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A solar power system installation could instantly add more than $10,000* to your home’s property value! The system works for you by collecting energy that can be used in your home or sold back to your power provider. Depending on the system, you could potentially ELIMINATE YOUR ELECTRIC BILL!

* Based on Lawrence Berkeley National Lab’s 2015 study

Yes! The investment tax credit (ITC) (also known as the federal solar tax credit) allows you to deduct 30 percent of the cost of installing a solar energy system from your federal taxes. The ITC applies to both residential and commercial systems, and there is no cap on its value. The tax credit remains at 30 percent thru 2019. Starting in 2020, owners of new residential and commercial solar energy systems can deduct 26 percent of the cost of the system from their taxes with a decrease in percentage with each passing year.

• Consistent unlimited energy — Texas averages over 200 sunny days a year. That translates to around 2800 hours of sunlight per year! 
• Rapid industry expansion — Texas went from 9th to 6th in the national solar ranking, doubling its solar capacity last year, as well as increasing solar industry jobs by one-third.
• Highest financial incentives — 30% federal investment tax credit will drop to 26% after 2019 and will decrease another 4% the following year. Also, since solar energy is on the rise, energy providers are offering more rebate programs.
• Your energy works for you — The excess energy you do not need to power your home can be bought back by your retail electric provider. Depending on the size of your system, you could potentially eliminate your electric bill!

• Besides the rebate incentive and tax credit, your selected retail electric provider will buy back the energy that your system collects and does not need for consumption. 

  
  

  Most providers use the energy bought back to credit your account and the difference is shown in the next bill. Some providers may even offer a cashback incentive!

• • Meters — Oncor will provide a distributed renewable generator (DRG meter) upon submitting an Interconnection Application. This meter will measure both the energy you consume and send back to the electric grid. This give-and-take relationship between your solar system and the utility grid is called net metering. Your retail electric provider might require additional meters for monitoring. 
  • Panels — Solar panels contain solar cells. Solar cells, sometimes called photovoltaic cells, convert the energy of the sun into electricity. Most solar cells are made of some form of silicon. Panels also contain metal conductor strips and anti-reflective coating. Wiring and hardware to attach panels to the roof are also part of your entire solar system.
  • Inverters — Solar panels generate direct current (DC). Almost everything you use in your house — the TVs, computers, refrigerator, etc. — runs on alternating current (AC). That’s why solar energy systems require an inverter. Inverters take the power generated by the solar panels and convert the DC power into AC power. Excess AC energy is fed back into your local utility grid or stored with extra battery backup.

• • Oncor is the transmission and delivery utility (TDU). Oncor services most of the electric lines and stations in Texas that transfer power from your retail electric provider to you. They need to provide their own meter to ensure proper transfer of energy to and from your home.

• • This can vary for each system, but on average, the process takes six to nine weeks from the time of the quote to a fully installed system.

    
    

    There are several steps in the process:

    • Initial contact and home solar report
    • Oncor applications, permit requests
    • DRG meter installed
    • Solar system installed
    • Safety checks and connection to the grid

• • • The solar investment tax credit (ITC) is a 30% deductible federal tax credit.
    • REP rebates are specific to the retail electric provider you choose.
    • Special installation and cashback rebates are available through Oncor and local municipalities. 
    • A 5 kWh system can add $17,000 to your property’s value.

Yes, you will always be connected to the main grid. If at any time your solar energy system is not producing enough energy to power your home, the extra energy needed will come from your retail service provider.

The answer depends on whether or not you have a battery system.

If you have a separate battery system installed that stores excess energy produced by your solar energy system, you can run your home separately from the energy you would receive from the grid.

In most cases, you will not have power if your home still runs off power sent from the grid and only uses solar power as a supplement.