Texas solar buyback plans, compared
In deregulated Texas (Oncor, CenterPoint, AEP Texas, TNMP, Lubbock P&L), your retail provider — not the wires company — pays you for exported solar, and there’s no 1:1 mandate. The plan you choose can swing your payback by years, so it’s worth understanding the three structures before you sign.
On a municipal utility or co-op, you don’t pick a REP — see net metering in Texas instead.
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The three plan types
Retail-match (“1:1”) — credit ≈ what you pay
Each exported kWh is credited at (about) your import energy rate — the best value if your system is sized near net-zero. These have become rarer. Examples have included TXU’s Solar Buyback Match plans, Gexa’s 1:1 solar buyback, and Green Mountain’s Renewable Rewards. Watch the fine print: the match is usually on the energy charge and excludes TDU delivery fees, and rollover rules vary.
Fixed-credit — a set ¢/kWh
A flat, predictable rate per exported kWh, often below retail. Easy to model. Examples have included Chariot Energy (a fixed credit with month-to-month rollover) and Gexa’s Solar Export plan. Good if you value predictability over chasing peak prices.
Real-time wholesale (RTW) — tracks the market
Your export credit follows the live ERCOT wholesale price. It can briefly spike above 25¢/kWh during summer peaks — and fall below 2¢ in mild months. Examples include Octopus, Rhythm, and RTW options from Chariot. Best for big summer exporters who can stomach volatility (and ideally have a battery to sell into peaks).
Battery / grid-event programs
A newer category: providers like Tesla Electric pay battery owners to export during grid-stress events. These reward storage, not just panels, and pair with one of the plans above.
How to compare plans (read the EFL)
- Does the credit offset TDU delivery fees? A “retail” credit on energy only still leaves you paying delivery charges — the all-in math matters.
- Rollover Do unused credits roll over month to month (and do they ever expire or zero out)?
- Export caps Some plans pay well up to your usage, then drop the rate (or stop) on surplus — bad for oversized arrays.
- Base/“solar” fees & energy rate A buyback plan can pair with a higher import rate or monthly fee that erases the benefit.
- Term & rate stability Is the buyback rate fixed for the term, or can it change? RTW plans change constantly by design.
Provider names and rate ranges here are illustrative as of early 2026 and change frequently — always confirm the current rate, fees, and terms on each plan’s Electricity Facts Label (EFL) before enrolling. dot.energy isn’t affiliated with any provider and doesn’t earn commissions on plan choice.
Match the plan to your system: near net-zero → retail-match; big summer surplus + risk tolerance → real-time wholesale; battery → grid-event programs. Run a free estimate to see how much you’d export — then shop the plan that fits.