Residential solar rebate

• You must be an NBU electric customer. The installation must be within NBU’s electric service territory in the New Braunfels area of Texas, connected behind a residential meter, and attached to a non-mobile structure on a permanent foundation. You must own the PV system; leased systems and expansions of existing systems do not qualify.
• You cannot receive another solar rebate at the same address if you received one there within the past 12 months. Rebate participants cannot opt out of NBU’s smart-meter system.
• An NBU Participating Solar Contractor must contract, permit and install the system, and submit the rebate application for you. Complete NBU’s Solar Education Training before installation and before applying. The contractor must allow you to cancel without penalty within ten calendar days after NBU confirms your signed training acknowledgement; the contractor handbook also requires no-charge cancellation within ten days after completing the course.
• The system must be at least 3 kW DC (2.5 kW AC). It must achieve a minimum average total solar resource fraction (TSRF) of 75%; your contractor’s shade report uses solar access, tilt and orientation to calculate this measure. Framed panels must have a pitch of at least 5°. All components must be new, with at least ten years of equipment and workmanship warranties. Installations must meet applicable regulations and the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Your contractor must account for orientation, tilt and shading in the expected annual production model and provide an on-site shade analysis if NBU or you request it. NBU does not rebate systems tilted above 70° or facing outside the 45°–315° azimuth range; the tighter Tier II conditions determine the higher rate.
• NBU must approve the grid connection in advance. It considers connections for permanent electric customers whose normal electricity demand is expected to exceed the installation’s generating capacity. There is no longer a fixed 24 kW residential size limit, but network limits still apply: generation cannot exceed 50% of the capacity of any network component in the line serving it. For example, total generation served by a 50 kVA transformer cannot exceed 25 kW, and NBU gives a 5 MW limit for a distribution feeder. A substation transformer must not feed power back into the transmission grid. NBU allocates this capacity first come, first served.
• The system must meet NBU’s electrical connection requirements. These include space for metering equipment and a visible, labelled, lockable AC disconnect switch accessible on an exterior wall within ten feet of the meters. For services of 320 amps or less, the policy requires two meter bases. The solar FAQ allows a one-meter system while a backup battery’s smart switch is operating.

You remain responsible for maintaining the generation and protective equipment and keeping maintenance records available to NBU on request with reasonable notice. Missing records may require documentation from a licensed electrician; without system documentation, NBU may assume up to 265 watts per panel. Get NBU’s prior approval before changing the equipment, wiring or operation. NBU can require defined control over the inverters; for existing installations it gives written notice and allows them to remain as they are for ten years from that notice. Give NBU 30 days’ advance notice before disconnecting the system; NBU does not refund rate-based fees caused by failure to notify it.

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• Funding is first come, first served; no funds are reserved during interconnection.[^c6]
• Complete the education before installation and application; use a participating contractor.[^c8][^c15]
• Credit follows final inspection and approved documentation.[^c6]

Start on NBU’s solar programme page to take the Solar Education Course and select a participating contractor. Complete the education before installation; your contractor must obtain permits and arrange NBU’s advance interconnection approval.

Your contractor submits the residential rebate application on your behalf. Include the finalized customer–contractor contract, line-item sales receipt and Solar Education Training acknowledgement. Send the application by email to solar@nbutexas.com, or mail it to New Braunfels Utilities, Attention: Conservation and Customer Solutions, 1488 S Seguin Ave, New Braunfels, TX 78130. Digital signatures must have a verifiable tracking method. NBU may request additional documents; if it requests a shade report, your contractor must submit an acceptable report within ten business days.

Do not operate the system in parallel with NBU’s grid until NBU has inspected it and given written interconnection approval. The contractor must correct inspection deficiencies within ten business days. Once all requirements are met and the rebate is approved, the FAQ says the credit appears within one to two billing cycles.

Funding is first come, first served. NBU does not reserve rebate funds during interconnection, so connection approval does not guarantee a rebate.