Renewable Rewards® Solar Max Plan

Q: 2

For each 15-minute interval: Buyback credit amount = (Buyback rate in $/kWh) x (Excess energy delivered to the grid in kWh during the 15-min. interval) The buyback rate is equal to ERCOT Load Zone Real Time Settlement Point Price (RTSPP) in the 15-minute interval for the customer’s load zone. If the RTSPP is less than zero for a given 15-minute interval, the credit amount will be zero for that interval. The credit amount for the bill period will be the sum of the credit amounts across all 15-minute intervals in that period. In the event Green Mountain Energy receives incomplete interval data from your TDSP, Green Mountain Energy may estimate your outflow kWh for missing periods based on the monthly meter read reported by the TDSP. When there is a difference in outflow kWh between the monthly meter read and the monthly total of the interval data, the difference will be allocated over missing intervals and the estimated outflow kWh will be used to calculate credit amounts applied to your bill.

Does Green Mountain buy back energy that solar panels deliver back to the grid?

Yes. With our Renewable Rewards buyback plans, you receive credit for all the excess energy your solar energy system delivers to the grid. For the Renewable Rewards Solar Max plan, the rate per kWh you are credited for excess electricity is the real-time wholesale rate for your Load Zone, with no cap on the amount you can earn. Your excess electricity credits will show up on your electricity bill on the “Bill credit” line.

Please note that the Renewable Rewards Solar Max plan is only available for Texas residential customers who meet the plan requirements.

How is the excess energy credit calculated?

For each 15-minute interval:

Buyback credit amount = (Buyback rate in $/kWh) x (Excess energy delivered to the grid in kWh during the 15-min. interval)

The buyback rate is equal to ERCOT Load Zone Real Time Settlement Point Price (RTSPP) in the 15-minute interval for the customer’s load zone. If the RTSPP is less than zero for a given 15-minute interval, the credit amount will be zero for that interval.

The credit amount for the bill period will be the sum of the credit amounts across all 15-minute intervals in that period.

In the event Green Mountain Energy receives incomplete interval data from your TDSP, Green Mountain Energy may estimate your outflow kWh for missing periods based on the monthly meter read reported by the TDSP. When there is a difference in outflow kWh between the monthly meter read and the monthly total of the interval data, the difference will be allocated over missing intervals and the estimated outflow kWh will be used to calculate credit amounts applied to your bill.

Are there any caps or limits on excess energy credits?

No, there are no caps on excess electricity credits. Customers enrolled on the Renewable Rewards Solar Max plan that meet the eligibility requirements will receive credits for all excess electricity delivered to the grid. If the credits exceed the charges on your monthly invoice, the remaining credits will carry forward to the next month.

Where can I learn more about real-time wholesale prices used to calculate the bill credit on my bill?

See the map below to find your ERCOT 15-minute RTSPP load zone.

Why does my solar monitoring sensor not match the excess energy on my Renewable Rewards Solar Max bill?

Your Renewable Rewards Solar Max buyback plan bill shows:

Your energy usage from the grid, or the inflow of electricity through your meter (shown on the “Energy Charge” line).

The excess solar energy for which you are credited (shown on the “Renewable Rewards Credit” line).

Both your grid usage and your excess energy are measured by the meter installed by your utility. The bill does not show your total solar production, which may be measured by your solar monitor. This is because some of the solar power is immediately used by your house and never flows to the grid.

You can download your excess energy export data from your Smart Meter Texas account or request a paper copy by calling a Solar Call Center Specialist at 1-855-465-5061.