Texas is a major industry player in renewable energy and aspires to become the frontrunner in solar power for houses. When you buy solar energy, it is delivered via the electricity grid and doesn’t require costly panels. The state’s solar electricity output is expected to double in the next several years.
Electric companies which sell energy plans to Texas residents have historically priced their renewable energy plans at a premium to fossil-sourced plans. But now you can enroll in 100% green energy plans that are actually cheaper than polluting fossil plans.
Cheap 100% Green Energy Plans
Some of the best solar energy companies in Texas offer low electricity rates on renewable energy plans. Gexa Energy’s renewable energy plans now have energy rates that are less than many fossil-sourced plans. Flagship Energy also offers cheap 100% green energy plans that are straightforward and price-protected. Also, Chariot Energy, owned by a Fortune 500 conglomerate, has utility-scale solar generation units in Texas and will become a major provider of cheap solar rates for the residential market. Green Mountain Energy and other green energy providers are reducing their rates to meet the competitive landscape. Also, check out Pulse Power’s low renewable energy rates.
You can browse reviews of energy providers here and find more cheap energy plans here.
*Sample of live rates based on Oncor zone at 500, 1000 and 2000 kWh usage.
Review our guides describing the impact of renewable energy on climate change and green energy plans, such as these:
- How much CO2 is your home energy plan emitting?
- 10 painless ways to cut your home’s CO2 and save money doing it
- Green energy for your home
- Renewable energy plans and providers
The growth of solar is good news for Texas residents
The state has huge land spaces, plenty of sunshine and even federal renewable energy tax subsidies. Solar developers are taking full advantage of expanding solar technologies before tax subsidies decrease.
Energy experts have predicted that as the solar industry grows, it may cause a disruption in the market. It could result in a significant decline in profits in the coal, natural gas, and nuclear generation segments.
The good news for Texas consumers is that the additional power supply could ease electricity shortages and lower extreme prices in hot summer months. Those system costs are a major source of profits for generators who gain from peak demand. Extreme temperatures over an extended period tend to push the wholesale prices to a state maximum per megawatt-hour as compared to average prices.
It has been predicted that solar power shall reach critical mass in the next five years, amounting to 20 percent of the state’s entire electricity generation capacity. This impact may be realized sooner if utility-scale battery storage becomes common, which will store energy even when the sun is not shining. These battery storage devices are rare on solar farms at present.
Lithium-ion battery storage prices have fallen by 35 percent, and battery storage will become a game-changer at some point for solar and renewables broadly. The possibility of $9,000 per megawatt-hour electricity during peak demand periods will disappear in Texas.
The solar boom is happening in Texas
Solar energy contributes to 4.81 percent of the electricity in Texas at present according to the trade group Solar Energy Industries Association, and about 91 percent of this energy comes from utility-scale or large solar projects which generate electricity supply to the power grid. Apart from that, another 6 percent is generated by residential roof-top solar panels and the remaining power is taken from commercial and industrial installations.
The reason for the slow rise in the solar rooftop industry in Texas is that low electricity prices make it difficult for businesses and homeowners to justify the cost of installing solar panels. Also, due to a lack of generous government subsidies in the state, the time required to recover an investment in rooftop installations can be decades. Further, there are no policies in Texas that force the utilities to buy back the excess power which is generated by roof-top solar panel systems.
In 2022, Texas had a total 17,247 MW of solar installed which accounts for enough solar installed to power 1,957,307 homes. Texas is projected to add more utility-scale solar power in 2023 than any other state according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Solar energy capacity in Texas is only expected to grow in the coming years.
With greater capacity and low solar energy rates from major electricity providers to drive demand, Texas is positioned to be at the forefront of the solar boom.
