Welcome to El Paso Electric Solar PV Pilot Program

UPDATE 7/14/2010: EL PASO ELECTRIC AND THE CITY OF EL PASO WILL BE ADDING SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDS INTO THE EPE SOLAR PV PROGRAM. TO DATE, WE ARE ONLY AWARE OF THE DOLLAR AMOUNTS ADDED TO THE PROGRAM - $1.1 MILLION ADDITIONAL FOR 2010, AND $1.5 MILLION FOR 2011. OTHER DETAILS, INCLUDING REOPENING THE PROGRAM TO NEW APPLICATIONS, APPLICABLE INCENTIVE LEVELS, AND REFINED ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS, ARE CURRENTLY UNDER DEVELOPMENT. THIS PROGRAM IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING NEW APPLICATIONS.  WE WILL CONTINUE TO POST UPDATES HERE AND TO ALL REGISTERED SERVICE PROVIDERS AS PROGRAM DETAILS ARE AVAILABLE.  PLEASE CONTACT A SERVICE PROVIDER FOR DETAILS AND TO COORDINATE AN INCENTIVE REQUEST.

The El Paso Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Pilot Program is designed to help El Paso electric customers meet a portion of their energy needs with solar electric systems. The Program offers financial incentives that help offset the initial cost of installing a solar energy system. By installing solar on your home or business, you can generate a portion of your own electricity and help the environment.

Incentives Available

El Paso Electric is committing $141,300 in incentives in 2010 and another $141,300 in 2011 in support of customers that install solar PV systems meeting Program eligibility criteria for system interconnection and expected performance. 

The current incentive level is $2.50 per DC watt with a maximum incentive of $25,000 for any residential or non-residential installation. 

How to Participate

Customers must work with registered Service Providers who submit applications for incentive funds. Customers can find a current list of registered Service Providers here. 

(How can a customer tell whether they are eligible to receive the incentive? This and other information about solar energy can be found on our frequently asked questions (FAQ) page. For more information about the program customers may contact the Solar PV Program Manager directly.

Once the solar PV system is specified and agreed to between you and your Service Provider, the participation process is as follows:

  1. The Service Provider submits project pre-application materials to the Program Manager. The project pre-application contains information about:
    • The customer, 
    • Proposed installation site, 
    • Technical details of the proposed installation,
    • The requested incentive amount, and 
    • The entity who is requested to receive the incentive check (this is typically the Service Provider, but can also be the customer, or another entity).
  1. The Program Manager reviews the application to verify eligibility for an incentive, and, if approved, sends a letter to the Service Provider approving the project and the requested rebate amount. The turnaround time for approvals is typically about 2 weeks, but can take longer if applications are incomplete or if there are problems with what is proposed.
  2. Once approved, your Service Provider works with you to schedule the installation. The Service Provider obtains locally-required permits, completes construction, passes local inspections (if required) and informs the Program Manager when the job is complete. 
  3. The Program Manager may then schedule and conduct their own inspection of the completed system. If selected for inspection, we  aim to complete the inspection within two weeks of being informed by the Service Provider that the project is complete.
  4. Once the installation is completed and verified, the Program Manager requests incentive check processing from the Utilities. Within 6-8 weeks after passing the final inspection, the Program Manager mails the incentive check to the  Service Provider or customer.

Additional Information

Additional information for customers or prospective customers about solar energy, including information about estimating the technical and financial performance of a photovoltaic system for your home/building, and the availability of federal and state incentives, is available here.

Additional information of interest to Service Providers about the current program funding status and other detailed information about the program and participation process is also available.