Austin Energy - Residential Solar PV Rebate Program

Austin Energy offers a $4,000 rebate to help you install home solar, plus ongoing monthly bill credits at the 9.91¢/kWh "Value of Solar" rate for all the energy your system produces, with unused credits rolling over month to month. To qualify, you must use a participating, NABCEP-certified contractor and pre-approved equipment, meet home energy-efficiency requirements, and complete a solar education course—start by taking the Solar Rebate Quiz. Note that Austin Energy keeps the renewable energy credits associated with your system, and solar alone won't power your home during an outage unless you add a battery.

Only participating contractors on Austin Energy's approved list can offer these solar rebates and incentives, and you must be NABCEP-certified, appropriately insured, and abide by the Code of Conduct and Solar Program Contractor Handbook. Systems must use pre-approved equipment meeting warranty and installation standards, and customers must satisfy home energy-efficiency prerequisites and complete a solar education course before the rebate is paid. You can strengthen proposals by clearly stating the Value of Solar rate assumptions, sizing recommendations, performance guarantees, and payback estimates so customers can compare quotes.

This residential rebate program pays a $4,000 rebate for approved solar PV systems installed by program-approved, NABCEP-certified contractors using pre-approved equipment that meets Austin Energy's technical, warranty, and installation standards. Participants must complete home energy-efficiency requirements and a solar education course, and Austin Energy retains all associated renewable energy and environmental credits; production is compensated separately through Value of Solar bill credits (currently 9.91¢/kWh, updated every three years) that offset electric charges and roll over but cannot be cashed out. The program targets Austin Energy residential utility customers and connects to complementary efforts including energy-efficiency incentives and the Power Partner Battery demand response pilot.