The made-up system
10 kW of panels producing 1,000 kWh per kW, so 10,000 kWh a year. The household pays 15 cents per kWh and uses 40 percent of the output as it is made. These inputs are illustrative. The 5 cent and 3 cent export rates are placeholders, not market figures; the 12.89 cent figure is Austin Energy's published residential rate. No rate escalation or panel aging is included.
| Structure | How it is calculated | Year 1 value |
|---|---|---|
| Credit at the retail rate | 10,000 kWh x 15 cents | $1,500 |
| Fixed buyback, 5 cents | 4,000 kWh x 15 cents + 6,000 kWh x 5 cents | $900 |
| Wholesale-based, 3 cents average | 4,000 kWh x 15 cents + 6,000 kWh x 3 cents | $780 |
| Austin Value of Solar, 12.89 cents | 10,000 kWh generated x 12.89 cents | $1,289 |
Credit at the retail rate
Every kWh produced is valued at what you pay to buy one. It is the most favorable shape for the owner. Texas law does not require it. Check whether the plan caps credits at your usage, adds a monthly fee, or ties the buyback to a particular plan, since the Power to Choose site notes that some companies "may require that the customer also subscribe to a specific retail offer".
Fixed rate per exported kWh
The house uses what it makes at the retail rate. The rest is paid a set number of cents. The more power you export, the more the gap to retail matters, which is why self-use share is an input in the calculator. The PUCT notes that buyback is "usually lower than the retail price that you pay".
Wholesale-based rate
The export price follows the wholesale market and moves over the day and the year. The average you actually get depends on when your panels produce relative to prices, which this site cannot forecast. Enter an average you believe in, and test a low one.
A credit on production
Austin Energy's Value of Solar credits generation, not exports, and bills use at the normal rate. See the guide. It is not the same as a retail credit: 12.89 cents is less than a 15 cent retail rate here, but it applies to every kWh including the part used at home.
What to read in your own plan
- The Electricity Facts Label line on whether the provider purchases excess distributed renewable generation.
- The buyback price in the plan terms, and whether it changes monthly.
- Any monthly fee or minimum that applies only to solar customers.
- Whether the buyback is tied to a specific plan or term.
This page is general information, not advice for your situation. The rates in the table are illustrative, not offers.