Solar for CenterPoint Energy (Houston) Customers: Net Metering and Export Credits
How your utility credits the solar power you send back to the grid has a big effect on what solar is worth to you. Here's what official sources say for CenterPoint Energy (Houston) customers. Rules change, so confirm current terms with the utility before you sign.
About CenterPoint Energy (Houston)
The U.S. Energy Information Administration's Form EIA-861 data for 2024 lists 2,485,470 residential customers for CenterPoint Energy (Texas), ranking #9 among U.S. utilities in our tally of bundled plus delivery-only residential customers. Source: https://www.eia.gov/electricity/data/eia861/ (accessed 2026-10-20)
How CenterPoint Energy (Houston) credits home solar
- CenterPoint delivers power, and buyback depends on your retail electric provider's plan. The PUCT notes that where you can shop for electricity, you can choose a plan with a buyback rate. Source: https://www.puc.texas.gov/consumer-help/electricity/solar/Default.aspx (accessed 2026-10-20)
- CenterPoint's Distributed Generation Service (Rate DGS) requires an interconnection application and agreement. For an exporting, pre-certified 0–10 kW system not on a network circuit, the tariff lists a $75 pre-interconnection study fee; qualifying pre-certified systems up to 500 kW that meet the feeder limits are exempt. Source: https://assets.centerpointenergy.com/api/public/content/tariff-for-retail-delivery-service-9-1-2026.pdf (accessed 2026-10-20)
A note on the federal tax credit
The federal residential clean energy credit (25D) doesn't apply to expenditures made after December 31, 2025. The IRS treats an expenditure as made when installation is completed. Source: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/faqs-for-modification-of-sections-25c-25d-25e-30c-30d-45l-45w-and-179d-under-public-law-119-21-139-stat-72-july-4-2025-commonly-known-as-the-one-big-beautiful-bill-obbb (accessed 2026-10-20). This page isn't tax advice.
What this means for your quote
Savings depend on how much of your solar you use on site versus export, your rate plan, and your system size. We can't give a typical savings figure; it varies, and your quote should show the assumptions behind any estimate.
Questions for your installer
- Which retail plan and buyback rate does your estimate assume?
- Does your price include any CenterPoint study fee?
- Will you handle the CenterPoint Energy (Houston) interconnection application?
Sources
- https://assets.centerpointenergy.com/api/public/content/tariff-for-retail-delivery-service-9-1-2026.pdf (accessed Oct 20, 2026)
- https://www.puc.texas.gov/consumer-help/electricity/solar/Default.aspx (accessed Oct 20, 2026)
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-861 (2024 data) — https://www.eia.gov/electricity/data/eia861/ (accessed Oct 20, 2026)
- IRS, "FAQs for modification of sections 25C, 25D, 25E, 30C, 30D, 45L, 45W, and 179D under Public Law 119-21 (OBBB)" — https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/faqs-for-modification-of-sections-25c-25d-25e-30c-30d-45l-45w-and-179d-under-public-law-119-21-139-stat-72-july-4-2025-commonly-known-as-the-one-big-beautiful-bill-obbb (accessed Oct 20, 2026)
SolarMatchup is a free service: you submit one request and we match you with one installer. Their proposal is an estimate, not a guarantee — use this guide to read it carefully and ask questions before you sign. Savings, if any, depend on your usage, utility rates, and local rules.
Last reviewed 2026-10-20.
More for Texas homeowners: state guide with utility rules, prices and city pages.
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