Sunprint
The short answer
NBU nets the solar power you make against the power you use each month and bills you for the difference. When your panels make more than you use, the extra becomes a kWh-for-kWh credit carried to your next bill, so in practice every kWh you make offsets a kWh you'd otherwise buy. NBU also pays a rebate of up to $3,000, and charges solar homes a monthly fee for each kW of system size.
The two rebate tiers
NBU's rebate depends on which way your panels face (their azimuth, in degrees clockwise from north) and how steeply they're tilted. A due-south roof, the usual best choice for yearly output, only reaches Tier I. The bigger Tier II rebate goes to arrays facing south-southwest through west-northwest, which make more of their power in the afternoon.
Tier II is the best part of Tier I's range. Roofs facing 45° to 200° or 290° to 315° get Tier I; due south (the dotted line) is Tier I.
The watts NBU pays on are the lower of two numbers: the panels' PTC rating (a real-world rating below the nameplate) times the number of panels, or the inverters' total power rating. At 50 cents a watt, a Tier II system with 6,000 of those watts reaches the $3,000 cap. Tier I reaches its $1,000 cap at 4,000 watts. Each array is figured on its own.
How NBU bills a solar home
NBU's meter doesn't run backwards. A solar home gets two meters, and NBU's solar FAQ gives the bill as a simple subtraction:
NBU says it will reach out to customers if this billing practice changes. Two charges don't net away. The Electric Service Availability Charge was $24.97 a month on NBU's September 2026 rate breakdown. The Delivery Point Charge, listed in NBU's solar FAQ at $1.58 per kW of system size a month, is billed to solar homes only. That FAQ is dated January 2024 and lists the availability charge at $20.00, which has since gone up, so confirm the current per-kW figure with NBU.
NBU's FAQ puts a 1 kW system at about 100 to 120 kWh a month and says a home using 1,200 kWh a month may need 10 to 12 kW to cover it. A 10 kW system that does would still leave $24.97 plus 10 × $1.58, about $41 a month, before water or other services.
With a battery and a smart switch, NBU accepts a single meter for as long as the switch is in use.
Savings and payback
Here's what our calculator works out for an average month at each bill size, using NBU's 12-month average per-kWh charge (10.62¢), its $24.97 charge, full monthly netting with kWh carryover, the per-kW solar charge and NREL's sun data for the San Antonio area:
| Average monthly bill | Yearly use (kWh) | System to cover 75% to 95% | NBU solar charge a year | Yearly savings after it | Payback | Payback with Tier II rebate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $100 | 8,478 | 4.4 to 5.6 kW | $95 | $591 to $749 | 19 to 21 years | 16 to 19 years |
| $150 | 14,128 | 7.4 to 9.4 kW | $159 | $985 to $1,248 | 19 to 21 years | 17 to 19 years |
| $200 | 19,777 | 10.4 to 13.1 kW | $223 | $1,379 to $1,746 | 19 to 21 years | 17 to 20 years |
| $250 | 25,427 | 13.3 to 16.9 kW | $286 | $1,773 to $2,245 | 19 to 21 years | 18 to 20 years |
| $300 | 31,077 | 16.3 to 20.6 kW | $350 | $2,166 to $2,744 | 19 to 21 years | 18 to 20 years |
Payback assumes $3.00 to $3.50 a watt for a system covering 85% of use, rates rising 3% a year (capped; NBU's average price rose faster than that over the last five years in federal EIA data) and panels losing 0.5% a year. The rebate column takes the most Tier II could pay: 50 cents a watt on the full system, which is $2,500 for the $100 row and the $3,000 cap for the rest. NBU figures it on PTC or inverter watts, which are lower. No federal credit: it ended for home systems finished after 2025.
The per-kW charge is why payback barely changes with system size: a bigger system saves more, but it also pays more each month. Before the charge, a $150 bill's system would save about $1,275 a year. After it, about $1,116.
Getting the rebate
- STEP 1Take the courseNBU's Solar Education Course comes before the rebate application.
- STEP 2Pick a contractorIt has to be on NBU's Participating Solar Contractor list and named on your contract.
- STEP 3Permit and connectA city permit, then interconnection under NBU's Electrical Connection Policy, at your cost.
- STEP 4Final inspectionNBU inspects the system and approves the paperwork your contractor sends.
