Side by side
| Question | Austin Energy | CPS Energy |
|---|---|---|
| What is credited | Every kWh the system produces, at one flat rate | Surplus is netted against use; excess generation earns a credit, per its billing notice |
| Published rate | 12.89 cents per kWh, residential, effective 2026-10-01 | Not verified as current: the notice that lists credit rates is undated (sample bill is from April 2024) |
| Can the credit be cashed out | No: credits roll over, have no cash value, and end if the account closes | Credit is applied to the next month's bill, not to exceed the electric bill, with carryover, per its notice |
| Next scheduled change | October 2029, through the City Council budget process | Not found |
| Source | Austin Energy rate page | CPS Energy solar billing facts |
Austin Energy
See the Austin Energy Value of Solar guide. The key point is that the credit follows production, so what the household uses and when does not change the credit. It does change the bill: you are billed for all use at the normal rate.
CPS Energy
CPS Energy's solar billing notice describes a netting method: surplus power sent to the utility is netted against power supplied, and a net-excess-generation credit appears on the next bill. The notice lists per-kWh credit amounts, but it carries no date, and the sample bill inside it is from 2024. This site could not find a dated tariff, rider name or effective date for the residential credit, so it does not print those amounts. The current residential rebate status and interconnection requirements were also not found. Ask CPS Energy for the current terms in writing.
Why the structure matters more than one number
A credit on production, like Austin's, and a netting method, like CPS Energy's, answer different questions. One values every kWh at a flat rate; the other reduces what you buy and pays little for the surplus. The structures comparison shows both shapes with plain arithmetic, and the calculator lets you try them on a Texas city.
This page is general information, not advice for your situation.