Most installers are still promising a $2,500 rebate that ended in 2022. We tell you the truth: In 2026, the real money is in Battery Storage.
In the past, CPS Energy gave you full credit for the power you sent to the grid. That has changed. Today, they use a system called Net Billing.
If you send your solar power to the grid, you are selling it for pennies. You are losing money on every kilowatt.
The only way to beat Net Billing is to stop selling your power.
Solar panels power your home first.
Instead of sending extra power to CPS for pennies, it goes into your Battery.
You run your home off the battery, avoiding the expensive grid power entirely.
Result: “You effectively force CPS to give you a 1:1 value for your power by never letting it leave your house.”
While the solar rebate is gone, the Sustainable Tomorrow Energy Plan (STEP) still offers cash for efficiency upgrades that pair perfectly with solar.
San Antonio was hit hard during the freezes of 2021 and 2024. CPS Energy does rolling blackouts to save the grid. A solar system without a battery turns OFF during a blackout. A system with a battery keeps your lights, heater, and WiFi running while your neighborhood goes dark.
No. The residential solar rebate funds were fully exhausted in December 2022. Currently, rebates are only available for commercial businesses and non-profits. Beware of any installer claiming otherwise.
No, they utilize “Net Billing.” This means they credit you at a reduced wholesale rate (Avoided Cost) for exported power, rather than the full retail rate. This makes battery storage essential for maximum ROI.
Generally, no. City codes require homes to maintain a grid connection for safety and certificate of occupancy. However, with a properly sized Solar + Battery system, your monthly bill can be reduced to just the fixed “Service Availability Charge” (approx. $8.75/mo).
