Learning Center
Net Metering
Texas has no net metering mandate. Here is how buyback plans work and how to compare them before you size a system.
Getting this wrong costs Texas homeowners more money than any hardware decision. Export credit is set by your utility or retail provider, not by state law.
Who sets your export credit
In deregulated territory the retail electric provider does. In municipal utility territory the city utility does. In co-op territory the board does. None of them are required to pay full retail.
Reading a buyback plan
Compare the export credit rate, the import energy rate, the base monthly charge, any cap on credited exports, and whether unused credits roll over or expire. A generous export rate paired with a high import rate can leave you worse off overall.
Sizing around weak buyback
When export credit is far below retail, size the array closer to your daytime self-consumption rather than 100% of annual usage. The calculator's offset slider is built for exactly this decision.