I received a letter from BTU today saying they were changing from net metering (we have significant investment in solar generation at our home) to consumption billing (retail rates) and generation credit (tied strictly to the Power Cost Recovery Charge (PCRC) component of the electric rate), and this change started on June 1. Not even a heads up. I'm guessing I have no recourse. Any thoughts?

Well bummer, there goes my biggest argument for pushing CSU to step up and offer net-metering. I did a lot of research into this last year and net-metering is disappearing nation-wide, it's an ongoing trend. I was surprised that BTU was still doing it to be honest.

Did they simply update the signed generation agreement and send you a notice? Curious if this constituted a contract.

FWIW CSU is currently:
Sell to consumer: $0.1356
Buy back: $0.0568

(buy-back top of page 48) https://opendoc.cstx.gov/WeblinkPublic/DocView.aspx?id=6577851&dbid=0&repo=DOCUMENT-SERVER&cr=1

Edit: It looks like Bryan City Council approved the removal of net-metering (rather, approved new rate schedules including Distributed Generation Systems) back in May:

Quote:

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These terms and conditions supersede all prior agreements, representations, or understandings related to Distributed Generation Interconnection Agreement.

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https://wtaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/BryCoun050526BTUbkgd.pdf
https://wtaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/BryCoun050526btuOrd.pdf

harrierdoc said:

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I received a letter from BTU today saying they were changing from net metering (we have significant investment in solar generation at our home) to consumption billing (retail rates) and generation credit (tied strictly to the Power Cost Recovery Charge (PCRC) component of the electric rate), and this change started on June 1. Not even a heads up. I'm guessing I have no recourse. Any thoughts?

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I'm not deep into solar lingo.

Does this mean they bill you one rate (which is higher) when you use BTU electricity in excess of what your solar can produce AND then when you are producing more than you use (and feed back into the grid), you are paid a lower rate?

Maybe I misread it, but it seemed to me like they charged you retail for whatever you used regardless of the source and paid you wholesale on what you produced regardless of if you were using it or not.

That would have made solar a no-go for me when I bought it.

plant science guy said:

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Maybe I misread it, but it seemed to me like they charged you retail for whatever you used regardless of the source and paid you wholesale on what you produced regardless of if you were using it or not.

That would have made solar a no-go for me when I bought it.

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no, at first, they just took the difference between what we used and produced, and either charged us retail for any extra we consumed, or paid us wholesale for any extra production we had. This is different.

I am really pissed about this, had no idea it was going away and just completed a large solar install that factored this into the ROI.

It's frustrating.

A policy-proof approach would be using a battery with Self-Consumption mode enabled, so you use your own generated electricity first, only tapping into the grid when you run out, and selling off any surplus.

Stucco said:

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A policy-proof approach would be using a battery with Self-Consumption mode enabled, so you use your own generated electricity first, only tapping into the grid when you run out, and selling off any surplus.

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This was my plan all along. I guess that removes the grid-tie-only option from my options.

I don't have an easily accessible copy of my distributed generation contract, but their online copy of the old agreement, dated 10/2020 says the following:

Billing. a. BTU shall measure the electricity flow at one metering point, the billing meter. The billing meter shall measure the electricity consumed by Customer from BTU's electric system and the electricity delivered into BTU's electric system. The metering equipment shall be installed and owned by BTU, and BTU shall read the meter in accordance with its normal meter reading schedule and procedures. b. For each billing period, BTU shall compute a bill on the net electrical usage or output. If, for the billing period, electrical output into BTU's electric system exceeds Customer's electric usage such that Customer is a net producer of electricity, BTU shall credit the Customer for the net electrical output of the DG System at the then current Power Supply Adjustment (PSA) rate. If, for the billing period, Customer's electric usage exceeds the electrical output into BTU's electric system, such that Customer is a net purchaser of Page 4 of 7 Initials ______ AGREEMENT FOR INTERCONNECTION AND PARALLEL OPERATION OF COGENERATION OR SMALL POWER PRODUCTION INSTALLATION 50KW OR LESS electricity from BTU, Customer shall pay for such net electricity consumption at the appropriate BTU ordinance rate in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the BTU Electric Service Agreement. Any credit that accrues on the customer's account due to excess generation sold to the grid will remain on the account until the customer requests those funds be returned in the form of a check. The credit must be a minimum of $150 before a check will be issued, and the customer may request a check no more than twice in any 12 month period. If, upon termination of this Agreement, a credit balance exists on Customer's electric utility account, BTU shall pay Customer the amount of such credit balance within thirty (30) days after termination.

AND...

