The following are incentives options available to you when purchasing a commercial solar system in the state of Texas.
Your local utility may offer an incentive to help you offset the cost of going solar. These incentives are calculated from the capacity and/or production of the system you will be installing and are either paid as a cash incentive to you, the installer, or will show up as a credit on your bill. The list below is not meant to be exhaustive, but if you are a customer of the following utilities then you may be eligible. Programs and details change often so contact Axium Solar to get the latest information.
Oncor will pay a cash incentive to the installer/service provider based on the capacity and estimated production of the system. This incentive may offset as much as 20 to 30% of the cost of the system. Your system must be installed by an Oncor approved solar contractor like Axium Solar.
Coserv offers a cash incentive based on the capacity of the system for residential and commercial customers. Your system must be installed by a CoServ approved solar contractor like Axium Solar.
GP&L offers a bill credit to offset the cost of going solar when funds are available.
DME offers a cash incentive based on system size to offset the cost of going solar when funds are available.
Farmers is currently offering a cash rebate on solar 50 kW or less.
United Cooperative Services offers a cash grant to residential and commercial customers who go solar.
CPS offers a cash rebate that is calculated off the capacity of the system installed. Eligible recipients must have the system installed by a CPS approved solar contractor like Axium Solar.
Austin Energy offers a production-based incentive that incentivizes you based on how much energy your system produces. The incentive shows up as a credit on your bill. The system must be installed by an Austin Energy approved solar contractor like Axium Solar.
AEP offers a cash incentive based on the capacity of your system.
The federal ITC is a dollar-for-dollar tax credit worth 30% of the price tag on your solar energy system. This incentive is set to start declining after 2019 according to the following schedule:
2020: 26%
2021: 22%
2022 and onward: 10% for commercial only. There is no credit for residential systems from 2022 onward.
For commercial solar, you can write off or depreciate the value of the solar array following standard MACRS depreciation tables. The depreciable basis is determined from the total cost of the solar PV system after subtracting out one-half the value of the federal tax credit. You may also be able to benefit from bonus depreciation and depreciate the full basis in year 1. Please consult your tax professional for details.
PACE – Property Assessed Clean Energy
PACE financing is tied to the property and is a voluntary land-secured assessment that allows commercial, industrial and multifamily property owners to finance renewable energy systems with little to no capital outlay. PACE financing is only available in certain counties within Texas. Contact Axium Solar or consult the Texas Pace Authority to learn more.
PPA – Power Purchase Agreement
A power purchase agreement is a contract that a buyer signs to purchase power at an agreed upon rate over time. Under this structure, the solar PV system is wholly owned and maintained by a third party and may be constructed on property owned or leased by the power buyer or may be constructed offsite on property owned or leased by the system owner. Contact Axium Solar to learn if a power purchase agreement is the right financing vehicle for your project.