Texas

Austin Energy's Solar Rebate Program offers a $1.10 per watt incentive to eligible residential customers who install photovoltaic (PV) systems on their property. Rebates are not to exceed 50% of the total invoice. Residential customers are billed for their whole house energy consumption at standard residential rates and then credited at the current Value of Solar Rate ($0.113 per kilowatt-hour), with monthly net excess generation rolled over to the next month. 

Rebates will only be paid for approved systems installed by approved solar contractors according to the established technical requirements. All systems must conform to the utility's equipment and installation standards in order to qualify for a rebate. These standards include the use of pre-approved equipment; equipment warranty requirements; and the use of a program-approved, NABCEP-certified, and appropriately insured solar installer. Participants must meet a detailed set of home energy efficiency requirements in order to qualify for a solar rebate.

Renewable Energy Credits and other environmental credits associated with renewable energy generated from the system belong to Austin Energy.

American Electric Power Texas North Company (AEP-TNC) offers rebates to any customer that installs photovoltaic (PV) systems on homes or other buildings. Rebates may be assigned to the customer, a service provider, or a third party.

Rebates

Rebates are offered at a flat rate of $1.20 per watt (W)-DC for residential customers and $1.05 per W-DC for non-residential customers. The maximum rebate is:

$12,000 per residential customer (equivalent to a 10 kW system),

$26,250 per non-residential customer (equivalent to a 25 kW system), and

$81,450 per service provider or project owner.

The above limits no longer apply after July 1, 2014. Owners of the systems also own all renewable energy credits (RECs) or other environmental credits associated with the project.

The total amount of program funding for 2014 is $90,000 for residential customers and $72,900 for non-residential customers.

PV System Eligibility

Unless used for educational purposes by a school, systems must be at least 1 kilowatt (kW)-DC in size to qualify for the rebate. Systems may not be sized to produce energy in excess of that required to meet annual on-site energy consumption. Each customer and point of service is eligible to participate in the program multiple times, subject to other program limitations (e.g., maximum per customer and per project incentive limits).

Systems must be new, connected to the grid on the customer side of the meter, meet minimum estimated performance requirements (80% of optimum), and meet all applicable code and utility interconnection requirements. Eligible systems must be covered by an all-inclusive warranty for at least five years from the date of installation. PV modules must be new and certified to UL 1703, and inverters must be new and certified to UL 1741. All installations must be performed service providers who meet program eligibility requirements. AC disconnect switches and revenue-grade solar meters (provided by the service provider) are required. Installations may be subject to a variety of inspection and performance monitoring requirements in the short- and long-term. 

American Electric Power Texas Central Company (AEP-TCC) offers rebates to any customer that installs photovoltaic (PV) systems on homes or other buildings. Rebates may be assigned to the customer, a service provider, or a third party. 

Rebates

Rebates are offered at a flat rate of $1.20 per watt (W)-DC for residential customers and $1.05 per W-DC for non-residential customers. The maximum rebate is:

$12,000 per residential customer (equivalent to a 10 kilowatt (kW) system),

$26,250 per non-residential customer (equivalent to a 25 kW system), and

$90,000 per service provider or project owner.

The above limits no longer apply after July 1, 2014. Owners of the systems also own all renewable energy credits (RECs) or other environmental credits associated with the project.

The total amount of program funding for 2014 is $180,000 for residential customers and $180,000 for non-residential customers.

PV System Eligibility

Unless used for educational purposes by a school, systems must be at least 1 kW- DC in size to qualify for the rebate. Systems may not be sized to produce energy in excess of that required to meet annual on-site energy consumption. Each customer and point of service is eligible to participate in the program multiple times, subject to other program limitations (e.g., maximum per customer and per project incentive limits).

Systems must be new, connected to the grid on the customer side of the meter, meet minimum estimated performance requirements (80% of optimum), and meet all applicable code and utility interconnection requirements. Eligible systems must be covered by an all-inclusive warranty for at least five years from the date of installation. PV modules must be new and certified to UL 1703, and inverters must be new and certified to UL 1741. All installations must be performed service providers who meet program eligibility requirements. AC disconnect switches and revenue-grade solar meters (provided by the service provider) are required. Installations may be subject to a variety of inspection and performance monitoring requirements in the short- and long-term. 

