Last Updated on May 18, 2025 by Kelli
What Is Net Metering?
Net metering is the most common solution to handle surplus electricity from solar panels. In Texas, there are many electricity providers who will buy back, or give you credit for your excess solar power.
- Every kilowatt-hour not consumed by your home is sent to the grid, and deducted as credit from the next power bill.
- Some retail electric providers offer full credit, paying for your extra production at the retail kWh price.
- Other providers give credit at the wholesale cost they would normally pay to large-scale generators, not the full kWh price.
Texas Net Metering Rules
Texas does not mandate net metering by law, but many Retail Electricity Providers (REPs) and municipal power companies offer the benefit. This article will provide an overview of the best solar buyback and net metering programs in the state as of 2025.
In simple terms, net metering subtracts your solar generation from your electricity consumption, and you are only billed for the difference. If your credit for solar generation is actually higher than your consumption, the rules vary depending on the energy company:
- Some solar buyback plans offer a credit that is rolled over to the next month.
- Other plans will not recognize credits for solar generation that exceeds your monthly consumption.
- In rare cases, electricity providers may even pay in cash for surplus energy.
What Are Feed-in Tariffs in Net Metering?
Feed-in tariffs or FITs are rates that apply for surplus electricity exported to the grid. Under traditional net metering, your consumption and solar generation are valued equally, but a feed-in tariff assigns a different price tag for surplus generation.
- FITs are normally lower than the retail kWh price, but utility companies may set them higher as an incentive for solar power in new markets.
- If the FIT and the retail kWh price are equal, you are getting traditional net metering.
Keep in mind that electricity providers may create hybrid programs. For example, you may find a company that gives you net metering at the full energy price when generation is below your consumption, switching to a reduced feed-in tariff above this point.
What Are Performance-Based Incentives in Net Metering?
Performance-based incentives reward you based on the total output of your solar panels, not only your surplus production. This means you get the incentive regardless of how solar generation is used: consumed onsite, or exported to the grid.
The Value of Solar (VOS) Tariff offered by Austin Energy is an example of a performance-based incentive. You get a power bill credit of 9.91 cents/kWh based on 100% of your solar generation (not only your excess production).
Texas Electric Companies with Solar Buyback Plans
In most regions of Texas, you can choose your electricity company thanks to deregulation. Some electricity plans are designed specially for consumers who own solar panels, and in many cases they can boost savings. Texas has dozens of electricity providers, but few of them have solar buyback or net metering plans:
As of 2025, the following electricity companies provide solar buyback plans in Texas.
Solar Buyback Plans in Texas 2025 |
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Oncor Territory: Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex
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Electricity Provider | Electricity Plan | Contract Lengths | Electricity Rate (12-Month Plan) | Solar Buyback Rate | Base Charge | Additional Information |
Chariot Energy | Shine | 12, 18, 24 or 36 months | 14.7 cents per kWh | ERCOT real-time market rate, up to 25 cents per kWh |
$14.18 per month | -Solar credits roll over to the next month. -ETF = $15 per remaining month -Renewable energy content = 100% |
Gexa Energy | Solar Export | 12 months | 13.4 cents per kWh | 3.00 cents per kWh | $24.18 per month | -Solar credits roll over to the next month. -ETF = $150 flat fee -Renewable energy content = 100% |
Gexa Energy | Battery Benefits | 12 months | 22.2 cents per kWh | 16.9 cents per kWh | $14.18 per month | -Solar credits roll over to the next month. -ETF = $150 flat fee -Renewable energy content = 100% -Additional $50 bill credit for allowing Gexa to manage your battery |
Ambit Energy | Total Solar Buyback | 12, 24 or 36 months | 20.6 cents per kWh | 15.26 cents per kWh | $19.18 per month | -Solar credits roll over to the next month. -ETF = $199 flat fee -Renewable energy content = 100% |
Amigo Energy | Solar buyback rate available for all plans. |
12, 24, 36 or 60 months | 14.6 cents per kWh | 3.00 cents per kWh | $4.23 per month $29.99 one-time fee |
-Solar credits roll over to the next month. -ETF = $175 flat fee -Renewable energy content = 31.5% -Maximum system size = 25 kW |
