CenterPoint Energy Houston and solar
CenterPoint Energy Houston is an investor-owned utility serving about 2,529,039 homes in Texas. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is worth it.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 17.6¢11% above Texas average
- Typical bill
- $1981,124 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- ~34%No statewide net metering
- Typical payback
- 13.3 yrs4.7 kW, cash
Export rules for CenterPoint Energy Houston customers
No statewide net metering (Texas rule).
Texas has no statewide net metering. In the deregulated ERCOT market you pick a retail electricity provider, and a few offer 'solar buyback' plans (typically 3-9 c/kWh, some match retail). Municipal utilities and co-ops set their own rules, e.g., Austin Energy's Value of Solar credit.
Solar for a typical CenterPoint Energy Houston home
| System | 4.7 kW (50% of 1,124 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $13,370 |
| First-year savings | $987 |
| Payback | 13.3 years |
| 25-year net | $15,730 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- —
- Share of customers
- —
- Residential solar capacity
- —
- Residential customers
- 2,529,039
EIA-861, 2025. In competitive markets, some solar is reported by retail electricity providers instead.
Questions about CenterPoint Energy Houston and solar
Does CenterPoint Energy Houston have net metering?
CenterPoint Energy Houston follows Texas's rules: Texas has no statewide net metering. In the deregulated ERCOT market you pick a retail electricity provider, and a few offer 'solar buyback' plans (typically 3-9 c/kWh, some match retail). Municipal utilities and co-ops set their own rules, e.g., Austin Energy's Value of Solar credit.
How much does electricity cost with CenterPoint Energy Houston?
Residential customers paid an average of 17.0¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 17.6¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 1,124 kWh a month, a bill of about $198.
Is solar worth it with CenterPoint Energy Houston?
For a typical customer, solar is worth it: a 4.7 kW system costing about $13,370 pays back in about 13.3 years, with $15,730 net over 25 years.
How many CenterPoint Energy Houston customers have solar?
CenterPoint Energy Houston did not report residential net-metered solar to EIA for 2025, likely because retail electric providers report it in competitive markets.
Legal name: CenterPoint Energy (EIA ID 8901). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.