Last Updated on January 28, 2023 by Mary Pressler

Oncor Energy Incentive Programs for Texas Homeowners

The following money saving incentives are for the Oncor service area only. Texans living in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, Odessa, Lubbock, Tyler and Waco can take advantage of Oncor savings programs.

Oncor Area Electricity Incentive ProgramsOncor’s Commitment to Energy Efficiency

Oncor Electric Delivery is the largest transmission and distribution utility in Texas, serving more than 10 million customers. Oncor is characterized by its solid commitment to helping its customers improve their energy efficiency, and they run some of the largest incentive programs in the Lone Star State, including Take a Load Off Texas. 

Oncor offers programs for all main customer categories: residential, business, government, education and nonprofit organizations.

Five Energy Incentive Programs from Oncor

Oncor’s incentive programs target key areas like insulation, heating and cooling equipment, solar power systems, and high-efficiency lighting. There are five programs that offer cash incentives

  1. Low Income Weatherization
  2. Home Energy Efficiency
  3. Residential Solar Photovoltaic
  4. Commercial Standard Offer Program
  5. Commercial Solar Photovoltaic

Oncor incentive programs run annually between January and November, but each program has its own schedule. Keep in mind that funding is limited for each year, and you have a better chance of getting incentives by acting early. Oncor has assigned the following budgets for 2023:

ONCOR INCENTIVE PROGRAM 2023 BUDGET
Low-Income Weatherization $500,000 for HVAC

$2,500,000 other measures

Home Energy Efficiency $6,328,360 for HVAC

$500,000 other measures

Residential Solar Photovoltaic $1,350,000
Commercial Standard Offer Program $8,493,760
Commercial Solar Photovoltaic $2,040,000
TOTAL INCENTIVE BUDGET $21,712,120

Oncor has a total budget of over $21.7 million to fund energy efficiency measures and solar power in 2023.

  • Residential customers have access to a total budget of $11,178,360, while commercial customers get $10,533,760.
  • Most of the incentive budget is assigned to energy efficiency ($18,322,120), with a smaller fraction assigned to solar power ($3,390,000).

When improving energy efficiency in a building, the recommended starting point is insulation. This way, heating and cooling upgrades are calculated with reduced loads, which means the new units can have a higher efficiency and a smaller installed capacity. A solar power system is recommended after improving energy efficiency, since the generation capacity required to cover your home energy needs will be less.

Oncor also offers the Retail Products Program, which offers point-of-sale discounts for ENERGY STAR appliances, including LED lighting and smart thermostats. Unlike the five incentive programs above, which offer incentives through approved contractors, the Retail Products Program is offered through retailers like Costco, Home Depot, Lowe’s and Walmart. The incentive amount depends on they type of product:

  • LED lighting discounts are determined at the point of sale, and they depend on the lamp model.
  • Air conditioners, air purifiers, clothes washers and clothes dryers = Up to $50
  • Smart thermostats = Up to $65
  • Heat pump water heaters = Up to $500

Each qualifying homeowner can claim two discount coupons under this program.

Low-Income Weatherization Standard Offer Program

Air leaks and deficient home insulation increase the workload on space heating and air conditioning systems. This happens because they must compensate for a higher heat gain during summer, and a higher heat loss during winter. Since the energy consumption of HVAC equipment increases, electricity and gas bills also go up.

The Low-Income Weatherization Standard Offer Program (LIW SOP) offers cash incentives for Texas households with an income at or below 200% of the federal poverty line. The program helps these homes improve their building envelope at little or no cost. The three most common upgrades for building envelopes in residential properties are insulation, caulking and weatherstripping:

  • Insulation reduces heat flow through roofs, walls and floors. This keeps the heat outside during summer, and inside during winter. Insulation is important in all areas, but the roof and basement have a higher priority – unwanted heat flow occurs mostly in these areas.
  • Caulking is used to seal air leaks around unmoving components like lighting fixtures, plumbing fixtures, door frames and window frames.
  • Weatherstripping has the same function as caulking, but is used around moving elements like doors and windows.

Home upgrades from the LIW Program provide immediate energy savings without having to upgrade equipment, often at zero cost. The 2022 LIW program provided $6,350,333 in total incentives, achieving over 20 million kWh in energy savings and 15,079 kW in demand savings.

The 2023 Low-Income Weatherization Program (LIW) opens for applications on February 6. Oncor has assigned a budget of $2,500,000 for weatherization measures and $500,000 for HVAC. The program closes when the budget is depleted, but Oncor may decide to increase funding. 

