Is solar worth it for your home in Austin?

Austin Energy, the municipally owned utility of the City of Austin, serves most of the city. Some locations inside Austin are served by Pedernales Electric Cooperative, Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative or Oncor, so check the utility named on your electric bill. The Value of Solar credit applies only to systems connected to Austin Energy's grid.

Austin Energy meters all of the energy your solar system produces, not only what flows to the grid, and credits it at the value of solar rate as a separate line on your bill, while you are billed for all of the electricity your home uses. Unused credit carries forward month to month, has no cash value, and is forfeited if the account closes.

Every solar system connected to the Austin Energy grid needs an Auxiliary Power Electrical Permit, applied for through the City's Austin Build + Connect portal with a Distributed Generation Planning Application, a wiring diagram and a Residential Solar Interconnection Agreement. After installation, Austin Energy performs the final solar inspection, installs the solar meter and grants permission to operate.

The federal residential clean energy credit, section 25D, ended for home solar expenditures made after December 31, 2025, under the law signed July 4, 2025. The IRS treats the expenditure as made when installation is completed, so a system completed in 2026 does not qualify even if it was paid for earlier.

No. The consultation is free for homeowners, and there is no obligation to buy anything.

Our team confirms a few details with you, then one local solar company for your area contacts you to set up the visit. Your request never goes to a list.