Champion Energy Services | Solar buyback rate available for all plans, except Free Nights. |
12 or 24 months | 15.2 cents per kWh | ERCOT real-time market rate | $4.23 per month | -Solar credits roll over to the next month. -ETF = $150 flat fee -Renewable energy content = 16.4% |
David Energy | Smart Battery | 12 months | 12.1 cents per kWh | 3.00 cents per kWh | $4.23 per month | -Solar credits roll over to the next month. -ETF = $10 per remaining month -Renewable energy content = 100% -Includes a Battery Optimization service to increase your savings. |
David Energy | Smart Battery PM | 12 months | 11.1 cents per kWh | 3.00 cents per kWh | $4.23 per month | -Solar credits roll over to the next month. -ETF = $10 per remaining month -Renewable energy content = 100% -Includes a Battery Optimization service to increase your savings. -Available for users with at least 65% of energy consumption from 9PM to 7AM. |
Direct Energy | Direct Solar Unlimited | 12 or 24 months | 15.6 cents per kWh | 5.3 cents per kWh | $14.18 per month | -Solar credits roll over to the next month. -ETF = $150 flat fee -Renewable energy content = 100% -Maximum system size = 50 kW |
Frontier Utilities | Frontier Sun | 12 months | 13.4 cents per kWh | 3.00 cents per kWh | $24.18 per month | -Solar credits roll over to the next month. -ETF = $150 flat fee -Renewable energy content = 30.40% |
Frontier Utilities | Battery Awards | 12 months | 22.2 cents per kWh | 16.9 cents per kWh | $14.18 per month | -Solar credits roll over to the next month. -ETF = $150 flat fee -Renewable energy content = 30.40% -Additional $50 bill credit for allowing Frontier to manage your battery |
Green Mountain Energy | Renewable Rewards Essential |
12 or 24 months | 17.0 cents per kWh | 10.7 cents per kWh | $14.18 per month | -Solar credits up to your monthly usage, with no rollover to the next month. -ETF = $150 flat fee -Renewable energy content = 100% -Maximum system size = 50 kW |
Green Mountain Energy | Renewable Rewards Solar Credit |
12 or 24 months | 15.6 cents per kWh | 5.3 cents per kWh | $14.18 per month | -Solar credits roll over to the next month. -ETF = $150 flat fee -Renewable energy content = 100% -Maximum system size = 50 kW |
Just Energy | Solar buyback rate available for all plans. |
12, 24, 36 or 60 months | 14.6 cents per kWh | 3.00 cents per kWh | $4.23 per month $29.99 one-time fee |
-Solar credits roll over to the next month. -ETF = $175 flat fee -Renewable energy content = 31.5% -Maximum system size = 25 kW |
Octopus | Octo | 12 months | 13.7 cents per kWh | ERCOT real-time market rate | $14.23 per month | -Solar credits roll over to the next month. -Cashout avaialble when credits reach $50. -ETF = $150 flat fee -Renewable energy content = 100% |
Reliant | Solar Payback Plus | 12 or 24 months | 14.4 cents per kWh | 7.1 cents per kWh | $34.18 per month | -Solar credits roll over to the next month. -ETF = $150 flat fee -Renewable energy content = 24% -Maximum system size = 50 kW |
Reliant | Solar Payback Match | 12 or 24 months | 16.8 cents per kWh | ERCOT real-time market rate | $14.22 per month | -Solar credits roll over to the next month. -ETF = $150 flat fee -Renewable energy content = 24% -Maximum system size = 50 kW |
Rhythm Energy | PowerShift Solar Buyback | 12 months | 41.0 cents per kWh (7:00pm – 9:59pm) 24.2 cents per kWh (6:00am – 8:59am and 4:00pm – 6:59 pm) 9.4 cents per kWh (all other schedules) |
21.4 cents per kWh (7:00pm – 9:59pm) 11.4 cents per kWh (6:00am – 8:59am and 4:00pm – 6:59 pm) 2.5 cents per kWh (all other schedules) |
$19.18 per month | -Solar credits roll over to the next month. -ETF = $20 per remaining month -Renewable energy content = 100% -Maximum system size = 20 kW |
Think Energy | Think Shine | 36 or 60 months | 14.6 cents per kWh | 4.00 cents per kWh | $14.18 per month | -Solar credits roll over to the next month. -ETF = $200 flat fee -Renewable energy content = 100% -Maximum system size = 50 kW -$100 gift card for new customers |
TXU | Solar Buyback Match | 12 or 36 months | 19.4 cents per kWh | 14.1 cents per kWh | $19.18 per month | -Solar credits roll over to the next month. -ETF = $150 flat fee -Renewable energy content = 100% |
TXU | Solar Buyback Saver | 12 or 36 months | 15.7 cents per kWh | 5.0 cents per kWh | $19.18 per month | -Solar credits roll over to the next month. -ETF = $150 flat fee -Renewable energy content = 100% |
Net Metering Programs in Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth
Unlike Austin and San Antonio, where a single municipal utility sets the rules for solar power, Houston and DFW have a deregulated market where electricity consumers can choose their provider.
