Texas Deregulated Solar Buyback Plans (Oncor & CenterPoint ERCOT Matrix)
In Texas’s deregulated ERCOT market (Dallas/Fort Worth Oncor & Houston CenterPoint), true 1:1 net metering including TDU delivery fees has vanished. Learn how Texas homeowners use LFP batteries to exploit "Free Nights" plans and ERCOT $5.00/kWh wholesale scarcity spikes.
1. 24-Hour Import Cost vs. Export Credit Visualizer
Schedule: ERCOT REP Solar Buyback (RTW Real-Time Wholesale vs Free Nights vs 1:1 Energy-Only)Compare what Oncor Electric Delivery & CenterPoint Energy (ERCOT Retail Electric Providers) charges you to import 1 kWh vs. what they pay you when you export 1 kWh during each time window—and how your battery inverter should be programmed:
2. Forensic Tariff & Battery Arbitrage Math
- 1The Hidden Oncor / CenterPoint TDU Delivery Trap: Even when a Texas Retail Electric Provider (REP) advertises "1:1 solar buyback," they ONLY credit the energy portion (~11¢/kWh) and DO NOT credit the 5.1¢–5.6¢/kWh Oncor/CenterPoint TDU delivery charge. Every kWh you export and re-import costs you ~5.5¢/kWh in non-refundable TDU wires fees.
- 2The Texas "Free Nights + Solar + Battery" Zero-Bill Hack: Enrolling in a Free Nights plan (9 PM–7 AM free electricity, ~24¢/kWh daytime) with a 10 kW solar array + 28.6 kWh EG4 battery lets you run your house 100% off solar + battery from 7 AM to 9 PM and recharge everything for $0.00 at night—resulting in a $0.00 electric bill 12 months a year!
- 3ERCOT Wholesale LMP VPP Earnings: On Real-Time Wholesale (RTW) plans (Chariot, Octopus, Rhythm, Almika), exporting stored battery power during August 5 PM ERCOT conservation alerts can earn $1.50 to $5.00 per kWh.
EG4 18kPV + 2x EG4 14.3kWh PowerPro Outdoor WallMount (UL9540)
Estimated Payback under ERCOT REP Solar Buyback (RTW Real-Time Wholesale vs Free Nights vs 1:1 Energy-Only): 4.9 – 5.8 Years (Zero Bill via Free Nights + Solar Arbitrage)
Oncor Electric Delivery & CenterPoint Energy (ERCOT Retail Electric Providers) Solar Tariff FAQ
Why do Texas solar homeowners without batteries still get $180/month electric bills?
Without a battery, a Texas home exports power at noon for a ~3¢–9¢ credit and imports power all evening while paying ~16¢–22¢/kWh (including the mandatory 5.3¢/kWh Oncor or CenterPoint TDU delivery charge that solar credits rarely offset).
Which Texas electricity plan is best if I have both solar panels and a 28kWh battery?
Either a "Free Nights" plan (where your solar+battery covers 100% of daytime 7 AM–9 PM hours and grid power is $0.00 overnight) or an Octopus/VPP Real-Time Wholesale plan if your battery bank exceeds 30 kWh.