Posting Language
Title
Authorize Austin Energy to issue commercial and multifamily solar incentives during Fiscal Year 2025-2026, in an aggregated amount not to exceed $5,300,000 for customer-sited commercial solar installations and $2,000,000 for customer-sited multifamily installations, for a total combined budget amount of $7,300,000 to qualifying solar incentive projects. Funding: $7,300,000 is available in the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Austin Energy Operating Budget.
De
Lead Department
Austin Energy
Fiscal Note
Funding in the amount of $7,300,000 is available in the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Austin Energy Operating Budget.
Prior Council Action:
September 26, 2024 - Council approved issuance of rebates for commercial and multifamily customer energy efficiency measures during Fiscal Year 2024-2025.
For More Information:
Amy Everhart, Director, Local Government Relations (512) 322-6087; Richard Génecé, Vice President, Customer Energy Solutions (512) 322-6327
Council Committee, Boards and Commission Action:
August 11, 2025 - Recommended by the Electric Utility Commission on an 8-0 vote with Commissioners Alvarez and Reed off the dais and Chair Tuttle absent.
August 19, 2025 - Recommended by the Resource Management Commission on a 6-0 vote with Vice Chair Robbins, Commissioners Farmer and Gerland absent, and two vacancies.
Additional Backup Information:
The purpose of the Austin Energy solar incentives is to expand adoption of customer-sited solar. The Performance-Based Incentive (PBI) solar program offers commercial customers payments based on the metered solar production of their approved PV system for the first 5 years of operation. The Austin Energy Solar Capacity-Based Incentive (CBI) Programs support solar installations via a one-time, upfront rebate payment.
These programs advance the stated goals of expanding locally-sited solar, carbon reduction, and resiliency. The authorization of aggregate authority for the issuance of solar incentives will allow Austin Energy to continue to issue solar incentives to multifamily, commercial and small business customers during Fiscal Year 2025-2026 for customer-sited solar installations in accordance with program guidelines and up to a combined amount of $7,300,000. This aggregate rebate approval request reflects our continued commitment to be responsive and flexible to customer needs. The process allows Austin Energy to approve projects for construction and avoid the one to two months of delay that would have otherwise occurred while moving through the RCA process.