Austin Energy: Residential Solar PV Rebate Program

Austin Energy's Solar Rebate Program offers a $2.50 per watt incentive to eligible residential who install photovoltaic (PV) systems on their homes. Rebates are limited to $15,000 per home installation and lifetime maximum of $50,000 per site, recognizing that some residential customers build out a home solar system in stages.

Rebates will only be paid for approved systems installed by approved solar contractors according to the established technical requirements. All systems must conform to the utility's equipment and installation standards in order to qualify for a rebate. These standards include the use of pre-approved equipment; equipment warranty requirements; and the use of a program approved, NABCEP certified and appropriately insured solar installer. Participants must meet a detailed set of home energy efficiency requirements in order to qualify for a solar rebate. The energy efficiency requirements include standards for both new and existing homes.

Background

The City Council initially approved $933,000 in funding for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2004. For 2005, $2,000,000 was budgeted for solar PV rebates and $500,000 for PV installations on municipal buildings. For 2006, the solar PV rebate budget was raised to $3,000,000, with $450,000 being allocated for PV installations on municipal buildings. The FY 08-09 budget (through September 30, 2009) was set at $4.5 million and a total of $4 million was budgeted for solar rebates during FY 2010 beginning in October 2009. FY2011 budget is $4 million. The FY2012 residential budget is $2.7 M. The program is reassessed on an annual basis each fiscal year in October, but does not have a specified final expiration date.