Solar FAQ

How much electricity will a solar system produce?

A typical south-facing solar system in North Texas with full sun exposure will produce between 1,495 and 1,570 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year for every 1 kilowatt (kW) of system capacity.

DC System Size (kW)	Estimated Annual Production (kWh)
1	1,533
2	3,034
3	4,600
4	6,131
5	7,664
6	9,198
7	10,731
8	12,265
9	13,797
10	15,330

West and east-facing systems will produce about 15 to 20 percent less, respectively. North-facing systems will produce over 40 percent less. 

The figures above are derived using the National Renewable Energy Laboratory PVWatts Calculator.

Can a solar system supply all my home’s electricity needs?

For most customers, solar with proper direction orientation will provide approximately 40 to 50 percent of their home’s electricity, regardless of how large a system is installed. Installing a larger solar system cannot overcome these limitations. Instead, a larger system will produce more energy when the sun is shining. If the system produces more electricity than your home needs during these times, the excess production will flow to the electric grid rather than the home.

Can I put a solar system somewhere else other than my roof?

Yes. Solar systems can also be mounted on the ground. 

How long do solar panels last?

A typical solar panel has a 20 to 25-year warranty.

How much do solar panels cost?

The solar installation cost varies depending on the size, specific product, and site details. Based on the information provided to CoServ regarding local residential solar installations in 2022, a CoServ Member should expect to pay between $3,000 and $4,000 per kilowatt (kW).

Does CoServ finance solar electricity systems?

CoServ does not currently offer any solar financing programs. Please consult with your installer and/or financial institution regarding financing options.

When will CoServ inspect my system and program my meter for my newly installed solar?

Once CoServ receives the notification of completion from your installer, we try to inspect and program the meter within two weeks. However, some systems may take up to 4 weeks. The following reasons could lead to an extended wait time:

• CoServ was not previously made aware of the solar installation
• The installation did not pass our final inspection and needs to be installed per the specifications of the DG Manual Distributed Generation Manual (PDF)
• An unexpected increase in solar system installations

Why does the solar production output on my inverter not match my CoServ bill?

Your solar inverter is measuring the production of your solar panels only. It does not consider your house’s energy consumption.  Solar panels are typically installed on top of your roof, and the output of the solar system flows to your house, where it is first used to supply the energy used by your house. Only the excess solar production that is not needed by your house flows through the CoServ meter. 

The CoServ meter is measuring the flow of electricity between your house and the grid, either forward or backward.  When your house is using more energy than your solar system is producing, energy from the grid combines with solar to supply your house, and the meter flows forward. When your solar panels are producing more than your house’s consumption, then excess solar energy not needed by your house flows onto the grid, and the meter flows backward. Keep in mind that energy produced by your solar panels will be consumed in your house first, and only the excess will flow across the meter. This means that the number will be lower than what is shown by your inverter, which shows your solar system’s total production before it powers your house.

The CoServ bill will show the energy that was delivered to your home and the energy that was received from your solar system. You are billed for the energy CoServ delivers at the applicable retail rate and provided a credit for the energy received at CoServ’s avoided wholesale cost.

Why do I still receive an Electric Bill?

Your home will use all of the electricity your solar system produces before using energy electricity from CoServ. If your system produces more energy than your home uses, the excess production is fed back to CoServ’s distribution system. Your monthly CoServ bill outlines the electricity delivered to you and the production we receive from your solar system. While it is possible your system may produce enough electricity to cover usage, fees, and taxes in a given month, on average, a solar system installed in the proper orientation will provide approximately 40 to 50 percent of your home’s energy needs.

Understanding Your Electric Bill

Del: When your house uses more energy than your solar system produces, energy from the grid combines with solar to supply your house, and the meter flows forward. This is the energy delivered to your home, and you are billed for this energy at the applicable retail rate.

Rec: When your solar panels are producing more than your house’s consumption, the excess solar energy not needed by your house flows onto the grid, and the meter flows backward. This is the energy received by CoServ. This amount will not match the output registered on your solar inverter; it represents only the excess solar production that is not needed by your house. You are provided credit for this energy at CoServ’s avoided wholesale cost.

Why is the Customer Charge $25.00?

Like all utilities, CoServ recovers a portion of its operational costs through a monthly fixed charge called a Customer Charge. This fee is $10.00 and has not changed for several decades. Costs that are not recovered through the fixed charge must be recouped through a volumetric charge on a per kWh basis. Since solar users offset their kWh usage, an additional $15.00 per month Distributed Generation (DG) Customer Charge must also be collected to create a fair and equitable distribution of costs to all Members.

After installing solar, you are responsible for the monthly Customer Charge ($10.00) and DG Customer Charge ($15.00). If your received energy credit exceeds your delivered amount, this credit can be applied to your monthly Customer Charge. Therefore, the minimum monthly bill you could receive after installing your PV system is $0.

Can I go solar without purchasing a new solar system?

Yes, CoServ’s Solar Savings Rate is a great way to go solar without having solar panels. Launched in March 2021, this rate program offers 100 percent renewable energy without the long-term commitment and upfront cost required with physical solar panels. It’s also perfect for townhomes and apartments.

The rate itself is also competitive with CoServ’s Standard Residential Rate.

CoServ has its own solar that’s generated at the CoServ Solar Station, a 2-megawatt solar farm near Krugerville. CoServ also buys 52 megawatts of power from the massive Lapetus Solar Project in far West Texas.

How does CoServ’s Certified Solar Installation Program benefit me?

CoServ knows that many of its customers are interested in installing solar panels on their homes.

We want to help customers make informed decisions by providing a list of solar installers that CoServ believes will perform quality work in an ethical manner at a fair price. 

Why does CoServ not offer any Solar Rebates?

The solar industry has changed significantly since we started offering rebates. Our rebate was initially designed to help those installing a new and emerging technology overcome a significant cost barrier. However, we have seen a substantial change in the need for a rebate due to the greatly decreased cost of installing rooftop solar. Adoption is high, and CoServ’s rebate no longer impacts the decision for many of our Members. In addition, there are costs to administering a rebate program that goes far beyond the actual rebate. Historically, these costs were passed along to all Members whether they took advantage of the program or not. As energy costs rise, we are looking at ways to reduce costs passed along to our Members. Due to these reasons, we have decided to eliminate the solar rebate program.

Please note that there is no guarantee that CoServ’s DG policy or current rate structure will remain the same throughout the life of a solar system. If your system was installed prior to February 1st, 2023, you are grandfathered into our net metering policy until February 1st, 2028. You can view the applicable FAQ for that policy here.