Nonprofit Utilities

Nonprofit utilities in Texas (Municipally Owned Utilities and Electric Cooperatives) are uniquely positioned to advance solar in their service regions due to a permissive regulatory environment, their ability to swiftly deploy innovative services, their responsiveness to customer demand, and their alignment with local energy or environmental policy goals. In fact, Texas nonprofit utilities are some of the state’s first solar movers and have been actively pursuing innovative solar efforts such as CPS Energy’s Solar Host San Antonio pilot program, Mid-South Synergy’s community solar installations, and

’s efforts to offer solar to low-income populations.

These, and other Texas, municipally owned utilities (munis) and electric cooperatives (co-ops) are developing solar because it makes sense. Texas is blessed with an abundance of solar radiance. The cost of solar energy is approaching (and in some cases has met!) cost parity with other energy sources due to falling hardware costs and incentives. Because of these geographic and economic reasons, Texas munis and co-ops are primed to help their customers benefit from cost-competitive and reliable solar electricity.

Below are resources to better understand utilities’ motivations for pursuing solar, types of solar projects, and means of financing solar. Additionally, community solar guidelines and case studies highlight best practices, successes, and provide guidance on how to continue expanding solar across Texas.

Sources

CPS Energy. "Solar Power"

Mid-South Synergy. "Mid-South Synergy Launches Synergy Solar" (July 2015)

City of Austin. "Austin Energy"