None. As of May 2026, no Texas retail electricity provider offers a true 1:1 solar buyback plan. The last 1:1 plan available in Texas was Meter's Match plan, which was retired on April 13, 2026 because wholesale midday electricity prices collapsed and the underlying economics no longer work for any retailer in the state.
The TXU caveat
TXU's "Solar Buyback Match" plan uses the word "Match" but isn't actually 1:1 in the way most homeowners interpret the phrase. It matches only the energy portion of the import rate. The all-in rate (what you pay per kWh used from the grid) is typically around 19.4¢/kWh while the export credit is significantly lower. The effective ratio is closer to 0.5:1.
What does "1:1 solar buyback" actually mean?
A true 1:1 solar buyback plan credits you the same per-kWh rate for energy you send to the grid as you pay for energy you take from the grid. If your retail rate is 14¢/kWh, every kWh exported earns 14¢ in credit. This is structurally equivalent to traditional net metering, which is still required by law in some other states (California historically, much of the Northeast).
The phrase is sometimes used loosely. Be careful with plans that advertise "matching" rates because they often match only one component of your bill (the energy charge) while excluding delivery charges, base fees, and margin from the credit side. The number that actually matters is the effective rate on your full bill at your actual usage pattern.
What every major Texas retailer offers in 2026
| Retailer | Best buyback plan | Structure | True 1:1? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meter | Earner | Fixed credit, locked for term | No |
| TXU | Solar Buyback Match | Energy portion match only | No |
| Reliant | Simple Solar Sell Back | Fixed credit, lower than import rate | No |
| Chariot Energy | GreenVolt (fixed) / Shine (RTW) | ~7¢/kWh fixed or wholesale-tied | No |
| Green Mountain | Renewable Reward | Fixed credit, capped | No |
| Gexa Energy | Gexa Solar Buyback | Fixed credit, lower than import rate | No |
| Champion Energy | Champion Solar (RTW) | Wholesale-tied with monthly settlement | No |
| Tesla Electric | Dynamic Buyback | Wholesale-tied (Tesla battery only) | No |
This list is current as of May 14, 2026. Plan availability and structure can change. See the regulator-filed Electricity Facts Label (EFL) for each plan for the authoritative current terms.
Why did 1:1 plans disappear from Texas?
ERCOT-connected utility-scale solar capacity grew from roughly 8 GW in 2020 to over 30 GW by mid-2026. On sunny midday hours, that's enough generation to meet a large share of statewide demand, which drives wholesale prices at the LZ_NORTH and LZ_HOUSTON settlement points below 2¢/kWh and occasionally negative. Your rooftop solar exports are sold into that same market at the same prices.
A retailer offering 1:1 buyback at a 16¢/kWh retail rate has to either resell those exports at 16¢/kWh (impossible when wholesale is 2¢) or eat the 14¢/kWh gap themselves. No retailer can subsidize that gap profitably. So every retailer in Texas, eventually, retired their 1:1 plan. Meter held on the longest because we ran the math thinner on commission than larger competitors, but the math finally broke in April 2026.
What should I look for in a Texas solar plan now?
1. Effective rate, not headline credit rate
A plan with a 10¢/kWh credit and a $30/month base fee can cost more than a plan with a 6¢/kWh credit and no base fee, depending on your usage. Always compare the total annual bill estimate at your actual usage, not the credit rate alone.
2. Plan structure that matches your export ratio
If you export at least 60% of what you use (large solar system, low daytime occupancy), prioritize plans with the highest locked solar credit. If you self-consume most of your solar (right-sized system, battery, work-from-home), prioritize plans with no monthly base fee and a low import rate. Choosing the wrong structure for your profile can cost $300-1,000 per year.
3. Term length aligned with your plans
If you find a good rate, lock it for 24-36 months. Texas law requires retailers to waive cancellation fees if you move to a location they don't serve, so moving isn't a risk. Only pick short terms if you're planning to add a battery soon (which would change which plan structure fits you best).
4. VPP eligibility if you have a battery
On Meter plans, eligible Tesla and SolarEdge batteries earn $2/kWh per month in VPP credits ($27/month for a single Powerwall). That credit often exceeds the difference between any two retailers' headline buyback rates and is the highest-leverage variable for battery-owning solar homes.
Sources
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