Energy Backup homeowners in Texas retail choice areas enroll in Grid+ the same way solar homeowners do, and earn battery credits of $4 per kWh of usable capacity per month on their backup battery.
For when to sell it, termination fees, plan terms and enrollment steps, see Texas: Grid+ Plan
Homeowners see their own estimate before they enroll; sales reps should lead with the same four points shown on screen.
Value | What it means for the homeowner |
Estimated annual credits | Credits for exported solar. Homeowners with an eligible battery also receive battery credits of $4/kWh of usable capacity per month. The estimate is personalized to the homeowner's system and shown in the web portal. |
Fixed rate | The homeowner's rate is determined at enrollment and fixed for the 12-month term. |
Outage backup | Homeowners with a battery will still have backup power during outages. The web portal shows the estimated hours of backup. |
15% off until activation | 15% off grid energy charges from enrollment until the solar system is activated (PTO). |
Grid+ also keeps home energy simple:
One home.palmetto.com account for solar, grid power and support (Customers will still have two bills, one from solar and one from grid power).
No hardware/installation/service visit, power arrives over the same wires already in place.
Light Energy handles the switch, homeowner pays old provider's final bill and nothing else, the homeowner pays the old providers final bill and nothing else.
Grid energy matched with 100% renewable Texas wind and solar.
When to Raise It
Sales reps should raise Grid+ at three points in the sale:
Moment | What to do | What the homeowner should know |
Point of sale | Raise it with other setup steps; ask about existing utility contract | Grid+ pays for exported solar/battery, billed as separate monthly bill/credit; current provider may charge a switch fee. See Early termination fees. |
Portal Set Up | Walk homeowner through Set up your grid plan. Their plan and estimate are already selected for their system. | Plan screen shows estimated annual credits; grid energy charges are 15% off from enrollment until activation |
Before Activation | If homeowner opted out, offer Grid+ again before the system is activated. | They can still enroll from web portal; enrolling before activation adds 15% off grid energy charges until then |
Early Termination Fees
Many Texas homeowners have a fixed-rate contract with their current provider that may charge a fee to switch early
Sales reps should raise it at point of sale so it's never a surprise, and show how quickly battery credits cover it
Steps:
Check the fee: Homeowners on a fixed-rate contract may owe a fee to switch. Amount is on their Electricity Facts Label. No fee if on month-to-month or in the last 14 days of a fixed-rate plan.
Compare it with the credits: Use the example below. At $4/kWh a month, battery credits typically cover a termination fee within a few months.
Example: battery credits against a $150 termination fee:
| 10 kWh battery | 13.5 kWh battery (Tesla Powerwall 3) |
Battery credits per month | $40 | $54 |
Battery credits, first 12 months | $480 | $648 |
Months of credits to cover a $150 fee | About 4 | About 3 |
The Plan
Homeowners see one plan: the Palmetto Grid+ Clean Energy Buyback Plan, selected by Light for their system based on expected usage and exports. Homeowners with an eligible battery also receive battery credits.
How enrollment works:
Homeowner signs in to home.palmetto.com or the Palmetto app
Under Action Needed, they select Set up your grid plan
They review their plan and estimated annual credits, confirm details, and enroll
Light switches their provider in the background with no interruption to service
Who is eligible | LightReach solar and Energy Backup homeowners in Texas retail choice areas |
Service areas | Oncor, CenterPoint, AEP North, AEP Central, TNMP and Lubbock Power & Light. See Active Utilities. |
Not available | Municipal utilities and cooperatives without retail choice, such as Austin Energy |
Battery credits | Enphase, SolarEdge and Tesla batteries on the LightReach AVL |
FAQ
| Question | Answer |
1 | Can homeowners enroll before their system is active? | Yes, and they should. The 15% discount runs from enrollment until activation, and their plan is ready when the system turns on. |
2 | Do homeowners have to enroll? | No. Texas retail choice homeowners enroll or opt out in their portal. Homeowners who opt out keep their current provider or choose another, and can enroll later from the web portal. Other providers cannot use the LightReach battery to support the grid, so they cannot pay battery credits. |
3 | Is Grid+ billed with the LightReach payment? | No. Grid+ is a separate monthly electricity bill. |
4 | Does Palmetto control the battery? | Palmetto uses the battery to support the grid during peak demand. The battery stays available for backup power during outages. |
5 | What happens after 12 months? | Palmetto offers a renewal before the term ends. If the homeowner takes no action, the plan continues month to month, which is standard in Texas. |