- STEP 5Bill creditThe rebate lands on your NBU electric bill within one to two billing cycles.
Two protections are built into the order. After NBU confirms you signed off on the education course, a participating contractor has to release you from your contract on request, without penalty, for 10 calendar days. And the contractor has to show you a production estimate that includes the losses from your roof's direction, tilt and shade. NBU's own advice is to check references and get at least three quotes. Rebate money is first come, first served and isn't held for you while your system is being connected.
The rebate rules
- You own it. Leased systems don't qualify. The system has to be behind a residential meter on a permanent structure.
- At least 3 kW. The minimum is 3 kW DC (2.5 kW AC). NBU has no size cap for homes.
- Enough sun. The site has to get at least 75% of the full solar resource (its TSRF), after shade.
- New parts, 10-year warranties. Every component new, with at least 10 years of workmanship and equipment warranty. Framed panels need at least a 5° pitch.
- Once per address per year. No rebate if the address got one in the last 12 months, and none for adding panels to an existing system.
- Smart meter stays. Rebate customers can't opt out of NBU's smart meters.
NBU's guidelines say rebate levels can change without notice, and its FAQ says it can end the program at any time.
NBU's scam warnings
NBU lists three claims it says door-to-door and phone sellers use in its area:
What the seller says
- They work for NBU, represent NBU or are an NBU "preferred" company.
- Solar will take you off the grid, or you'll never get another bill.
- NBU will pay for your system or pay you back every month.
What NBU says
- NBU doesn't sell solar at all. Check its participating contractor list instead.
- Every NBU solar customer stays on the grid and gets an electric bill.
- NBU pays a rebate of up to $3,000 and credits the energy your panels make on your bill.
Our guides cover checking a Texas solar company and canceling a solar contract in Texas.
Your estimate in three steps
- Enter your billYour ZIP code, your utility and last month's bill.
- See your estimateA yearly savings range based on your utility's rates and the sun where you live.
- Choose what's nextAsk for a quote call if you want real pricing, or just keep the number.
See what solar could save you
It takes about a minute. You don't need a site visit, a commitment or a sales call to see your number.
Common questions
Does NBU have a solar rebate?
Yes. NBU pays up to $3,000 as a credit on your electric bill. Tier I pays 25 cents a watt up to $1,000 for panels facing 45 to 315 degrees at a tilt of 0 to 70 degrees. Tier II pays 50 cents a watt up to $3,000 for panels facing 200 to 290 degrees at a tilt of 15 to 60 degrees.
Does NBU have net metering?
NBU's meter doesn't roll backwards. A separate meter records your solar production, NBU subtracts it from your use and bills the difference. If you make more than you use in a month, the extra is applied as a 1:1 kWh credit and carried forward.
What does NBU charge solar customers?
NBU's solar FAQ lists a monthly Delivery Point Charge of $1.58 per kW of system size, on top of the Electric Service Availability Charge every customer pays ($24.97 on NBU's September 2026 rate breakdown).
Which way should solar panels face for the NBU rebate?
For the full Tier II rebate, between 200 and 290 degrees (south-southwest to west-northwest) at a tilt of 15 to 60 degrees. Panels facing due south qualify for Tier I. Panels facing between 315 and 45 degrees get no rebate.
Can I use any solar company in New Braunfels?
You can, but only systems contracted and permitted by a company on NBU's Participating Solar Contractor list qualify for the rebate.
Can I get the NBU rebate on a leased system?
No. NBU's guidelines say the customer must own the system and leased systems are not eligible.
How long does solar take to pay back on NBU?
In our estimate, 19 to 21 years at $3.00 to $3.50 a watt for a system covering 85% of a home's use, or 16 to 20 years with the most the Tier II rebate could pay.
Related guides
- Solar for GVEC members
- Solar for CPS Energy customers
- Texas solar buyback plans
- Texas solar incentives
- How much solar panels cost in Texas
- How many solar panels you need in Texas
Savings are our calculator's estimate, not NBU's. NBU's rebate and charges change; check its current guidelines and rates before you sign. Sources: New Braunfels Utilities: solar energy · NBU: residential solar rebate application and guidelines (PDF) · NBU: frequently asked questions about solar energy (PDF) · NBU: electric rate breakdown · U.S. EIA: utility sales and revenue data · NREL PVWatts. Reviewed October 2026.
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