Reliant Energy solar buyback plans
See electricity plans from Reliant Energy that credit you for the excess solar you send back to the grid in Oncor (Dallas area).
Reliant Energy Solar Buyback Overview
Reliant Energy currently offers 3 solar buyback plans in Texas across Oncor (Dallas) and CenterPoint (Houston) utility territories. Reliant Energy does not offer 1:1 buyback. Export credits use real-time wholesale (RTW) pricing tied to the ERCOT market, plus fixed-rate options. Fixed export credits are 6.3¢/kWh, with RTW plans at real-time market rates. Export credits can offset your energy charges, base fee, and TDU delivery charges. Plans are available in 12-month contracts with base fees from $9.99 to $29.95/month. Maximum solar system size is 50 kW. Unused credits can be cashed out upon plan cancellation.
PUCT License: #10007 • Official Reliant Energy website
What I tell solar customers asking about Reliant Energy
Reliant is one of the most recognized energy providers in Texas, owned by NRG. A lot of solar customers default to Reliant because that's who they had before solar, and switching feels like a hassle.
Reliant's solar plans aren't a bad product. Their credit can offset your base fee and your delivery charges (Oncor, CenterPoint, or whoever covers your address), so the structure works for most exporters. They also have an unusual feature: they pay out unused solar credits as cash when you cancel, where most retailers either zero them out or claw them back.
The cashout on cancel matters if you're planning to move or switch later. With most providers, banked credits disappear at the end. With Reliant, they show up on your final bill as a credit.
The honest tradeoff. Reliant's solar credit value tends to land in the middle of the pack. For a home exporting 800 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per month, plans on this page with a higher fixed credit (Meter's Earner-style plans) or a real-time wholesale credit during summer often come out ahead annually (compare current rates side by side in the table above).
If you've been with Reliant for years and you value not changing things, their solar plan is a fine landing spot. If you want me to model your bill against alternatives that pay more per kilowatt-hour, send me your last bill. I'll do the comparison and you decide.
Available solar plans
Truly Free Nights
Solar Payback Plus
Solar Payback Match
Reliant Energy uses real-time wholesale pricing
RTW export credits are tied to ERCOT spot prices, which can swing from $0.01/kWh to over $1/kWh. Your monthly credits will vary significantly based on market conditions — a sunny afternoon during a heatwave pays well, but mild spring days may pay very little.
What makes a good solar buyback plan?
The best plan matches your specific usage patterns. Look beyond the marketing and check:
Timing: When you export vs when you consume power
Credit method: 1:1 credits, fixed rate, or RTW—and any monthly caps
Gotchas: Base fees, credit expiration policies, and minimum usage charges
Most providers hide how their plans will perform with your specific usage—our analysis shows you the truth.
What customers are saying about Reliant Energy
Real reviews from Google
“I Have solar panels and my system produces more energy than I use and send energy back to the grid nearly every day and yet my electric bill continues to go up.”
“Got solar panels and was told any excess power would go to next months bill. LIE. My system produced 862 kilowatts and I used 359 kilowatts and what do I get. A 0 on my power bill. The Reliant Solar Payback plan just a totally scam, the customer service flat out told me that they don't do what they promised.”
“This company owes my for solar produced at my home, and has refused to pay me for it at their going rate. As of today they owe me $3,422.71. if you have solar on your house this is not the company to go with. They are full of lies, and i have all the proof needed now to take it to the next level.”