The incentive rates for insulation are calculated per square foot, and the rate depends on the type of heating system used:

Type of Heating System LIW Incentive per Sq. Ft. Incentive for 1,500 Sq. Ft.
Electric resistance heater $0.46 / sq.ft. $690
Electric heat pump $0.21 / sq.ft. $315
Gas-fired heater $0.18 / sq.ft. $270

These incentives are available for properties with an existing insulation level of R-22 or less, and they must upgrade to R38 or better. Air sealing and insulation upgrades must meet certain requirements to be eligible, which are summarized below:

Type of Weatherization Approved Materials Technical Requirements
Air infiltration reduction with caulking -Acrylic latex + silicone

-Caulk

-Polyurethane expanding foam

-Elastomeric sealant

-Fiber-backing mastic compound

-ASTM compliant

-Visible caulk should be clear

-Minimum service life: 10 years

Air infiltration reduction with weatherstripping -Foam tape

-Rigid gaskets

-Closed cell

-UV resistant

-Adjustable and permanently attached

-Minimum service life: 10 years

Insulation -Mineral fiber (blanket or loose fill)

-Cellulose

-Vermiculite (loose fill)

-Perlite (loose fill)

-ASTM compliant

-Ceiling insulation up to R-22 is eligible for replacement under the program, and the upgrade must achieve at least R-38.

-At least R-13 for walls

-At least R-19 for knee walls

-At least R-15 for floor (pier and beam).

*Infiltration reduction must be validated with a blower door test, and the contractor must also test for carbon monoxide (CO) to ensure occupant safety.

The 2023 LIW program also offers incentives for radiant barrier installations. The incentive is calculated according based on the type of equipment and existing insulation label, as according to the following table:

Type of Heating System and Insulation Level LIW Incentive per Sq.Ft. Incentive for 1,500 Sq.Ft.
Gas Heating

Insulation up to R-19

$0.30 / sq.ft. $450
Gas Heating

Insulation above R-19

$0.22 / sq.ft. $330
Electric Resistance

Insulation up to R-19

$0.36 / sq.ft. $540
Electric Resistance

Insulation above R-19

$0.30 / sq.ft. $450
Heat Pump

Insulation up to R-19

$0.32 / sq.ft. $480
Heat Pump

Insulation above R-19

$0.24 / sq.ft. $360

*Radiant barriers must be compliant with RIMA-I standards (Reflective Insulation Manufacturers Association International) to qualify for these incentives.

To complement weatherization, the LIW program offers incentives for energy efficiency measures that cover areas like air conditioning, ventilation and hot water.

  • Measures that have been validated in the Texas Technical Reference Manual (TRM) are eligible, and contractors can also propose custom measures, subject to approval.
  • Additional measures can only be proposed after improving the building envelope with insulation or air sealing, since the program focuses on weatherization.

The 2023 LIW program has an HVAC efficiency subprogram with a budget of $500,000. To qualify, air conditioners and heat pumps must meet the following energy efficiency requirements:

Type of HVAC System Energy Efficiency Requirements
Air conditioner, split type, nameplate capacity below 45,000 BTU/h Minimum SEER2 = 14.3

Minimum EER2 = 11.5

Air conditioner, split type, nameplate capacity of 45,000 BTU/h or higher Minimum SEER2 = 13.8

Minimum EER2 = 11.5

Air conditioner, single package Minimum SEER2 = 13.4

Minimum EER2 = 11.5

Heat pump, split type Minimum SEER2 = 14.3

Minimum EER2 = 11.5

Minimum HSPF2 = 7.5

Heat pump, single package Minimum SEER2 = 13.4

Minimum EER2 = 11.5

Minimum HSPF2 = 6.7

*These conditions apply for both the Low-Income Weatherization (LIW) Program and the Home Energy Efficiency (HEE) Program.

Note: SEER2, EER2 and HPSF2 refer to energy efficiency metrics determined under the new testing requirements that took effect in January 2023. They have replaced the older SEER, EER and HSPF ratings.

The incentive rate for all eligible HVAC systems is $31/kW and $0.027/kWh, subject to the following limits based on system capacity:

HVAC System Capacity (tons) Maximum Incentive ($)
2 tons $1,900
2.5 tons $2,100
3 tons $2,500
3.5 tons $2,800
4 tons $3,100
5 tons $3,300

All new HVAC installations must include a smart thermostat to be eligible for these incentives, and the model must be listed by the US Department of Energy.

Home Energy Efficiency Standard Offer Program from Oncor

The Home Energy Efficiency Standard Offer Program (HEE SOP) also targets homes, similar to the LIW program. However the HEE program is available for all Oncor residential customers regardless of income. If you live in a rented property and the landlord approves the program upgrades, you are also eligible.

The 2023 Home Energy Efficiency Program (HEE) opens for applications on February 6. In this case, Oncor has a budget of $500,000 for weatherization measures and $6,328,360 for HVAC, and additional funds may be approved based on program participation.

Weatherization incentives are calculated per square foot and based on the type of heating system (similar to the LIW program but with lower rates):

Type of Heating System HEE Incentive per Sq. Ft. Incentive for 1,500 Sq. Ft.
Electric resistance heater $0.15 / sq.ft. $225
Electric heat pump $0.13 / sq.ft. $195
Gas-fired heater $0.10 / sq.ft $150

The approved materials for insulation are the same as the LIW program, subject to the same technical requirements (see previous section). 

