Texas

Austin Energy, the municipal utility of Austin Texas, offers net metering for renewable energy systems up to 20 kilowatts (kW) to its non-residential retail electricity customers. The definition of renewable includes solar*, wind, geothermal, hydroelectric, wave and tidal energy, biomass, and biomass-based waste products, including landfill gas. Systems must be used primarily to offset a portion or all of a customer's on-site electric load. Metering is accomplished using a single meter capable of registering the flow of electricity in both directions (delivered and received) to determine net energy flows.

Customers that generate more electricity than they consume during a monthly billing period will receive a credit for net excess generation (NEG) at the appropriate avoided cost rate. The amount of the credit is calculated by multiplying the net kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity fed into the grid by the current fuel charge; or, if the customer participates in the utility's GreenChoice program, each kWh delivered by the customer to the utility's electric system in excess of the kWh delivered by the utility is multiplied by the appropriate Green Power Charge. See the Austin Energy Rates Summary for more information.

All systems must meet the requirements of Austin Energy's interconnection guidelines and the customer is responsible for all interconnection costs. Interconnection agreements have a minimum term of one year, unless the customer is a participant in the Austin Energy Solar PV Rebate Program, in which case the minimum term is five years. Agreements will be renewed automatically each year unless terminated by either party (requires 60-day written notice).

*Austin Energy offers the Value of Solar rate for residential solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. This tariff replaces net billing for residential solar PV systems no larger than 20 kilowatts (kW) and provides a larger annual cost savings to customers than if they had net metering available.