CoServ & Renewable Energy Rebates

CoServ is a Cooperative Energy reseller serving portions of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex market and have thus been a slow adapter of Energy rebates. Neighboring areas in Denton County for example are covered by Denton Municipal Electric and Oncor. Both of these companies offer very nice rebate programs to their customers who install solar or other forms of renewable energy generators.

It was anticipated by several of the Texas energy companies, that the State of Texas would pass legislation that would assist them in providing rebates and other forms of incentives to their energy wise customers who improved the energy efficiency of their homes or purchased some form of approved renewable energy generator, such as solar panels or wind turbines.

So earlier this year when the Texas State Law makers met, they had this renewable energy item on their agenda, but because they lollygagged too long on other pet topics, they simply didn’t get around to it, leaving the State Renewable Energy program is seriously behind the curve. Because it wasn’t addressed this last session, it will likely not be addressed at all until they meet again in a couple years, if ever. According to discussions with certain energy companies, the only chance our states renewable energy program has to get up and going is if Governor Perry calls for a special session to address it, which is looking unlikely at this point in time.

As a result of the lack of attention from the state, energy companies like CoServ are left to fend for themselves in providing rebates and other incentive programs for their customers who invest in energy efficient upgrades or renewable energy systems.

For companies like Advancing the Green, a company based in Flower Mound, Texas, who’s focus is the sale of solar panels and other energy systems, they report that many of their customers are simply waiting for that added rebates from the state and/or their energy company, CoServ. However, for the customers of CoServ, the light of hope they have had for these rebates and other incentives is quickly fading.

CoServ does report that they will have some form of rebate or incentive program for their customers as it relates to adding energy efficient products or renovations to their homes, though details on what will be covered in this incentive program and amounts are still sketchy. This program is expected to be unveiled in the August/September timeframe and is still going through the internal approval channels.

So until CoServ can provide some form of rebate or incentive for Solar and other forms of renewable energy, companies like Advancing the Green will have to focus their attentions on the customers of Oncor and Denton Municipal Electric.

For a new solar panel installation, Oncor currently offers a $2.46 per Watt rebate program and Denton Municipal offers a $3.00 per Watt rebate. These are powerful selling points for anyone contemplating the purchase of solar panels. And when these rebates are coupled with the Federal Tax Credits and the wholesale prices of companies like Advancing the Green (with Solar panels as low as $2.84 per Watt), the payback period for a new Solar Energy System could be as little as 3 years instead of the 10-15 that so many of us have grown to expect with renewable energy solutions like this.

Bottom line is that while homeowners everywhere are rapidly increasing interest in renewable energy options, they will always be somewhat financially limited in their ability to adopt green solutions like this until the state can adjust accordingly to provide the necessary support to where it’s needed.