Welcome to El Paso Electric Solar PV Pilot Program

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 and the City of El Paso have made available $1,150,000 in incentives for 2012 in support of customers who install solar PV systems meeting Program eligibility criteria for system interconnection and expected performance. The 2012 program will begin accepting new applications for funding at noon on November 1, 2011. The current incentive levels are:

  • $2.00 per DC watt for residential projects with a maximum incentive of $20,000
  • $1.75 per DC watt for non-residential projects with a maximum incentive of $87,500

Additional limits apply, please see the Program Guidebook for complete information. 

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.  THE LIST SHOWS SERVICE PROVIDERS THAT ARE REGISTERED AND IN GOOD STANDING WITH THE TEXAS PROGRAM AS OF THE DATE OF PUBLICATION, AND SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED, IN ANY WAY, TO BE AN ENDORSEMENT, RECOMMENDATION OR PROMOTION, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, OF ANY OF THE SERVICE PROVIDERS LISTED THEREON BY EL PASO ELECTRIC SOLAR PV PILOT PROGRAM OR THE PROGRAM MANAGER. 

(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.