Compare the Best Solar Buyback Plans in Texas

Our recommended solar buyback plans

Earn credits for your excess solar energy with a solar buyback plan. If you already own a solar system, consider these solar buyback plans to maximize the value of your solar panels.

Best overall: Solar Buyback Plus 24

TXU offers our highest export rate with the Solar Buyback Plus 24 plan. Earn 6 cents/kWh for up to 100% of your energy charges. This plan can also be connected to wind turbines.

Best for commitment to green energy: Gexa Solar Export Saver 12

Gexa Energy is a fully renewable energy provider. All of its plans are sourced from renewable resources, including the Solar Export Saver 12 plan, which lets you earn credits for your excess solar power for one year. Get 3 cents/kWh for the excess energy you produce and export.

Best for a long contract term: Solar Buyback Saver 24

TXU Energy also offers the Solar Buyback Saver 24 plan, which gives you 3.5 cents/kWh for your excess solar energy. Secure this fixed-rate plan for two years.

What are solar buyback plans?

A solar buyback plan is a type of energy plan that allows you to send excess electricity generated by your solar panels to the power grid. In return, energy providers offer credits toward your monthly electricity bill. The buyback credit rate varies by provider and plan, but it’s typically a couple of cents for every kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity you send back to the grid.

Owning a solar panel system could reduce your monthly energy costs because you’ll generate your own electricity and decrease your reliance on the power grid. If you want to maximize the value of your solar panels and further offset your energy costs, consider a solar buyback plan.

How solar buyback works in Texas

Since Texas is deregulated, retail energy providers can create their own solar buyback programs with different export rates, requirements, and limits. This system differs from regulated markets, where utilities are mandated to offer standardized plans and programs. Here’s a breakdown of how this type of energy plan actually works in Texas, so you know what to expect:

1. Your solar panels produce electricity. During sunny periods of the day, your solar panels generate electricity.
2. Your home uses solar power first. If your panels are producing electricity, your home will use it in real time rather than drawing power from the grid.
3. Your excess electricity is sent to the power grid. If your panels generate more electricity than your home uses at the time, the extra amount is sent to the power grid.
4. You receive bill credits. Your energy provider tracks how much electricity you send to the power grid and applies a credit to your account.

Is a solar buyback plan right for me?

Solar buyback plans are designed for homeowners who already have a solar system. If you don’t own solar panels, this plan isn’t right for you. Use this checklist to guide your decision:

1. You already own solar panels, and they are installed on your house.
2. Your solar system is fully paid off and operational.
3. Your solar output often meets or exceeds your energy needs.

Call the number on your screen to chat more about solar buyback plans with our energy experts. We can help you decide if this type of plan suits your home.

Top Texas solar buyback providers

Several of the best energy providers in Texas offer solar buyback plans and programs, though the terms vary by provider and location. The rate you pay per kWh and the credits you receive for excess solar power will be clearly outlined in your contract. At Choose Texas Power, we partner with Gexa Energy and TXU Energy to offer solar buyback plans that can help you make the most out of your solar panels.

Gexa Energy

Gexa Energy is a leading player in the renewable energy industry, committed to offering 100% renewable energy plans. All of its plans either source electricity from renewables or use your electricity output to purchase Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs). Gexa is also one of the more affordable providers on our marketplace. If you have solar panels, you can take advantage of Gexa Energy’s solar buyback plans to get more value from your system.

TXU Energy

TXU Energy is one of Texas’ most prominent electricity providers, operating since 2002 when the state first deregulated its energy market. TXU offers a diverse range of plans, including renewable and solar buyback options. The company also offers a 60-day satisfaction guarantee, allowing customers to switch to another TXU plan if they’re dissatisfied.

Compare solar buyback plans

Choose Texas Power can help you compare solar buyback plans and decide if one fits your home. The following table outlines a few options from Gexa and TXU Energy. Call the number on your screen to speak with one of our energy agents and find out more about these plans today.

