Solar PV program huge success for Oncor

DALLAS, USA: Over the past two years Oncor’s Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Program has been an overwhelming success. To date 479 residential, 85 commercial and 46 government projects have qualified for incentives attributing to over $16 million in program incentives. The average incentive paid out for residential projects is approximately $14,000 and for non-residential is approximately $49,000.

A wide array of installers and service providers helped Oncor successfully develop the Solar PV market in Oncor’s service area faster than expected. To date 72 different installers have completed or reserved a project in the program. Of these installers, 34 are certified with the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP).

Texas, with 78 NABCEP Certified installers, is now only second to California. The number of NABCEP Certified installers grew from 20 to 78 since the launch of the Oncor Solar PV Program.

“Oncor’s Solar PV Program has created a huge demand for renewable energy in Texas,” said Michael Stockard, Oncor Director of Energy Efficiency Programs. “Oncor continues to encourage new technologies that will help save energy, protect the environment and reduce emissions.”

Oncor reallocated program budget funds from 2011 and 2012 to meet the demand of consumers in more than 400 Texas cities and towns who want to start installing Solar PV panels this year. On June 21 Oncor re-opened the program with additional budget funds, and within two days all program funds were requested. This program is funded out of Oncor’s $100 million commitment to Take A Load Off, Texas.

Oncor has six other energy efficiency programs that offer Solar PV incentives. These include the Commercial Standard Offer Program, School Matching Grant, City Matching Grant, Home Energy Efficiency, Worship Facility Matching Grant and Nonprofit Facility Matching Grant programs. Each of these programs has different program guidelines.

Oncor offers 30 energy efficiency programs for consumers throughout Oncor’s service area.