HVAC incentives are also available in the Home Energy Efficiency Program, subject to the following energy efficiency requirements (same as the Low-Income Program):

Type of HVAC System Energy Efficiency Requirements
Air conditioner, split type, nameplate capacity below 45,000 BTU/h Minimum SEER2 = 14.3

Minimum EER2 = 11.5

Air conditioner, split type, nameplate capacity of 45,000 BTU/h or higher Minimum SEER2 = 13.8

Minimum EER2 = 11.5

Air conditioner, single package Minimum SEER2 = 13.4

Minimum EER2 = 11.5

Heat pump, split type Minimum SEER2 = 14.3

Minimum EER2 = 11.5

Minimum HSPF2 = 7.5

Heat pump, single package Minimum SEER2 = 13.4

Minimum EER2 = 11.5

Minimum HSPF2 = 6.7

The incentive rates for HVAC upgrades are also $31/kW and $0.027/kWh in this case, but the incentive limits are slightly lower than those of the Low-Income Program:

HVAC System Capacity (tons) Maximum Incentive ($)
2 tons $1,800
2.5 tons $2,000
3 tons $2,400
3.5 tons $2,700
4 tons $3,000
5 tons $3,200

*The requirement of installing a US DOE listed smart thermostat also applies here.

Across both programs (LIW and HEE), Oncor provided HVAC incentives for 1,297 projects in 2022, equivalent to $6,054,822. The HVAC subprograms achieved over 29.4 million kWh in energy savings and 15,130 kW in demand savings.

Oncor’s Solar Photovoltaic Residential Program

Oncor homeowners who plan to install solar panels can reduce their costs with the Solar Photovoltaic Standard Offer Program (SPVSOP) , increasing the return on investment. If the solar power system meets the following requirements, it is eligible:

  • Generation capacity between 3 kW DC and 15 kW DC.
  • The installation must be completely new. The incentive is not available for homeowners who are already using solar panels.
  • Azimuth angle between 90° and 270°
  • Residential solar PV systems must now include energy storage. This requirement was introduced in the 2022 version of the program and it remains in effect for 2023.

The maximum incentive amount is $9,000. Unlike the HEE program, which is available for renters, the solar PV program only applies for Oncor customers who own the home where they live.

  • This benefit can be combined with the Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which was increased to 30% and extended for 10 years by the Inflation Reduction Act (August 2022).
  • The 30% ITC also applies for battery systems, stand-alone or coupled with solar panels.
  • The ITC is a federal incentive, available nationwide.

Home solar installations in the US currently have a price of around $3,270 per kW, which means that an 8-kW system costs around $26,160. A home battery can add around $11,000 to your project budget, reaching $37,160.

  • If a system of this size gets the full incentive of $9,000, the net cost is decreased to $28,160.
  • The 30% federal tax credit is equivalent to $8,448, which leads to a final cost of $19,712.

In 2022, the Oncor Solar Program provided $1.63 million in residential incentives. The program completed 288 projects with an average size of 4.6 kW.

Oncor’s 2023 Solar Incentive Program opens for applications on February 6.

Oncor Retail Products Program

If you’re an Oncor customer, this program offers point-of-sale discounts for LED light bulbs and home appliances with the ENERGY STAR label.

  • Discount coupons are available for both online and in-store purchases.
  • Oncor has partnered with major retailers like Costco, Home Depot, Lowe’s and Walmart.
  • You can select your city in the Oncor Retail Products Program website, and it will show a list of participating stores in your area.

This incentive program is available for both homeowners and renters, as long as they are Oncor customers. If you’re a renter, the only extra requirement is getting approval from the landlord.

The Oncor Retail Products Program includes discount coupons up to $65 for smart thermostats, which help you save on air conditioning. There are several models available from leading brands like Amazon, ecobee, Emerson Sensi, Google Nest and Honeywell.

In the case of LED bulbs, the discounts available vary depending on the specific product you pick. Eligible light bulbs have Oncor program signage on their packaging, which makes them easy to identify.

Get two free trees from Oncor

Oncor Energy-Saving Trees Program

For the 11th year, Oncor partnered with the Arbor Day Foundation Energy-Saving Trees Program. Oncor gave away 6,000 trees for its customers in Fall 2022.

The program has a mapping tool to identify the best planting locations for trees, where they will contribute to home energy efficiency with shading. Some homes have achieved up to 20% energy savings with adequate tree placement.

Oncor Incentives 2023 – Act Fast

Oncor’s incentive programs allow you to reduce your energy expenses with a two-fold approach: reducing the energy spent on heating and cooling, and using solar panels to generate your own energy once your consumption has been reduced.

Just keep in mind that the incentives are given to service providers, who then reflect them as a discount when they carry out home upgrades. Make sure you get many proposals before choosing a contractor, ensuring that you get the best deal available.

Acting fast is also recommended, since these incentive programs are limited by a yearly budget.