Interactive Guide:
How Solar Works
This guide is to help Austin Energy customers understand: System and metering layout is for educational purposes and should not be used to inform design decisions.
- How sunlight becomes usable power for your home
- How meters measure energy at your home
- How being connected to the grid helps you and your community
- How solar billing works through the Value of Solar
How to Navigate the Interactive Guide:
Hover over buttons to see more Click buttons to: Reveal new content Navigate to links Continue to next page
Go to Solar How Solar Works
How Solar Power Works
Solar Panels
Info
Revenue MeterMeasures your home's total energy consumed from the grid and solar
Energy GridExcess solar energy sent to the grid is subtracted from your home consumption
Energy Grid
Revenue Meter
ElectricalPanel
Solar Meter
Battery (Optional)
Solar Meter Measures how much solar energy generated before it is used by your home or sent to the grid
Understanding Your Bill: Common Questions
"How is my energy measured?"
"What will my utility bill look like with solar?"
Solar Production
Home Consumption
"How does the grid help me as a solar customer?"
Grid Export
Ready to Go Solar?
Austin Energy makes it easy and rewarding to power your home with the sun. Our solar programs help you take control of your energy future—with options for renters and homeowners, contractor resources, and rebates that make solar more affordable. Plus, with our Value of Solar rate, you can earn monthly bill credits for the clean energy your panels produce—so you save money while supporting a more sustainable Austin.
Grid Connection
Solar Customer Benefits
Reliable Power Anytime – You’ll still have electricity at night or on cloudy days when your solar panels aren’t producing energy. Share Your Solar Power – When your panels generate more energy than you need, the extra electricity flows back to the grid, helping power your community.
Shopping for Solar
Resources to stay Solar Smart
Beware of Scams
Questions to ask Contractors
Use our Participating Contractor list to qualify for a solar rebate
Interactive Solar Quote
More information on our website
Grid Connection
Solar Customers Benefits
Reliable Power Anytime – You’ll still have electricity at night or on cloudy days when your solar panels aren’t producing energy. Share Your Solar Power – When your panels generate more energy than you need, the extra electricity flows back to the grid, helping power your community
Grid Connection
Solar Customers Benefits
Reliable Power Anytime – You’ll still have electricity at night or on cloudy days when your solar panels aren’t producing energy. Share Your Solar Power – When your panels generate more energy than you need, the extra electricity flows back to the grid, helping power your community
Grid Connection
Solar Customers Benefits
Reliable Power Anytime – You’ll still have electricity at night or on cloudy days when your solar panels aren’t producing energy. Share Your Solar Power – When your panels generate more energy than you need, the extra electricity flows back to the grid, helping power your community
Sizing your Solar System
For solar panels to work effectively, it is important that your roof gets direct sunlight for at least 5–6 hours a day. It's best if there are no large trees, chimneys or other structures shading your roof.The preferred orientations for solar panels are on a roof that faces south, east or west.
Solar Ready Checklist
Electric Utility Bill with Solar
You are billled for all energy consumption (solar and grid) *Solar Energy sent to the grid is subtracted from consumption
You are credited for all solar energy generation through the Value of Solar Rate
Solar Bill Explainer
Sizing your Solar System
For the best results, your roof should receive at least 5 to 6 hours of direct sunlight each day. Solar panels work most efficiently when there are no large trees, chimneys, or other structures casting shade. Roofs that face south, east, or west are the most effective for solar energy.
Solar Ready Checklist
Electric Utility Bill with Solar
You are billled for all energy consumption from solar and the grid [Residential Rates] You are credited for all solar energy generation [Value of Solar Rate]
Solar Bill Explainer
Shopping for Solar
Resources to stay Solar Smart
Beware of Scams
Questions to ask Contractors
Use our Participating Contractor list to qualify for a solar rebate
Questions to ask Contractors
Interactive guide: Solar Quotes
More information on our website
Grid Connection
Solar Customers Benefits
Reliable Power Anytime – You’ll still have electricity at night or on cloudy days when your solar panels aren’t producing energy. Share Your Solar Power – When your panels generate more energy than you need, the extra electricity flows back to the grid, helping power your community
Utility Bill with Solar
You are billled for all energy consumption through our Residential Rates
You are credited for all solar energy generation through the Value of Solar Rate
Solar Bill Explainer
Electric Utility Bill with Solar
You are billled for all energy consumption from solar and the grid [Residential Rates] You are credited for all solar energy generation [Value of Solar Rate]
Solar Bill Explainer
Sizing your Solar System
For solar panels to work effectively, it is important that your roof gets direct sunlight for at least 5–6 hours a day. It's best if there are no large trees, chimneys or other structures shading your roof.The preferred orientations for solar panels are on a roof that faces south, east or west.
Solar Ready Checklist
Sizing your Solar System
For solar panels to work effectively, it is important that your roof gets direct sunlight for at least 5–6 hours a day. It's best if there are no large trees, chimneys or other structures shading your roof.The preferred orientations for solar panels are on a roof that faces south, east or west.
Solar Ready Checklist
Sizing your Solar System
For the best results, your roof should receive at least 5 to 6 hours of direct sunlight each day. Solar panels work most efficiently when there are no large trees, chimneys, or other structures casting shade. Roofs that face south, east, or west are the most effective for solar energy.
