Why "The Best Solar Plan" Doesn't Exist
Every week in Texas solar Facebook groups, someone asks: "What's the best solar buyback plan?" Dozens of neighbors chime in with their recommendations. Here's why following their advice could be your most expensive mistake:
Real Example: Two Neighbors, Same Street, Different Needs
House A: The Johnsons
- • Work from home (high daytime usage)
- • Pool runs during solar hours
- • Exports only 300 kWh/month
- • Best plan: Low import rate plan
- ✓ Annual savings: $1,200
House B: The Smiths
- • Gone 9-5 (low daytime usage)
- • No pool, minimal AC during day
- • Exports 900 kWh/month
- • Best plan: 1:1 buyback plan
- ✓ Annual savings: $1,800
If the Johnsons copied the Smiths' plan, they'd lose $600/year. If the Smiths copied the Johnsons' plan, they'd lose $1,000/year. Same street, same solar installer, completely different optimal plans.
Where NOT to Get Solar Plan Advice
❌ Facebook Groups & Nextdoor: That helpful neighbor recommending their plan? They might be empty nesters with a 12kW system while you have 3 kids and a 6kW system. Their "perfect" plan could double your bills.
❌ Your Solar Installer: Most installers recommend the same 1-2 plans to everyone—usually whatever they personally use or get commissions from. They're experts at panels, not electricity markets.
❌ Online "Best Solar Plans" Lists: Generic rankings can't account for YOUR export ratio, usage timing, or seasonal patterns. A plan ranked #1 for high exports might be terrible for low-export homes.
The $1,000+ Annual Mistake
After spending $15,000-30,000 on solar panels, many Texas homeowners still pay $200-300 monthly electricity bills. Why? They're on the wrong buyback plan—often one recommended by someone with completely different usage patterns.
Understanding Solar Buyback (In 30 Seconds)
Unlike traditional electricity plans, solar buyback plans have two rates:
- Import rate: What you pay when buying electricity from the grid (nights, cloudy days)
- Export rate: What you earn when selling excess solar power back to the grid
Texas doesn't have net metering (1:1 credit). Instead, we have 30+ retailers with different plans. The wrong choice easily costs $1,000+ annually.
The 3 Types of Solar Homes (Which Are You?)
Your ideal plan depends entirely on how much you export vs. import. Here are the three categories:
Type 1: The Power Producers (60%+ Export Ratio)
You're a Power Producer if:
- Large solar system (8kW+) or empty house during peak hours
- Export 600+ kWh for every 1,000 kWh imported
- Your solar app shows mostly green (excess production)
Your priority: Maximum export rates, ideally 1:1 plans where you earn what you pay.
Best Plans for Power Producers
 | Match 12 month term | Import: 15.8¢ per kWh Export: 15.8¢ per kWh Base Fee: $14.5 per month Cancel Fee: $150 |
Total Solar Buyback 12 month term | Import: 16.8¢ per kWh Export: 16.8¢ per kWh Base Fee: $14.95 per month Cancel Fee: $199 |
*Based on ONCOR utility area. Prices last updated Jun 27, 2025 (3 days ago)
Type 2: The Self-Consumers (Under 60% Export Ratio)
You're a Self-Consumer if:
- Modest solar system (4-7kW) or high daytime usage
- Export less than 600 kWh for every 1,000 kWh imported
- Run pool, work from home, or heavy AC during the day
Your priority: Low import rates matter more since you use most of your solar production.
Best Plans for Self-Consumers
 | Champ Saver 12 month term | Import: 9.1¢ per kWh Export: Real Time Base Fee: None Cancel Fee: $150 |
 | Sun Confidence 12 month term | Import: 8.8¢ per kWh Export: 3¢ per kWh Base Fee: $9.95 per month Cancel Fee: $150 |
*Based on ONCOR utility area. Prices last updated Jun 27, 2025 (3 days ago)
Type 3: The Night Owls (65%+ Night Usage)
You're a Night Owl if:
- Have batteries or shifted usage to nights
- 65%+ of grid imports happen 9pm-7am
- EV charging, pool timers set for overnight
Your priority: Free nights plans can slash your bills to near zero.
Best Plans for Night Owls
 | Nights Free 12 month term | Import: 32.8¢ per kWh Export: 3¢ per kWh Base Fee: $4.95 per month Cancel Fee: $175 |
 | Nights Free 12 month term | Import: 34.3¢ per kWh Export: 3¢ per kWh Base Fee: $4.95 per month Cancel Fee: $175 |
*Based on ONCOR utility area. Prices last updated Jun 27, 2025 (3 days ago)
How to Find YOUR Category (And Perfect Plan)
- Open your solar monitoring app
- Find last month's total kWh exported to grid
- Screenshot or write this number down
- Check your electricity bill
- Find last month's kWh usage (imported from grid)
- This is what you paid for, not what your panels produced
- Calculate your export ratio
- Divide exports by imports (e.g., 600 ÷ 1,000 = 60%)
- 60%+ = Power Producer, Under 60% = Self-Consumer
- Check night usage (optional)
- If you have batteries or time-shift usage, check if 65%+ happens at night
- Your utility can provide 15-minute data if needed
Want a Professional Analysis?
Skip the math. Get a personalized report showing your exact category and comparing all 30+ plans based on YOUR actual usage:
Get Your Custom Solar Plan Analysis →5 Costly Mistakes to Avoid
- Choosing based on export rate alone: A 12¢ export with 18¢ import can cost more than 8¢/8¢
- Ignoring contract length: Your needs change (new EV, batteries, kids move out)
- Missing the fine print: Some plans cap high export rates at 500 kWh/month
- Forgetting base charges: $10-15/month adds $120-180 annually
- Not planning for batteries: Adding batteries later drops exports dramatically
The Real Cost of Following Bad Advice
10-Year Impact of Wrong Plan Choice
That's nearly half the cost of your solar system—lost because you followed generic advice instead of analyzing your specific situation.
The Bottom Line
Stop searching Facebook groups. Stop asking neighbors. Stop looking for the mythical "best solar plan" that doesn't exist.
Instead, spend 10 minutes finding YOUR export ratio. That simple calculation could save you $20,000+ over the next decade.
Remember: The best plan for your home is the one that matches YOUR specific usage patterns—not your neighbor's, not your installer's, and definitely not what random strangers on the internet recommend.