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Xcel Energy Large Commercial and Industrial Standard Offer Program (SOP) pays incentives to businesses for retrofit and new construction projects that save energy in peak summer demand periods and are located within Xcel's service territory. Payments to Project Sponsors will be based solely on kW and kWh savings. Any entity that installs eligible energy efficient measures at a facility with electric service provided by Xcel and has a maximum demand of more than 100 kW is eligible to participate in the program. Incentives are paid for both energy and demand savings. Project Sponsors are required to meet minimum eligibility criteria and sign a standard agreement with Xcel, which includes an estimate of how many kW and kWh the project will save and the associated incentive payment amount. Project Sponsors receive incentive payments from Xcel Energy for installing energy efficiency measures. Xcel does not perform any energy efficiency services, nor does it install any efficiency measures directly for end-use customers, but instead contracts with the Project Sponsors, as required by state legislation.

TXU offers a variety of rebates to business customers who sign up for or renew a 12 month contract with TXU. Rebates are available for HVAC equipment, lighting, programmable thermostats, vending equipment, tankless water heaters, roofing improvements, compressed air, VFD's, chillers and rooftop HVAC units. Some rebates have been assigned a pre-determined rebate value, while others will be rewarded on a case-by-case basis. Some rebates may also vary based upon the energy usage and contract signed by the facility. 

Sharyland Utilities offers its Commercial Standard Offer Program to encourage business customers of all sizes to pursue energy efficiency measures in their facilities. Incentives are paid directly to energy efficiency service providers, also referred to as project sponsors, based on the energy savings achieved by implemented measures. Sharyland Utilities employs three different methods to determine energy savings.  The first method, Deemed Savings, calculates energy savings  from accepted standard values for similar measures and building types.  The other two methods, Simplified Measure and Verification and Full Measurement and Verification.

New Braunfels Utilities offer a variety of programs encouraging its customers to make their homes more energy efficiency. Rebates are available for washing machines, air conditioners, heat pumps, strategically placed drought tolerant shade trees, LED exit signs, and window film. All equipment requirements must be met in order to receive rebates. Washing machines must be rated CEE Tier 3 or better to receive the $100 rebate. 

The Commercial Solutions Program is designed to help participants identify energy efficiency opportunities in existing and newly planned facilities and to provide monetary incentives to implement the projects. The program is funded by Entergy Texas and is being offered at no cost to participants. Commercial Solutions is a voluntary program that offers objective, third party consulting on best practices in the areas of energy usage and energy efficiency. It is important to note that no products or services are sold through the Commercial Solutions Program. The cash incentive is $175/kW plus $0.02/kWh for projects which reduce peak demand. Other services potentially offered through this program are energy performance benchmarking, energy master planning workshops, technical assistance and communications support. Please contact Entergy or a program representative for other details and guidelines.

The SCORE and CitySmart Programs are designed to provide monetary incentives to implement government energy efficiency projects. The government programs offers objective, third party consulting on best practices in the areas of energy usage and energy efficiency. No products or services are sold through the SCORE or CitySmart Program. The cash incentive is $200/kW for projects which reduce peak demand. Other services potentially offered through this program are energy performance benchmarking, energy master planning workshops, technical assistance and communications support. 

The Commercial Solutions Program is designed to help participants identify energy efficiency opportunities in existing and newly planned facilities and to provide monetary incentives to implement the projects. The program is funded by Entergy Texas and is being offered at no cost to participants. Commercial Solutions is a voluntary program that offers objective, third party consulting on best practices in the areas of energy usage and energy efficiency. It is important to note that no products or services are sold through the Commercial Solutions Program. The cash incentive is $175/kW plus $0.02/kWh for projects which reduce peak demand. Other services potentially offered through this program are energy performance benchmarking, energy master planning workshops, technical assistance and communications support. Please contact Entergy or a program representative for other details and guidelines.

The SCORE and CitySmart Programs are designed to provide monetary incentives to implement government energy efficiency projects. The government programs offers objective, third party consulting on best practices in the areas of energy usage and energy efficiency. No products or services are sold through the SCORE or CitySmart Program. The cash incentive is $200/kW for projects which reduce peak demand. Other services potentially offered through this program are energy performance benchmarking, energy master planning workshops, technical assistance and communications support. 

CPS Energy offers incentives for new commercial construction that is at least 15% more efficient than required by the City of San Antonio Building Code (based on IECC 2009). The building code and incentive program were created by Ordinance 2009-03-12-0179 (the Sustainable Building Codes Ordinance) and further amended by Ordinance 2009-10-01-0777D.

The Commercial New Construction Incentive Program does not specify eligible measures, but rather provides incentives for the amount of energy saved overall. Savings are based on the total energy consumption of all fuel types used in the building. In order to measure energy savings and determine incentive amounts, an approved modeling software or calculation methodology must be used. In order to apply for the incentive, applicants must submit a copy of the results of the modeling software, a final certificate of occupancy, and a letter from the architect certifying that the building is in compliance with the requirements of the program. CPS Energy may inspect buildings prior to authorizing an incentive. Multi-family structures with 4 or more units are considered commercial construction.