This section will focus on the main retail electricity providers (REP) with solar buyback programs: Chariot, Gexa Energy, Champion Energy Services, Green Mountain Energy, Shell Energy and TXU.
Chariot Energy Solar Buyback Programs (Quick Electricity Recommendation)
Chariot Energy offers two types of solar buyback plans. The best option for your home will depending on your consumption and solar energy production:
Electricity Plan | Description |
Chariot Shine | The plan is available for solar panels systems of all sizes, even if you generate more energy than what your home needs. You are paid for excess production at the wholesale kWh price, which is lower than the retail price you pay.
The plan is available in 12, 18, 24 and 36-month versions. |
Chariot Rise | You are paid for excess solar production at the same kWh price charged by Chariot, but you can only use this plan if your monthly generation is lower than your usage.
The plan is only available in a 36-month version. |
The Chariot Shine plan is intended for homeowners with large solar arrays that frequently generate excess production. If there is a month where your solar credit exceeds your energy charge, you can roll over the difference.
You can take advantage of the Chariot Rise plan if you have not installed solar panels yet. Your system can be designed so that monthly generation falls below your consumption – so you can get paid for solar energy at retail prices. This plan is also viable if you own a solar panel system that does not generate more energy than what your home needs each month.
Gexa Energy Solar Buyback Programs
Gexa Energy has the Solar Buyback 12+ plan, where you are paid for excess solar energy at the same rate that is normally charged to you: 15.4 cents/kWh. If there is a month where your solar generation is higher than your consumption, the unused credit can be rolled over and subtracted from your future bills.
Just keep in mind that your consumption is billed with a TDU fee. You pay an additional 4.5403 cents/kWh in the Oncor territory (DFW) and 4.0189 cents/kWh in the CenterPoint territory (Greater Houston). When you get credit for excess solar production, you are compensated at 15.4 cents/kWh without these fees.
Champion Energy Solar Buyback Programs
Champion Energy has several electricity plans with a solar buyback option, which also offer other benefits:
- Champ Saver – Fixed kWh price for 12 or 24 months.
- Champ Silver – Discounts for customers aged 60 or higher.
- Free Weekends – Free electricity periods on weekends for 24 months.
When you export surplus solar power, Champion Energy applies the real-time settlement price of the wholesale market, which changes at 15-minute intervals. This can be beneficial in summer at times of peak demand, since the wholesale price can become much higher than your retail price.
Green Mountain Energy Renewable Rewards Program
Green Mountain Energy offers two types of solar buyback plans through their Renewable Rewards program: Solar Credit 12 and Essential 12. Each option has pros and cons, as you can see in the following table:
Electricity Plan | Pros | Cons |
Renewable Rewards Solar Credit 12 | There is no solar export limit and unused credits can be rolled over. | You are paid for excess solar energy at a reduced tariff, much lower than the retail price charged to you. |
Renewable Rewards Essential 12 | You get credit for excess solar power at the same tariff charged by Green Mountain Energy. | Unused credit expires each month, and cannot be rolled over to the next billing period. |
The Essential 12 program makes sense if you have a solar panel system that is sized below your monthly consumption, so you avoid unused credits at the end of each billing period. The Solar Credit 12 plan can be a better option if you have a large solar array with surplus production, since the credits don’t expire.
The Renewable Rewards program is available if you have a bidirectional power meter and your solar energy system capacity is below 50 kW. This program is also available for wind turbine owners.
Shell Energy Solar Buyback Program
Shell Energy has the Solar Buyback program for the Oncor and CenterPoint service areas. All surplus generation from solar PV systems is credited at the real-time wholesale price, and subtracted from subsequent power bills.
- There is no solar buyback limit and unused credits are rolled over to the next month, but they expire once per year at the end of December.
- You will achieve better results if your solar panel system is sized accurately for your home consumption, avoiding unused credits at the end of the year.
TXU Energy Home Solar Buyback Program
TXU Energy offers the Solar Buyback Match 36 plan, which credits your excess energy at the same retail price charged to you – excluding TDU fees. Any unused credits at the end of the month can be rolled over to cover your next power bills.