Residential Solar Installation

Direct Solar Photovoltaics questions to

phone: (512) 482-5346

e-mail: Solar Photovoltaics

Power Saver™ Program
Solar Photovoltaics—
Residential Solar PV Rebates

Austin Energy offers solar photovoltaic (PV) rebates to encourage our residential customers to install solar energy systems. These rebates help diversify electric generation with clean, renewable energy and help develop the clean energy industry in Austin.

Rebates are for eligible solar energy system modules and eligible solar energy system inverters installed by participating solar installers.

See the Solar Energy Candidate Checklist, Guidelines (pdf), and Procedures (pdf) for details.

Rebate Requirements Overview
The home must meet these requirements:

• The roof must be in good condition.
• Deed restrictions must not prohibit solar energy systems.
• Solar access requirements as determined by Austin Energy.
• The solar panels should face south. Some east or west orientation is allowed. North facing panels are not eligible for a rebate.
• Energy-efficiency requirements.
• The solar energy system cannot be moved from the Austin Energy service territory.

To be eligible for a rebate, you must work with a participating solar installer. First, contact a few installers to ask for bids. The installer you select will help with the rebate process and submit the application for you. Additional rebate requirements follow:

• The solar energy system must be installed only by a participating solar installer.
• You must receive a Letter of Intent from Austin Energy.
• The work must pass a final inspection by an Austin Energy representative.

Home Electricity Use and Solar PV Systems
The average residence uses about 12,000 kWh (kilowatt-hours) of electricity a year. The electricity a solar PV system generates depends partly on the size of the system. A 1-kW (1,000 watts) system needs about 100 square feet of space with solar access and should produce from 1,000 to 1,400 kWh of electricity a year. This is about $100 to $140 worth of electricity annually.

You Might Get a Credit on Your Bill: Net Billing
During any monthly billing cycle when your solar energy system sends more power into the Austin Energy grid than your home consumes, the difference or “net” will result in a credit on your bill. The credit will be equal to the net kilowatt-hours of electricity fed into the grid multiplied by the prevailing fuel charge rate (or Green Choice fuel charge rate if you participate in Green Choice®).

Solar PV Systems Are Easy to Maintain
Solar energy systems are easy to maintain because they have no moving parts. Because of their durability, PV modules are typically warranted for 20 to 25 years. Solar energy systems are quiet and produce no emissions.

For More Information
Email conservation@austinenergy.com or call 482-5346.

You can apply for both a solar PV loan and a rebate.

Funding
Austin Energy makes no financial commitment to rebate applicants until a signed Letter of Intent is issued. Rebate funding is offered on a first-come, first-served basis and is subject to program budget constraints. Any application for which funding is not available will be returned to the applicant.

Power Saver™ Program—Saving Energy Together