This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding between the parties hereto and can be amended only by agreement between the parties in writing. In the event any provision of this Agreement, or any part or portion thereof, shall be held to be invalid, void or otherwise unenforceable, such unenforceable provision shall have no effect on the remaining provisions of this Agreement. 16. The failure of either Party to insist upon strict performance of any provision of this Agreement, in any one or more instances, or to take advantage of any of its rights hereunder, shall not be construed as a waiver of any such provision or the relinquishment of any such right or any other right hereunder. 17. This Agreement and all disputes arising hereunder shall be governed by the laws of the State of Texas. Venue for all such disputes shall be proper and lie exclusively in Brazos County, Texas


I'm no lawyer, but if I don't agree to the change in contract terms, how can the back out of it if I've upheld my end of the agreement?

harrierdoc said:

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plant science guy said:

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Maybe I misread it, but it seemed to me like they charged you retail for whatever you used regardless of the source and paid you wholesale on what you produced regardless of if you were using it or not.

That would have made solar a no-go for me when I bought it.

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no, at first, they just took the difference between what we used and produced, and either charged us retail for any extra we consumed, or paid us wholesale for any extra production we had. This is different.

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Aren't these statements the same?

Rexter said:

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harrierdoc said:

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plant science guy said:

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Maybe I misread it, but it seemed to me like they charged you retail for whatever you used regardless of the source and paid you wholesale on what you produced regardless of if you were using it or not.

That would have made solar a no-go for me when I bought it.

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no, at first, they just took the difference between what we used and produced, and either charged us retail for any extra we consumed, or paid us wholesale for any extra production we had. This is different.

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Aren't these statements the same?

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No. Consider:

Produced 1000 kWh for month (inexcess of what was used by me) and returned to grid

Consumed 1000 kWh when I needed some.

Currently, I would receive no electric charge, and just pay a $12.00 fee (1000 - 1000 =0 net kWh used)

With new way, I'd be billed retail for 1000 kWh = about $115 and they would subtract the excess production at wholesale rate for the 1000 kWh = about $35. My bill would be $80+any fees.

harrierdoc said:

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I don't have an easily accessible copy of my distributed generation contract, but their online copy of the old agreement, dated 10/2020 says the following:

Billing. a. BTU shall measure the electricity flow at one metering point, the billing meter. The billing meter shall measure the electricity consumed by Customer from BTU's electric system and the electricity delivered into BTU's electric system. The metering equipment shall be installed and owned by BTU, and BTU shall read the meter in accordance with its normal meter reading schedule and procedures. b. For each billing period, BTU shall compute a bill on the net electrical usage or output. If, for the billing period, electrical output into BTU's electric system exceeds Customer's electric usage such that Customer is a net producer of electricity, BTU shall credit the Customer for the net electrical output of the DG System at the then current Power Supply Adjustment (PSA) rate. If, for the billing period, Customer's electric usage exceeds the electrical output into BTU's electric system, such that Customer is a net purchaser of Page 4 of 7 Initials ______ AGREEMENT FOR INTERCONNECTION AND PARALLEL OPERATION OF COGENERATION OR SMALL POWER PRODUCTION INSTALLATION 50KW OR LESS electricity from BTU, Customer shall pay for such net electricity consumption at the appropriate BTU ordinance rate in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the BTU Electric Service Agreement. Any credit that accrues on the customer's account due to excess generation sold to the grid will remain on the account until the customer requests those funds be returned in the form of a check. The credit must be a minimum of $150 before a check will be issued, and the customer may request a check no more than twice in any 12 month period. If, upon termination of this Agreement, a credit balance exists on Customer's electric utility account, BTU shall pay Customer the amount of such credit balance within thirty (30) days after termination.

AND...

This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding between the parties hereto and can be amended only by agreement between the parties in writing. In the event any provision of this Agreement, or any part or portion thereof, shall be held to be invalid, void or otherwise unenforceable, such unenforceable provision shall have no effect on the remaining provisions of this Agreement. 16. The failure of either Party to insist upon strict performance of any provision of this Agreement, in any one or more instances, or to take advantage of any of its rights hereunder, shall not be construed as a waiver of any such provision or the relinquishment of any such right or any other right hereunder. 17. This Agreement and all disputes arising hereunder shall be governed by the laws of the State of Texas. Venue for all such disputes shall be proper and lie exclusively in Brazos County, Texas


I'm no lawyer, but if I don't agree to the change in contract terms, how can the back out of it if I've upheld my end of the agreement?

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Not an attorney but what does it say about modifications, termination, notices, etc.

I thought the last part addressed that?

There may be terms in another document referenced elsewhere, etc.