Your Hill Country views are stunning. Your grid reliability is not.
Median Home
$2.8M
Median Income
$278K
Home Sizes
3,500–8,000 sq ft
ZIP
78746
West Lake Hills sits on a ridgeline above downtown Austin with panoramic Hill Country views, homes that average $2.8 million, and an Eanes ISD education that consistently ranks among the best in the state. Tech executives, celebrities, and Austin's most established families call this home. The houses are 3,500 to 8,000 square feet of smart home systems, heated pools, home theaters, and wine collections that don't appreciate temperature swings. And the grid? It appreciates Texas weather even less.
The 2021 Winter Storm Uri was a wake-up call for all of Texas, but Austin got hit hard. Pipes burst, homes went dark for days, and the Hill Country's terrain made restoration slower than in flat suburban areas. The 2023 ice storms reinforced the lesson. West Lake Hills' elevated terrain and mature tree canopy mean power lines are more exposed to wind and ice damage. When a line goes down on a winding Hill Country road, it takes longer to fix than a downed line on a straight suburban boulevard.
Here's what makes West Lake Hills different from other affluent Austin-area communities: the eco-conscious factor. This demographic doesn't just want backup power. They want clean backup power. Solar + battery systems are more popular here than anywhere else in the Austin metro because the Hill Country elevation provides excellent solar exposure and the homeowners care about their carbon footprint as much as their comfort. It's backup power that aligns with how they live.
What's at stake during an outage:
Home offices for tech executives, pool and spa heating, whole-home climate control across 5,000+ square feet, EV chargers, wine storage, security systems, and smart home automation that goes dark the moment Austin Energy stumbles. The 14-minute commute to downtown means many residents work from home—and a power outage means a missed meeting with the board.
What's popular in West Lake Hills: Solar + battery is the clear favorite in West Lake Hills. The eco-conscious demographic, excellent sun exposure on south-facing Hill Country lots, and the 30% federal tax credit make it a natural fit. Tesla Powerwall and Enphase systems dominate. For homeowners who want indefinite runtime during extended outages, hybrid systems add a generator for the rare multi-day events like Uri.
Travis County • Eanes ISD
West Lake Hills homes run 3,500 to 8,000 square feet. A typical setup is 2–3 battery units paired with a 8–12kW solar array for daily solar + storage, or a 22–24kW generator for whole-home coverage. Larger estates may need 4+ batteries or a hybrid system. The Hill Country's south-facing slopes provide ideal solar orientation—many homes can offset significant portions of their energy use while maintaining backup capacity.
For estates in the $2.8 million range, most West Lake Hills homeowners invest $20,000 to $50,000 in backup power—often solar + battery systems that provide both daily energy savings and outage protection. The 30% federal tax credit on solar and battery components brings the effective cost down substantially. For context, that's less than a single Eanes ISD summer of travel sports.
A solar + battery system in West Lake Hills typically runs $18,000 to $45,000 for the battery component, plus $15,000 to $30,000 for a solar array. Total systems range from $30,000 to $65,000 before the 30% federal tax credit, which applies to both solar and battery. Most homes in 78746 need 2–3 battery units and an 8–12kW solar array for meaningful whole-home coverage.
Yes. The City of West Lake Hills requires permits for both generator and solar installations. West Lake Hills has specific architectural guidelines for visible equipment. Solar panels generally need design review approval. Generators require setback compliance. Your installer should handle all permitting and be familiar with West Lake Hills' specific requirements.
Excellent. West Lake Hills' Hill Country elevation and south-facing slopes provide some of the best solar exposure in the Austin metro. Many homes get 6+ hours of direct sun daily. The combination of strong solar production and battery storage means West Lake Hills homeowners can generate significant power during the day, store it for evening use, and have full backup during outages.
West Lake Hills experiences outages from ERCOT grid stress events (like Winter Storm Uri in 2021 and the 2023 ice storms), severe thunderstorms, and wind events that damage power lines along Hill Country terrain. The mature tree canopy and elevated terrain increase exposure to wind-related outages. Austin Energy serves most of the area, but ERCOT supply constraints affect all Texas utilities equally.
Solar + battery is the most popular choice in West Lake Hills—it aligns with the community's eco-conscious values, takes advantage of excellent Hill Country solar exposure, and qualifies for the 30% federal tax credit. For homeowners concerned about multi-day outages (like Uri), a hybrid system adds a small generator for extended events. Battery-only systems work well for typical storm outages lasting 4–12 hours.
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