is a member-owned cooperative utility and served about 84,006 home customers in 2024; its 11.51¢ average was below the 15.88¢ statewide average for July 2026. Those are utility-wide averages, not a quote for your address; your own bill is the real number.
For reliability, Farmers Electric Coop, Inc reported 65 minutes per customer without major storms in 2024, less than the statewide figure of 129 (EIA-861). Utility-wide numbers hide a lot: a home at the end of a long rural line usually has more outages than the average.
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 Garland
- Tornadoes (relatively high): Tornado-season storms cut power quickly. A battery that switches on by itself, or a portable generator ready to go, covers the first night; sirens and weather radios need power too.
- Hail (relatively moderate): Hail is hard on rooftop solar; ask installers about impact-rated panels and your insurer about coverage.
- Cooling load: an outage in Garland summer means no air conditioning. A central unit is a big load; a large battery system or standby generator can run it, while a smaller setup keeps fans, a window unit or a mini-split going.
- 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 Garland
By our rough estimate each kW of panels makes about 1,370 kWh a year in Garland (NASA sunshine data times 365 days times 0.80 for system losses). Valued at Farmers Electric Coop, Inc’s 2024 average of 11.51¢, that is about $158 a year per kW if all of it offsets your own use (an estimate, not a promise). Production swings with the seasons: July is the sunniest month at 6.73 and December the dimmest at 2.59, 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. Garland has 29 public charging ports in the federal station list including 5 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 Garland: 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 Garland building or permitting department, or from Rockwall County if you live outside city limits, and often a utility interconnection approval. We have not verified a local permit page for Garland, 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: Dallas–Fort Worth energy guide, Mesquite, Plano, Carrollton and Irving, or the whole Texas energy guide.
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Garland energy FAQ
Who is my electric company in Garland?
Federal data lists Farmers Electric Coop, Inc as the main utility serving Rockwall County. Small areas can be served by a different company or a co-op, so confirm on your bill.
How much power will solar make in Garland?
About 1,370 kWh a year per kW of panels by our estimate, so a 6 kW system would make roughly 8,220 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 Rockwall 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.
Can solar and a battery run my air conditioner during an outage?
Yes if the system is sized for it. A central air conditioner needs a large battery or generator, so many people back up one room or a mini-split instead. Use the battery backup calculator to see the runtime for your appliances.
Do I need a permit for solar or a generator in Garland?
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.