Solar Resources

Installing a solar energy system in your home or business is a major improvement project that requires careful research and the right contractor in order to get the results you want. BTU is ready to answer your questions regarding solar installations or other green alternatives for our customers in the Brazos Valley. Contact us by email at solar@btutilities.com or call us at 979-821-5776 to get answers to your questions as to whether a solar energy system is right for you.

Click here for detailed information on the requirements for installing solar panels in Bryan Texas Utilities’ service territory.

Installation Process

Apply for a Permit

Residential and commercial solar energy systems have become more popular in the United States over the last several years. Customers typically choose to install a solar energy system for environmental concerns, economic concerns, or a combination of both. If a customer is mainly concerned about the environment, BTU offers an alternative rate program called RENEWability, which allows customers to receive 100% of their power from renewable resources such as wind and solar. The RENEWability rate is slightly less than one penny more per kWh than BTU normal rates.

For customers mainly focused on the economic savings of a solar energy system, it is important to evaluate all factors that affect a solar energy system’s total return on investment. Please use this page as a resource to evaluate whether a solar installation is the right choice for you. You can email us at solar@btutilities.com if you have any questions regarding a current or potential solar energy system in the BTU service area.

10 Steps to Take Before Installing Solar

Questions to Ask a Solar Contractor

Solar Ownership Options

Solar Systems - What Size is Right for You

Solar FAQs

There are currently no local incentives or rebates offered by BTU for the installation and use of a solar energy system. There is currently a federal income tax credit for solar energy installations, but not all customers may be able to take advantage of this credit. We encourage our customers to do their homework before committing to installing a solar energy system.

As of June 1, 2024, the application and initial inspection fee is $300 and is payable through the City of Bryan CitizenServe portal (citizenserve.com/cityofbryantx/) when the system design packet and Distributed Generation (DG) agreement (signed by the BTU account holder for a particular address) are uploaded. This fee is usually paid by the installation contractor. Should the system fail the initial BTU inspection, a re-inspection fee of $150 will be assessed. There are no additional rates or periodic fees for solar customers compared to non-solar customers.

Net metering provides credit to the account holder when solar energy is produced and put back onto the BTU grid. During the day, many solar energy systems will produce more energy than the home uses. This excess energy is measured at the utility meter and flows onto the BTU grid as a credit to the account. At night or other times when the home needs more energy than the solar energy system can produce, electricity will flow from the grid to the house and is also measured by the meter. At the end of every billing cycle, the credit kilowatt hours (kWh) are deducted from the amount of BTU energy used on a one-for-one basis.

If the solar PV system happens to produce more energy than was drawn from the BTU grid during the billing period, BTU purchases the excess power at our avoided cost rate, which is based on the current fuel rate of approximately $0.036/kWh. This credit is applied to any remaining parts of the bill (i.e., monthly customer charge, water, wastewater, solid waste, etc.). If the customer has a remaining credit after the total bill is paid, it becomes an account credit that carries forward. Most customers choose to maintain this credit to make up for times of high usage, however customers can request a check be cut to them up to twice a year if their credit balance is $150.00 or more.

There are several factors that go into calculating your return on investment, including your energy usage, electric rates, tax incentives, the amount paid for the system and installation, loan interest and fees, maintenance, etc. It is advised to calculate all of these factors carefully when attempting to determine your return on investment. It is not uncommon for your reduced monthly electric bill combined with your loan payment to be more than your average electric bill before your solar installation.

The BTU meter only measures the amount of electricity put onto the BTU grid, not the total amount produced by your solar PV system. The electricity produced by your system flows directly into the home for immediate use. If the home uses less than the amount produced by the solar PV system, then only the excess electricity flowing back onto the grid is measured as a credit.

Solar FAQs

Does BTU offer any incentives or rebates for installing a solar energy system?

Can BTU recommend a solar installer?

Is there a limit on the size of the solar energy system I can install?

I just purchased a home that has an existing solar system. What do I need to do to begin producing solar power?

Are there any fees associated with installing a solar energy system in the BTU service territory?

Will I still receive a bill from BTU after I install a solar energy system?

What is net metering?

What if I produce more power than I use in a billing period?

Will my solar system provide energy to my home during a power outage?

How long will it take to get my return on investment?

My solar PV system says it produced XXXX kWh this period, but my BTU bill only shows a credit for XXX kWh. Why is there a difference?