The amount of electricity generated by a solar energy system is dependent upon several factors, primarily system size, orientation of the system and shading. Typically, a solar system using 120 square feet of solar panels will generate 1,000 - 1,440 kWh per year.

Yes. To qualify for an Austin Energy solar energy rebate you will need to be connected to the grid. While you generate the bulk of your own electricity during the peak hours of daylight and demand, your utility will seamlessly take over and continue to supply your electricity at night and on very cloudy days. If you decide to include battery storage, the additional cost for the battery system will not be covered by the rebate.

Since solar technology is motionless and noiseless, a meter is required to keep track of how much electricity your system is producing. The inverter display can show you how much power is produced at any given time. Also, if the disc on your solar meter is rotating, your solar system is generating.

In any type of electric outage, only a solar energy system with battery backup will continue to have power. By law, any solar energy system without battery backup must shut down until utility power returns.

Solar energy system modules have passed a standard set of tests for durability and are built to withstand winds of up to 125 miles per hour and 1-inch hail.

If there are covenants and restrictions in your neighborhood with regard to solar energy systems, you cannot receive an Austin Energy solar rebate unless the homeowners association approves your solar energy system installation.

Yes. If you start with some battery backup, it is easy to add more. However, if you start without a backup, it will be rather expensive to add batteries due to the high cost of adding a different type of inverter. Systems without battery-backup use a different inverter than those with battery backup.

It will typically take two to three days for a professional installation for a home. For commercial installations, consult your solar installer.

Since solar energy systems require sunlight to produce electricity, your system will not produce at night. Austin Energy will continue to supply your electricity at night unless you purchase a system with a battery backup.

Since solar energy systems require sunlight to produce electricity, the bulk of your electricity production will take place under sunny conditions. Output is directly proportional to the amount of sunlight available at any given moment. A system can generate 50 - 70% of its typical output under bright overcast conditions but production will continue to diminish as less light reaches the system.

Solar energy systems typically operate in temperatures ranging from -13 to 122 degrees Fahrenheit. Solar energy systems are electronic devices that generate electricity directly from sunlight. Output drops off as the system gets hotter. In summer months, the increased daylight hours increases production.

Solar energy system modules typically carry 20-30 year warranties. The system inverter is required to carry a 10-year warranty on non-battery back-up systems. The Austin Energy Solar Rebate program requires that all solar energy systems installed carry a 5-year warranty from the manufacturer and installer.

To have a solar energy system installed on your roof, your property must have a reasonable amount of non-shaded, unobstructed roof space during the key sun hours of the day. A southern orientation is ideal but east and west facing roofs can still capture over 80% of the power of a true south-facing roof. Your roof may be flat or sloped. Rack-mounted systems on the ground and pole mounted systems are also available.

If a solar energy system produces more power at any given moment than the property consumes, the extra power will flow into the Austin Energy electric grid. Over any month when a solar energy system sends more power into the Austin Energy grid than the homes takes from the grid, the difference or net will result in a credit on the customer's electric bill. The credit will be determined by multiplying the net kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity fed into the grid times the current fuel charge, or Green Choice rate for Green Choice customers.

Commercial customers may also qualify for the following federal incentives:
1) Federal Business Investment Tax Credit for Qualifying Energy Property
2) Federal Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System
Visit the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy for federal incentives information.

The size you choose is a trade off between the amount of money you want to invest and the amount of electricity you want to produce. A typical Austin home during peak electricity usage in the summer uses up to 5 kW of electricity at any given moment. Over a year, that same home will use approximately 12,000 kWh of electricity.
You can look at your old electricity bill to calculate how much electricity your home typically uses. But remember, you do not need to cover all your electricity needs with a solar system to add value to your home.
The only other condition in deciding proper system size is the amount of suitable space available on your roof. To be suitable, you must have unobstructed, non-shaded roof area, either flat or a sloped, at an orientation other than North. You need roughly 120 square feet of roof space for each kWh kW that you wish to produce.

The total cost for purchasing and installing a solar energy system is based on the size of system you require and the specific details of the layout of your property. Solar energy systems often range in cost from $6 - $10/watt.

An Austin Energy participating company must be used to install your solar energy system. To help you get the best price, Austin Energy encourages you to get more than one quote.

Yes, provided you have the available roof space.