Are you thinking of switching to solar power? Perhaps you have thought about making the switch to solar power but aren’t sure if it’s financially feasible. Let us ease your worries with these five Solar Rebates and Incentives Austin offers to its residents when they decide to fire their power company.
1. THE FEDERAL SOLAR TAX CREDIT
This is the best deal Austin residents can get. Anyone who switches to solar will be eligible for a 26 percent solar tax credit from 2022. The credit will drop to 22% after that.
This means that you can immediately reduce the cost of your residential panel array, even before you save money on your power bill. You can also roll over tax credits if you don’t use them all the first year. It’s easy!
2. AUSTIN ENERGY SOLAR EDUCATION COURSE
Another quick win for Austin residents is Austin Energy’s Solar Education Course. This grants residents who go green a $2,500 discount for their system. Your selected Austin solar firm will then work with Austin Energy to ensure that your solar panels are installed in accordance with all regulations. After all, this is done, the solar company will turn on the system and Austin Energy will mail you the rebate check. Boom!
3. NO STATE PROPERTY TAX
Texans enjoy no state property tax. This includes your solar panel array. You can increase the value of your house by adding solar panels. This could double your annual electric bill.
You would be required to pay extra property taxes in other states for this value increase. But not Texas! This means that you will not only get clean, free electricity but also increase your home’s value without paying higher taxes.
4. TEXAS NET METERING
Electric utility companies use net metering or net energy measurement (NEM) to determine their electric bills. This system calculates your electric bill using your net power consumption. For homeowners and businesses that produce excess electricity, net metering can be a huge advantage. This also includes solar power.
Net metering can be a great option for solar-powered home or business owners. You can be fully credited for the electricity your panels produce to the grid. This means you’ll only be charged for the difference between electricity used and electricity produced.
You can get credits on your electric bill if your utility has a net-metering policy. This is for any extra electricity that your solar panels produce. If your panels don’t produce enough electricity (such as at night or when it’s cloudy), you can use those Texas net-metering credits to purchase electricity from the utility.
There are several companies that offer net metering in Texas:
- Austin Energy
- Oncor Electric
- Champion Energy Services
- Direct Energy
- Reliant Energy
- Bluebonnet Electric
- Entergy Texas Inc.
- Pedernales Electric Cooperative
- City of San Marcos Electric Utility
- TXU Energy
- Green Mountain Energy
5. TEXAS SOLAR RIGHTS LAW
Texas Property Code 202.010 says that HOAs cannot include or enforce clauses in their regulations, covenants, or by-laws that prohibit homeowners from installing solar energy devices.
This law protects homeowners’ right to go solar. However, there are some caveats that allow HOAs the ability to regulate solar panel installation in certain circumstances. HOAs may also designate the location of the panels on the roof, as per the law. The homeowner can show that the designation is preventing the panels from performing as intended.
Your HOA cannot stop you from purchasing solar panels. You may need to comply with some requirements, but they shouldn’t affect the efficiency of your solar panel.
It’s now a great time to make the switch to solar energy in Austin, Texas. Texas has an average of 200 sunny days per year. When you combine that with incentives like net-metering and federal tax credit, it’s easy to see why going solar in Austin is such a smart decision.
If you live in Austin and are interested to go solar, please contact us to speak with one of our experts. We are available to answer any questions you might have about the incentives in Texas, or about switching to solar.
This post was written by Daniel Massaad, owner and expert solar technician at Energy Solutions Direct! ESD is one of the top solar panel companies in Florida! Our licensed and certified contractors are masters of their craft; with years of experience servicing the great Tampa Bay area and beyond, the choice is simple. ESD excels at offering you the best in solar value!
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