With over 300 days of sunshine every year, Austin is a great city for solar. Learn how to claim solar rebates in the Texas Capital.
Austin residents can stack federal, state, and city solar incentives, making the cost of solar in ATX very attractive.
Let’s focus in on Austin specific solar rebates and how to claim them.
How do I get a rebate for installing solar in Austin, Texas?
Eco-minded homeowners in Austin may already be customers of Green Mountain Energy, a utility that operates a 100% renewable portfolio. Customers of Green Mountain Energy can apply for rebates that average $3,200, within a range of $892 to $5,625 typically. The actual amount depends on the size of your array, where you live, and the rebate budget when you apply.
To be eligible for the Green Mountain Energy solar rebate, you’ll need to sign a 24-month minimum term on the utility’s buyback program. You’ll also need to sign a rebate agreement and provide feedback on your solar installation experience. When all the paperwork is complete, homeowners should receive their rebate within 30 days of application.
If, like many Austin residents, you buy your electricity from Austin Energy, you can still access generous rebates for going solar at home.
Find a Solar Energy partner near you.
Does Austin Energy offer solar rebates?
In a word, yes, Austin Energy does offer solar rebates.
The municipal utility in Austin (Austin Energy) offers a $2,500 rebate for customers who complete its Austin Energy solar education course and install a qualifying solar photovoltaic (PV) system. Note, though, that you sign away all your solar renewable energy certificates (SRECs) to the utility in perpetuity if you claim the rebate.
Austin Energy also offers rebates for property owners installing solar PV on five or more homes. These Capacity-Based Incentives (CBI) for multifamily properties work out to $0.60 per watt for properties serving two or more units. The incentive rises to $1.00 per watt for non-profit properties that are ineligible for the federal tax credit. The rebates are capped at $2,500 per residential unit.
The municipal utility also offers its customers a form of net metering. Specifically, customers who install solar at home may be eligible for Austin Energy’s Value of Solar Tariff. This pays homeowners $0.097 for every kilowatt-hour (kWh) generated by their solar panels.
One of the nice things about the Austin Energy rebate program is that it requires homeowners to get at least three bids from solar installers on its list of participating contractors. You choose a solar installer and give them your Solar Education Confirmation Number which you receive after completing the course and the final quiz.
The installer then works with Austin Energy to ensure your solar installation meets the utility’s requirements, which means someone other than you is overseeing the project to some degree. Once the system is approved, your installer turns it on and Austin Energy will mail you your rebate check.
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What are the best solar companies in Austin, TX?
Our top picks for solar installers in Austin are mostly smaller local companies offering a more personal, attentive service. One company, Freedom Solar is a larger outfit serving several states, while American Sentry Solar also offers solar installations in Maryland, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. Our top five are:
- Freedom Solar Power
- HE Solar LLC.
- Solar CenTex
- Sunshine Renewable Solutions
- American Sentry Solar