
Interested in solar power? CoServ can help.
You probably have a lot of questions about solar power, especially with so much misinformation being circulated today. CoServ wants to be your trusted energy advisor by cutting through all the myths and providing only facts.
Are you interested in installing solar at your home?
Our Energy Efficiency team can review your plan and help you design a system to meet your needs. We are also here to help CoServ Members 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.
Interested in renewable energy, but don’t want to commit to the upfront cost and maintenance?
Our Solar Savings rate is perfect for someone who wants 100 percent renewable energy without the upfront cost or long-term commitment of installing solar panels, or who can’t install solar panels on their residence.
Solar facts and myths
As your trusted energy advisor, we want our Members to make informed and educated decisions before they go solar. Here are some common myths that high-pressure salespeople may use:
Myth: With solar, I will never get an electric bill
Fact: Installing solar panels can help reduce your electric bill but it won’t produce enough power for your home to use 24 hours a day. At minimum, CoServ Members with solar will pay a monthly Customer Charge. The Customer Charge covers a portion of the cost of being connected to the distribution system. To learn more about this, click here.
Myth: With solar, my power won’t go out during an outage.
Fact: Solar requires an inverter to convert the solar energy from direct current to alternating current so it can be used in the home. The inverter is powered by the grid so the solar system will not operate during an outage unless your home has a backup battery storage system.
Myth: I will get a quick return on investment.
Fact: There are a lot of factors at play (for example, the size of the system, cost, the home's energy consumption and the efficiency of the system) but with today’s cost, it could take many years to get a return on your investment.
How to find a great solar deal
- Do research and get at least three quotes from different companies
- Ask an expert, including CoServ’s Energy Efficiency team at [email protected]
- Check out our FAQ below and look at the companies on our Certified Solar Installer list
- Talk to a tax expert about tax incentives that may be available

CERTIFIED SOLAR INSTALLER INFORMATION
CoServ is proud to partner with our Certified Solar Installers. If you have any questions, please email [email protected].
Documents:
- Distributed Generation Manual (PDF)
- Terms and Conditions: (PDF)
- List of Certified Solar Installers: (PDF)
Solar FAQ
Solar energy is energy generated from the sun.
Solar cells (also known as photovoltaic cells) convert sunlight into electricity. Individual solar cells are connected to form solar panels.
How do solar panels generate electricity?
When the sun shines onto solar panels, energy from the sunlight is absorbed by the cells in the panel. This energy creates an electrical charge within the cells, which causes electricity to flow.

Only the customer has access to the “Solar Meter” shown on the diagram, which is typically integrated into the inverter.
CoServ Members with solar panels have bidirectional meters that allow electricity to flow back onto the grid.
- Energy flows from the solar panels (solar panel output is zero at night)
- Energy flows into the home (can be zero if all load in the house is turned off)
- Energy can flow to or from the CoServ distribution system
- When load is higher than solar generation, we deliver energy (Delivered kWh)
- When solar generation is higher than load, we receive energy (Received kWh)
CoServ does not have visibility into the actual production by the solar panels or total usage by the home because the home consumes energy produced by the solar panels prior to the CoServ electric meter.
CoServ measures electricity that comes from the grid (delivered) and from the solar panels onto the grid (received). The amount received measures the excess electricity sold to the grid. CoServ does not measure the solar energy consumed by your home.
How much electricity will a solar system produce?
A typical south-facing solar system in North Texas with full sun exposure will produce approximately 1,533 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?
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?
How much do solar panels cost?
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 installation
Why does the solar production output on my invertor 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?
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.
To see a breakdown of the rate and how your bill is calculated, please visit the DG Rate with Buyback section on the Residential Rates page.
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.
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.
Distributed Generation (DG) Net Metering FAQ [Closed]
View the FAQ for the DG Net Metering rate [Closed] here.
The Distributed Generation (DG) with Net Metering rate closed on February 1, 2023.
Why is the Net Metering rate closed for new enrollments?
As an electric cooperative, we strive to create rates and programs with zero to minimum subsidization to be fair and equitable to the entire membership. Rather than leveraging rates and programs to benefit some over others, we aim to keep costs as low as possible for the entire membership. Unfortunately, our retired Net Metering policy had a great deal of subsidy, causing Members without rooftop solar to absorb higher costs.
With the continued growth of rooftop solar, utilities across the nation are trying to find the right balance between fairly compensating homeowners who sell solar energy back to the grid and not having those without solar shoulder more of the cost. CoServ is no different. We're hopeful that this new policy will meet the needs of our Members with solar while also being fair to those who don't.
Why do I still receive an Electric Bill?
After you have solar installed, you are still responsible for the monthly Customer Charge ($10) and DG Customer Charge ($10). The minimum bill you can receive after you have solar installed is $20/month.In efforts to take full advantage of our DG Net-Metering policy/rate, the solar installation should not produce more solar energy than the anticipated energy consumption of your structure during the Spring or Fall months when the weather is mildest, and your electricity consumption is lowest. This is because it does not make financial sense to over-size your solar installation, as CoServ does not reimburse you for over-production at the end of your billing cycle.If you have your solar installation sized properly, as described above, you will see your electric bill increase during the summer months because your electricity consumption is typically much higher in the summer months due to air conditioning load. You will still be displacing energy with solar, and you will still be getting the benefits of CoServ’s net metering policies during these hot summer months.
Understanding Your Net-Metered Electric Bill

To see a breakdown of the rate and how your bill is calculated, please visit our Distributed Generation (DG) Rate with Net Metering section on the Residential Rates page for more information.
How much electricity will a solar system produce?
Del: 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. This is the energy delivered to your home. The SCRF will be charged on all delivered (Del) kWh.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.
Net: This is the net total of energy that moved forward (DEL) and the energy that moved backward (Rec) on the meter. You are billed on this amount. CoServ’s current net-metering policy gives you full retail credit on all energy produced providing that your solar panels did not produce more energy than your house consumed at the end of the billing cycle. The PCRF will be charged on all Net kWh.
What is the distributed generation (DG) fee?
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 bi-directional 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 total energy that moved forward and the total energy that moved backward on the meter. You are billed the net of these two totals.
CoServ buys the excess solar power at full retail cost through net metering. However, the amount CoServ buys back during each billing cycle will not exceed the amount that your house consumed from the grid during that same billing cycle. CoServ encourages Members to size their systems, so it doesn't produce more than they consume during their lowest usage month.