Program Guidelines

Why Participate In The Program?

BTU’s Solar Rebate Program is designed to help you implement photovoltaic (PV) technology in your home or business by offering financial incentives that can offset your initial investment. By using BTU as your energy management partner, we can offer unbiased expertise to help you decide how to make the most effective use of your energy dollars. By implementing PV technology, you will be helping BTU reduce the need to generate additional power, lower our long-term investment costs for new electric facilities and also enhance our City’s environment.

General Qualifications and Guidelines

Installation and Warranties

• All work must be performed in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and local, manufacturer’s codes and standards as well as BTU Interconnection Guidelines.
• Rebate applicants must use a BTU registered installer. A list of registered installers will be found on BTU’s website. Installers must be certified by NABCEP (North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners) within two years of becoming registered with BTU. For details on how to become NABCEP certified, please visit their website.
• Only eligible PV modules qualify for rebates under the BTU program. A list of eligible PV modules and eligible list of inverters is found on the CEC website: http://www.gosolarcalifornia.org/equipment/index.html
  NOTE: BTU is not a manufacturer, supplier or guarantor of the PV system or installers, and BTU, whether by making available a list of registered installers and equipment sources or otherwise, has not made and makes no representations or warranties of any nature, directly or indirectly, express or implied, as to performance of the installer or reliability, performance, durability, condition or quality of the PV system selected and purchased.
• All PV systems installed must carry a 5-year warranty from the installer in addition to a 10-year manufacturer warrantee on inverters in residential applications without battery back-up.
• Licensed electrical contractors must obtain appropriate permits and perform all electrical interconnections.
• All inverters and solar modules must be new.
• PV system installations on flat roof residential structures and all commercial buildings must also obtain appropriate City of Bryan building permits.
• All PV systems must be interconnected, at customer’s expense, to BTU’s electrical grid. The PV system will comply with current BTU guidelines governing interconnection with BTU electric system, and any subsequent revisions to these guidelines.
• If re-roofing is required, PV system removal and reinstallation is at customer expense.
• Batteries are not covered under the rebate.

Rebate Funding

• Rebate funding is offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Participation in the Solar Rebate Program does not affect customer participation in other BTU conservation programs.
• BTU will perform a pre-inspection of the site; results of the pre-inspection will determine rebate eligibility. Solar Pathfinder plot must demonstrate minimal shading by trees, buildings and other structures. BTU retains the right to deny rebates based on excessive shading and or poor orientation of the solar array.
• The requested rebate amount will be calculated as:
  [Number of PV Modules] x [STC Rating per Module (Watts)] x [Inverter Efficiency] x [$4.00/W]
• The standard rebate level for qualifying equipment is $4.00 per Watt. IRS designated Non-Profits are also eligible for the $4.00 per watt rebate level.
• The final rebate level will be determined following verification of the installed system by BTU solar field inspector.
• The maximum rebate per customer is capped at 80% of invoice cost or $12,000 “per fiscal year” (October – September) for each customer site.
• Customers have the option to assign the rebate directly to the PV system installer/supplier or other third party.
• In custom homes, the rebate check goes to the builder, unless the customer can prove that he or she specified the equipment, in which case the check would go to the customer.
• New construction rebate checks can be issued before the Certificate of Occupancy is released.
• Individual condominium owners applying must obtain Condo Association permission.
• Condo Associations must be connected to a commercial meter.
• Apartments qualify and must be under a single rebate application.

Additional Requirements

• Deed restrictions must not prohibit the installation of solar photovoltaics on property.
• The customer must transfer to BTU, all renewable energy credits (RECs) and other environmental attributes from power generated by PV systems receiving rebates from BTU. RECs may be retained if the proper documents are submitted proving that the RECs are required to achieve LEED certification. (See BTU Renewable Energy Credit Agreement).
• Customer must have an active BTU electric account number.
• Customers currently participating in the self-read meter program must provide BTU access to the new solar and revenue meters.
• PV system cannot be removed from BTU service territory.
• Customer must sign the rebate refund agreement on the Solar Rebate Application form.
• BTU guidelines and rebate levels are subject to change without notice, and BTU reserves the right to refuse any application/request for incentive payment that does not meet BTU’s requirements.

Refund Agreement

• A refund shall become due and payable to BTU if the customer fails to ensure BTU that the rebated equipment is properly maintained and operated at an BTU metered address.
• The refund will be calculated by reducing the rebate paid by 20% per year for each of the five years following final inspection and approval (first 20% reduction to occur on the anniversary date of rebate payment).