Austin Energy is a municipal utility serving about 522,446 homes in Texas. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is worth it.
Reduced export credit — about 9.91¢ per exported kWh, instantaneous netting.
Value of Solar: all solar production credited at 9.91 c/kWh (FY2023-2026); listed 12.89 c for 2027-2029. Credits roll over, no cash value.
Value of Solar (VoS) rider: 100% of solar production (not just exports) credited at VoS rate; customer billed on total consumption (on-site solar + grid) under tiered rate; excess credit rolls over month to month, non-transferable.
| System | 3.4 kW (50% of 835 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $10,640, $6,640 after incentives |
| First-year savings | $640 |
| Payback | 10.9 years |
| 25-year net | $11,100 |
Uses the utility's average price; time-of-use plans can change this, so pick your plan in the calculator.
Rates we verified from Austin Energy's tariff documents. Prices are per kWh including the main riders where noted; check your bill for the plan you're on.
Plan for solar customers. Effective 2026-10-01. Fixed charge $17.35/month.
| Period | Price |
|---|---|
| All hours | 12.2¢ |
Inclining tiers (all-in incl. PSA 3.912c, Community Benefit 1.097c, Regulatory 1.799c): 0-300 kWh 11.680c; 301-900 kWh 12.203c; 901-2000 kWh 14.709c; >2000 kWh 18.236c. Base energy 4.872/5.395/7.901/11.428c. Not seasonal. Period rate shows tier 2.
EIA-861, 2025.
Value of Solar: all solar production credited at 9.91 c/kWh (FY2023-2026); listed 12.89 c for 2027-2029. Credits roll over, no cash value. Exported power is credited at about 9.91¢ per kWh.
Residential customers paid an average of 13.1¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 13.6¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 835 kWh a month, a bill of about $114.
For a typical customer, solar is worth it: a 3.4 kW system costing about $6,640 pays back in about 10.9 years, with $11,100 net over 25 years.
Austin Energy did not report residential net-metered solar to EIA for 2025.
Legal name: Austin Energy (EIA ID 1015). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026, utility tariff sheets.