Texas Net Metering

Net metering policy varies depending on if you're in the deregulated or regulated utility market. Net metering allows residential and commercial customers who generate their own electricity with solar energy to sell the electricity they aren't using back into the grid. Net metering is one of the most important policies for encouraging solar energy. Texas has some of the best net metering policies in the country and you can sell your excess electricity to the grid and receive bill credits for any electricity you use.

Benefits To Net Metering in Texas

Net metering allows solar customers to generate their own electricity while not having to have energy storage on the property. This keeps the cost of going solar low while also alleviating stress from the central utility grid. During the day, most solar customers produce more electricity than they consume; net metering allows them to export that power to alleviate the grid and receive credits for the excess production of their solar panels.
Solar panels generate electricity during the day, when the demand is high for electricity. When the utility grid is stressed from the electricity demand, the utility companies increase the price of electricity in an effort to decrease electricity consumption.
With the increase in population and our growing dependence on electricity, global economic tensions, and an energy dependent United States has driven the cost of electricity through the roof.

Deregulated Utility Providers in Texas

Texas Solar Back back Programs: Deregulated Market in 2022

● Oncor● Texas New-Mexico Power (TNMP)● American Electric Power (AEP)● CenterPoint

If you're in a deregulated utility market you have the power to choose your own Retail Electricity Provider (REP). Most big electricity providers DON'T provide dollar-to-dollar net metering anymore. You are better off shopping with a smaller electricity provider that has a friendly, 1-to-1, solar buyback program. We recommend:

● Rhythm Energy

Reliant and Green Mountain Energy used to offer full net metering but in 2022, haven't been crediting solar customers dollar-to-dollar once their contract expires. If you use Green Mountain Energy or Reliant and haven't been compensated 1-to-1 on your excess solar generation, check out Rhythm Energy and their solar buyback plans.

Regulated Utility Providers (Co-Ops)

Texas Solar Back back Programs: Co-Ops in 2022

● CPS Energy● Austin Energy● Denton Municipal Electric● CoServ● Entergy● Garland Power and Light● Grayson Collins Electric Cooperative

If you live in an area that has a regulated electricity market, you can't choose a Retail Electricity Provider (REP). Instead, your electric co-op or municipal utility provider will handle both the supply and delivery of electricity to your home.
Co-Ops won't let you shop around for another electricity provider and it's common that your solar energy credits are only carried over until the end of the monthly billing period. Some utility providers compensate for this with solar rebates when you install solar. You'll find out more information about your Co-op's solar buy back program by searching for your Co-op's Distributed Manual online, which is public information.
Net metering creates a smoother demand curve for our electricity grids and allows utilities to better manage their peak electricity loads. Net metering also reduces strain on distribution systems and prevents losses in long-distance electricity transmission.

Downsides To Net Metering in Texas

Utilities that oppose net metering policies may argue that they are losing revenue opportunities. They buy their electricity in bulk and when customers start creating their own electricity in their jurisdiction, it messes their buying margins.
To compensate for their loss in buying margins they've been not compensating people dollar for dollar for their electricity credits. Installing a solar battery for your property will help you store your electricity on your property, without having to worry about the changing net metering policies in your area.

Does your Local Power Company Offer Net Metering?

Utility companies are changing their net metering policies and you need to understand how these changes can effect you.

Read Your Utility Providers Distributed Energy Manual Online

You can find your utility companies net metering policy by going online and searching for their Distributed Generation manual or by calling your utility provider and asking. If the net metering policies aren't favorable in your area and want to keep that energy then, it might be time to install a solar energy backup battery on your property.

Solar Batteries and Net Metering

Store your energy on property with solar batteries instead of having to export that to the grid at a loss. You keep your excess solar energy and if the grid were to go down, your solar battery would cut on. You can request a free consultation on solar batteries for your property with Credible Solar here.