Frequently Asked Questions

Have questions, or just looking for more details? Find answers below.

What Is El Paso Electric’s Community Solar Program?

Answer: El Paso Electric’s (EPE) Community Solar Program is a voluntary program where customers can choose to receive a portion of their power from one of EPE’s large scale solar facilities located in El Paso. This voluntary program allows customers to receive the benefits of solar energy without upfront costs, maintenance costs, or the hassle of installing a solar system on their home or business. There is no need to buy any special equipment or install any panels on your roof.

Where does the energy come from?

Answer: The energy comes from two large-scale solar facilities in Far East and Northeast El Paso.

How large are the solar facilities?

Answer: EPE currently has 5 megawatts (MWs) of solar capacity for the program which supplies enough energy to power approximately 2,400 homes.

How does the solar energy I subscribe to get to my home or business?

Answer: The energy provided by the Community Solar facilities is supplied to homes and businesses by the same wires and poles that make up EPE’s electric grid. By participating in the program, you are supporting the development of renewable energy resources and moving El Paso toward a green, clean, renewable energy future.

Do I own a part of the Community Solar facilities? Will there be maintenance costs?

Answer: No, the solar facilities are owned, operated and maintained by El Paso Electric. All associated maintenance costs are included in the Capacity Charge.

How do I subscribe to the Community Solar Program?

Answer: Click here to begin the application process. Once your application has been submitted, you will begin receiving emails regarding updates to the program’s status.

Is there a limit to the amount of solar energy that I can sign up for?

Answer: Yes. Please use our Solar Calculator to estimate how much solar is right for your home or business.

What if the program is fully subscribed?

Answer: Your subscription request will be placed on the waiting list. Once space becomes available, you will be contacted by EPE. Please note that you must reply within 7 business days after being contacted by EPE. If you do not reply within this timeframe, your subscription request will be cancelled.

I have been on the waiting list for some time now, when will my subscription be accepted in the program?

Answer: EPE’s 3 megawatts (MWs) program has been fully subscribed since April 2017. In June 2019, EPE received approval to expand the program with an additional 2 MWs which will allow approximately 1,000 waiting list customers to be added to the program. You will be notified by El Paso Electric once additional solar capacity is available.

Will the solar cost change as a result of program expansion?

Answer: Yes. As a result of program expansion, the capacity charge will be reduced by 15% from $20.96 to $17.64 and will be the same for all program subscribers.

When will my bill reflect Community Solar service?

Answer: Upon acceptance to the program, the next cycle of your electric bill will reflect Community Solar service.

What happens if it is cloudy or at night? Will I have power in my home?

Answer: Solar facilities do not produce energy at night and have lower energy output during cloudy days. As your energy service provider, EPE will continue ensuring that all of your energy needs are met using conventional power generation resources during those times.

Why is solar energy production lower during winter months?

Answer: It is important to know that solar production changes with the seasons. During the winter, the sun sits at a lower angle and the days are shorter – this lowers the amount of sunlight that reaches the solar panels, which in turn, reduces solar production. In the summer, the sun sits at a higher angle in the sky and the days are longer, providing more sunlight and increasing solar production.

Can I transfer or donate my subscription to another person?

Answer: No. Your subscription cannot be transferred to a different customer.

If I move to a different address, will I be able to remain on the program?

Answer: Yes. Your Community Solar service is portable as long as you maintain service with EPE in our Texas service territory. Please call Customer Service at
(915) 543-5970 and we’ll take care of the rest.

What will my bill look like with Community Solar Service? (based on avg. 2kW subscription)

Answer: View the sample bills for Summer and Winter months.

Can I participate in the Community Solar program if I am on the Budget Billing plan?

Answer: Yes, you can participate in the Budget Billing Plan and the Community Solar program at the same time. However, please keep in mind that once you subscribe to community solar, your total bill will slightly vary every month. Your bill charges will be fixed and predictable while your solar credits will vary month-to-month. Your solar credits will vary because they are based on the energy produced by solar panels and that amount will vary every month due to changes in the weather.

Can I increase/decrease my Community Solar subscription?

Answer: Yes you can. To change your capacity, please click here or you may fill out a capacity change form and email us a copy. Community Solar capacity change requests will be processed within 7 business days after the date of your request and will be subject to the program's available capacity. You will be notified via email or by phone when your capacity has been changed.

Can I cancel my Community Solar subscription?

Answer: You may cancel your subscription any time after one year with the program. If you choose to cancel prior to a year, you will have a limited ability to return to the program at a later date. If you decide to re-apply and the program is fully subscribed, you will be placed on the waiting list until space is available.

To cancel your subscription, please click here or you may fill out a cancellation form and email us a copy. You can also cancel your subscription by calling Customer Service at (915) 543-5970. Community Solar service cancellation requests will be processed within 3 business days after the date of your request. You will be notified via email or by phone when your subscription has been cancelled.

What is the difference between kW vs. kWh?

Answer: We use kW as a unit of measure to describe the size of a solar facility. Your subscription will be a portion of that. A facility’s energy production is measured in kWh. For example, the energy output of a 1kW block at one of our solar facilities will vary throughout the year between 160-300 kWh.

Will I pay more for Community Solar service?

Answer: Initially, yes. You will pay a slightly higher price for participating in the program. However, you may benefit over time because the Capacity Charge you pay for your portion of the energy produced will never increase and may even go down; while the solar credits you receive may continue to go up. You will be protecting yourself from future increases in fuel and utility rates.

Who do I contact if I have additional questions?

Answer: You may contact us via email at communitysolar@epelectric.com or by calling Customer Service at (915) 543-5970.