Solar Ready Checklist
Solar Utility Bill
You are billled for all energy consumption through our Residential Rates
You are credited for all solar energy generation through the Value of Solar Rate
Solar Bill Explainer
How Solar Works
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Transcript
Interactive Guide:
How Solar Works
This guide is to help Austin Energy customers understand: System and metering layout is for educational purposes and should not be used to inform design decisions.
How to Navigate the Interactive Guide:
Hover over buttons to see more Click buttons to: Reveal new content Navigate to links Continue to next page
Go to Solar How Solar Works
How Solar Power Works
Solar Panels
Info
Revenue MeterMeasures your home's total energy consumed from the grid and solar
Energy GridExcess solar energy sent to the grid is subtracted from your home consumption
Energy Grid
Revenue Meter
ElectricalPanel
Solar Meter
Battery (Optional)
Solar Meter Measures how much solar energy generated before it is used by your home or sent to the grid
Understanding Your Bill: Common Questions
"How is my energy measured?"
"What will my utility bill look like with solar?"
Solar Production
Home Consumption
"How does the grid help me as a solar customer?"
Grid Export
Ready to Go Solar?
Austin Energy makes it easy and rewarding to power your home with the sun. Our solar programs help you take control of your energy future—with options for renters and homeowners, contractor resources, and rebates that make solar more affordable. Plus, with our Value of Solar rate, you can earn monthly bill credits for the clean energy your panels produce—so you save money while supporting a more sustainable Austin.
Grid Connection
Solar Customer Benefits
Reliable Power Anytime – You’ll still have electricity at night or on cloudy days when your solar panels aren’t producing energy. Share Your Solar Power – When your panels generate more energy than you need, the extra electricity flows back to the grid, helping power your community.
Shopping for Solar
Resources to stay Solar Smart
Beware of Scams
Questions to ask Contractors
Use our Participating Contractor list to qualify for a solar rebate
Interactive Solar Quote
More information on our website
Grid Connection
Solar Customers Benefits
Reliable Power Anytime – You’ll still have electricity at night or on cloudy days when your solar panels aren’t producing energy. Share Your Solar Power – When your panels generate more energy than you need, the extra electricity flows back to the grid, helping power your community
Grid Connection
Solar Customers Benefits
Reliable Power Anytime – You’ll still have electricity at night or on cloudy days when your solar panels aren’t producing energy. Share Your Solar Power – When your panels generate more energy than you need, the extra electricity flows back to the grid, helping power your community
Grid Connection
Solar Customers Benefits
Reliable Power Anytime – You’ll still have electricity at night or on cloudy days when your solar panels aren’t producing energy. Share Your Solar Power – When your panels generate more energy than you need, the extra electricity flows back to the grid, helping power your community
Sizing your Solar System
For solar panels to work effectively, it is important that your roof gets direct sunlight for at least 5–6 hours a day. It's best if there are no large trees, chimneys or other structures shading your roof.The preferred orientations for solar panels are on a roof that faces south, east or west.
Solar Ready Checklist
Electric Utility Bill with Solar
You are billled for all energy consumption (solar and grid) *Solar Energy sent to the grid is subtracted from consumption
You are credited for all solar energy generation through the Value of Solar Rate
Solar Bill Explainer
Sizing your Solar System
For the best results, your roof should receive at least 5 to 6 hours of direct sunlight each day. Solar panels work most efficiently when there are no large trees, chimneys, or other structures casting shade. Roofs that face south, east, or west are the most effective for solar energy.
Solar Ready Checklist
Electric Utility Bill with Solar
You are billled for all energy consumption from solar and the grid [Residential Rates] You are credited for all solar energy generation [Value of Solar Rate]
Solar Bill Explainer
Shopping for Solar
Resources to stay Solar Smart
Beware of Scams
Questions to ask Contractors
Use our Participating Contractor list to qualify for a solar rebate
Questions to ask Contractors
Interactive guide: Solar Quotes
More information on our website
Grid Connection
Solar Customers Benefits
Reliable Power Anytime – You’ll still have electricity at night or on cloudy days when your solar panels aren’t producing energy. Share Your Solar Power – When your panels generate more energy than you need, the extra electricity flows back to the grid, helping power your community
Utility Bill with Solar
You are billled for all energy consumption through our Residential Rates
You are credited for all solar energy generation through the Value of Solar Rate
Solar Bill Explainer
Electric Utility Bill with Solar
You are billled for all energy consumption from solar and the grid [Residential Rates] You are credited for all solar energy generation [Value of Solar Rate]
Solar Bill Explainer
Sizing your Solar System
For solar panels to work effectively, it is important that your roof gets direct sunlight for at least 5–6 hours a day. It's best if there are no large trees, chimneys or other structures shading your roof.The preferred orientations for solar panels are on a roof that faces south, east or west.
Solar Ready Checklist
Sizing your Solar System
For solar panels to work effectively, it is important that your roof gets direct sunlight for at least 5–6 hours a day. It's best if there are no large trees, chimneys or other structures shading your roof.The preferred orientations for solar panels are on a roof that faces south, east or west.
Solar Ready Checklist
Sizing your Solar System
For the best results, your roof should receive at least 5 to 6 hours of direct sunlight each day. Solar panels work most efficiently when there are no large trees, chimneys, or other structures casting shade. Roofs that face south, east, or west are the most effective for solar energy.
Solar Ready Checklist
Solar Utility Bill
You are billled for all energy consumption through our Residential Rates
You are credited for all solar energy generation through the Value of Solar Rate
Solar Bill Explainer