Provider	Solar buyback plan	Plan term	Buyback (or export) rate	Details
Gexa Energy	Gexa Solar Export Saver 12	12 months	3 cents/kWh	Earn excess energy bill credits for every kWh you produce and export.
TXU Energy	Solar Buyback Plus 24	24 months	6 cents/kWh	Connect this plan to your solar panels and wind turbines. Get credits for up to 100% of your energy charges.
TXU Energy	Solar Buyback Saver 24	24 months	3.5 cents/kWh	Offset up to 100% of your energy charges with this fixed-rate plan.

Setting realistic expectations for solar buyback plans

While solar buyback plans can help solar panel owners maximize their systems, there are a few misconceptions about how much value you’ll actually get out of a solar buyback plan. To help you set realistic expectations, keep these factors in mind if you’re considering a solar buyback plan:

A solar buyback plan won’t eliminate your bill or produce extra income

A common misconception is that a solar buyback plan will eliminate your bills or provide extra income. While solar panels can reduce your energy costs, most consumers still receive a bill for utility delivery charges, taxes, and electricity usage your panels didn’t cover. On top of that, most buyback plans provide bill credits, not cash. Therefore, you can only use them to lower your power bill. A more realistic expectation is that a solar buyback plan could lower your monthly electricity costs.

Solar buyback plans are not all the same in Texas

Unlike other states that have regulated net metering programs, Texas is deregulated and allows electricity providers to set their own plan terms and pricing. As a result, buyback rates, credit limits, and rollover policies vary across providers. That’s why it’s important to carefully compare the plan details to find the best solar buyback plan for your needs.

Green energy plans: A cheaper alternative to solar buyback

You don’t need a solar system to go green. In fact, there are dozens of 100% green electricity plans available in Texas, powered by both solar energy and wind power. These plans are a cheaper way to reduce your home’s carbon footprint without purchasing and installing solar panels. Here are a few resources to learn more about this option.

• Green energy plans: Compare green electricity plans from top-rated providers on our marketplace.
• Texas renewable energy: Understand how renewable energy works and how Texas contributes to renewable energy production nationwide.

Call our team to discuss ways to go green with your electricity plan.

FAQs about Texas solar buyback plans

What’s the buyback rate for TXU solar plans?

Buyback rates vary by plan, location, and time of year. At the time of writing, TXU Energy’s solar buyback rates ranged from 3.5 cents per kWh to 6 cents per kWh. You can find updated rates by entering your ZIP code and reviewing the Electricity Facts Label (EFL).

What’s the Gexa Energy buyback rate?

The Gexa Solar Export Saver 12 plan buyback rate is 3 cents per kWh. Providers can change export rates according to the plan, so always check your EFL to confirm the current buyback rate.

Does Texas buy back solar energy?

Texas does not offer a statewide net metering program that guarantees full retail credit for excess solar energy sent to the grid. However, some retail providers in the deregulated market offer solar buyback plans that pay credits for electricity exported to the grid. Search for solar buyback plans in your area to determine whether you qualify and if you could save on energy bills with this plan type.

What is the difference between net metering and buyback plans?

Net metering and solar buyback programs are similar — both allow residents to send solar energy to the grid in exchange for credit. The key difference is how that credit is calculated: net metering often credits you at (or close to) the full retail value of each kWh you send to the grid, while solar buyback programs base the credit on a specified export rate or the market/wholesale cost of electricity. Review your contract and the EFL to understand how credits are calculated.

How much can I sell on a solar buyback plan?

The amount you can earn from selling solar energy depends on your contract. Some providers base the buyback rate on the retail rate they charge you, while others use a wholesale or fixed export rate. Before signing up, review the plan terms to understand how the provider calculates credits, any caps or monthly limits, and any seasonal or time-of-day variations.

What’s the best electricity company for solar?

Gexa Energy and TXU Energy offer solar buyback plans that allow solar panel owners to earn credit for extra electricity generated by their panels. They also offer great options for traditional green energy plans. Rhythm Energy, Octopus Energy, and Green Mountain Energy are other fully renewable providers worth considering for traditional green energy plans.