Solar Installations

Your solar inverter is measuring the production of your solar panels only. It does not consider your house’s energy consumption. Solar panels are typically installed on top of your roof, and the output of the solar system flows to your house, where it is first used to supply the energy used by your house. Only the excess solar production that is not needed by your house flows through the CoServ meter. The CoServ meter is measuring the flow of electricity between your house and the grid, either forward or backward.

When your house is using more energy than your solar system is producing, energy from the grid combines with solar to supply your house, and the meter flows forward. When your solar panels are producing more than your house’s consumption, then excess solar energy not needed by your house flows onto the grid, and the meter flows backward. Keep in mind that energy produced by your solar panels will be consumed in your house first, and only the excess will flow across the meter. This means that the number will be lower than what is shown by your inverter, which shows your solar system’s total production before it powers your house.

The CoServ bill will show the energy that was delivered to your home and the energy that was received from your solar system. You are billed for the energy CoServ delivers at the applicable retail rate and provided a credit for the energy received at CoServ’s avoided wholesale cost.

Your home will use all of the electricity your solar system produces before using energy electricity from CoServ. If your system produces more energy than your home uses, the excess production is fed back to CoServ’s distribution system. Your monthly CoServ bill outlines the electricity delivered to you and the production we receive from your solar system.While it is possible your system may produce enough electricity to cover usage, fees, and taxes in a given month, on average, a solar system installed in the proper orientation will provide approximately 40 to 50 percent of your home’s energy needs.

Del: When your house uses more energy than your solar system produces, energy from the grid combines with solar to supply your house, and the meter flows forward. This is the energy delivered to your home, and you are billed for this energy at the applicable retail rate.

Rec: When your solar panels are producing more than your house’s consumption, the excess solar energy not needed by your house flows onto the grid, and the meter flows backward. This is the energy received by CoServ. This amount will not match the output registered on your solar inverter; it represents only the excess solar production that is not needed by your house. You are provided credit for this energy at CoServ’s avoided wholesale cost.

To see a breakdown of the rate and how your bill is calculated, please visit the DG Rate with Buyback section on the Residential Rates page. Please note that there is no guarantee that CoServ’s DG policy or current rate structure will remain the same throughout the life of a solar system.

If your system was installed prior to February 1st, 2023, you are grandfathered into our net metering policy. You have the option to move to our buyback policy, however, you are not permitted to switch back to the net metering policy after making this request.

Like all utilities, CoServ recovers a portion of its operational costs through a monthly fixed charge called a Customer Charge. This fee is $10.00 and has not changed for several decades. Costs that are not recovered through the fixed charge must be recouped through a volumetric charge on a per kWh basis. Since solar users offset their kWh usage, an additional $15.00 per month Distributed Generation (DG) Customer Charge must also be collected to create a fair and equitable distribution of costs to all Members.After installing solar, you are responsible for the monthly Customer Charge ($10.00) and DG Customer Charge ($15.00). If your received energy credit exceeds your delivered amount, this credit can be applied to your monthly Customer Charge. Therefore, the minimum monthly bill you could receive after installing your PV system is $0.

Yes, CoServ’s Solar Savings Rate is a great way to go solar without having solar panels. Launched in March 2021, this rate program offers 100 percent renewable energy without the long-term commitment and upfront cost required with physical solar panels. It’s also perfect for townhomes and apartments. The rate itself is also competitive with CoServ’s Standard Residential Rate.CoServ has its own solar that’s generated at the CoServ Solar Station, a 2-megawatt solar farm near Krugerville. CoServ also buys 52 megawatts of power from the massive Lapetus Solar Project in far West Texas.

CoServ knows that many customers are interested in installing solar panels on their homes. However, finding accurate and helpful information can sometimes be difficult with so many installers and resources in the market.

We want to help customers make informed decisions by providing resources like our Certified Installer Program. We have selected installers who we feel perform quality work and are well-informed on CoServ’s solar policies and rates.

It is important to note that CoServ does not receive any financial gain or other incentives by partnering with these solar installers. The installers listed have a proven track record with CoServ and have performed quality work for our Members.

There are costs to administering a rebate program that goes far beyond the actual rebate. Historically, these costs were passed along to all Members whether they took advantage of the program or not. As energy costs rise, we are looking at ways to reduce costs passed along to our Members. Due to these reasons, we have decided not to offer a solar rebate program.

However, there are some state incentives and tax breaks that may help you to go solar. The Department of Energy (DOE) created the Homeowner's Guide to the Federal Tax Credit for Solar Photovoltaics which provides a helpful overview of the federal investment tax credit for individuals who may be interested in residential solar.

Additionally, the DOE recommends utilizing the Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy (DSIRE). This database allows you to find a list of financial incentives and regulatory policies that apply to your home by simply entering your zip code. Your installer should be able to help you in claiming any state and local incentives.

You may operate your system when the interconnection has been approved and you have received the permission to operate (PTO) letter from CoServ.

First, your DG Contractor must submit an application then you will receive the Tariff Acknowledgement Agreement. The application initiates CoServ's review of the interconnection. The Tariff Acknowledgement Agreement confirms you applied for Distributive Generation Interconnection with CoServ and makes you aware of CoServ's polices around Distributive Generation. The permission to operate will be issued when CoServ has completed the review of the application and the Tariff Acknowledgement Agreement is signed by the Member.

If you operate a solar system without signing the Tariff Acknowledgment Agreement, and before receiving the PTO from CoServ, you are violating the CoServ tariff, which may be subject to a fine and possible disconnection by CoServ.

If you make any changes to your solar system, like increasing the number of panels to increase output or adding battery storage, you must inform CoServ by completing an additional DG application. Significant changes to existing systems will result in an additional $150 DG Application Fee. A CoServ Energy Solution Team Member will review the application and determine whether the changes are considered significant.

• Adding additional solar panels to an existing residential system to increase output would not be considered a significant change, and a DG Application Fee would not be charged.
• Adding battery storage to an existing residential system that does not have battery storage would be considered a significant change, and a $150 DG Application Fee would be charged.
• Adding an additional battery to an existing system with battery storage would not be considered a significant change, and a DG Application Fee would not be charged.