What would your exports earn? Compare Texas buyback plans
Texas has no net metering — each electricity provider sets its own rate for the solar you export, from ~3¢ to full retail. Same roof, same sun, hundreds of dollars a year of difference. Set your numbers; see the ranked truth.
Not sure? It's on your bill's delivery-charges line. Pearland and The Woodlands have territory quirks worth knowing.
Houston average is roughly 1,100–1,500 kWh in summer-heavy homes.
100% = system sized to your annual usage (how we size). Above 100% = oversized, more exports at below-retail rates.
~35% is typical without a battery. With a battery, 60–70% — which shrinks exports and grows retail-rate savings.
All-in Houston rates commonly run 14–16¢/kWh in 2026.
| Plan type (example) | Kind | Export rate | Your exports earn | Unused credits |
|---|
Example plans and rates compiled July 2026 from public Electricity Facts Labels and independent comparisons; plans reprice constantly — always verify today's EFL and compare live offers at powertochoose.org (PUCT). Retail-match availability varies by territory and month. This tool estimates export earnings only; consumption rates, base fees, and TDU delivery charges also differ by plan. Educational estimate, not a quote or financial advice.
Three moves this tool usually reveals
1. The plan switch is free money. If you're exporting on a 4¢ no-rollover plan and a 9–10¢ rollover plan serves your territory, the difference lands straight on your bill — no hardware required. Check your contract's end date and set a reminder.
2. Batteries flip the strategy. Drag "share you use directly" from 35% to 65% and watch export earnings shrink while retail-rate savings (worth more per kWh) grow — that's what storage does every evening, before counting hurricane-season backup or battery-premium plans.
3. Oversizing has a price. Push production past 100% and every extra kWh earns the export rate, not the retail rate. This is why we size systems to your usage instead of your roof's maximum — and why quotes that brag about size instead of fit deserve suspicion.
Want the plan shortlist done for you?
Every Colony Solar quote includes your utility territory confirmed from your meter, a system sized to 12 months of your actual bills, and a shortlist of current plans that fit your export profile — with the Electricity Facts Label numbers that matter highlighted. The tool is the appetizer; the quote is the meal.