Solar promoted for Texas Hill Country

Solar energy has become more popular in recent years partly due to an aggressive Austin rebate campaign. Now Pedernales Electric says there's a new option for Hill Country residents. It's not a rebate but it reduces out of pocket expenses.

Solar panels are becoming more popular in Texas and the rest of the country in recent years, shown by a 34 percent increase in solar industry sales between 2011 and 2012. Pedernales Electric says that trend is moving into their neighborhoods as more customers are asking for solar energy options.

"We wanted to find a way with the solar leasing program, where we could lower the upfront costs of entering it," said Anne Harvey of PEC electric. "Because that could sometimes be a barrier in entering it".

Pedernales says a leasing agreement with Houston-based NRG Solar Solutions will allow members to make a small down payment. They would have to agree to terms which include a 20-year lease and a credit check but would include turn-key installation and monitoring.

Prices would also vary on size of the  home and electric bill credits would vary depending on customer use and actual production from their solar panels.

"As they're generating power, their meter actually goes backwards," Harvey said. "Then if it isn't generating power, they're seamlessly able to get electricity from Pedernales Electric and then their meter goes forward."

Some PEC customers interviewed by KXAN didn't know about the new program.

"I find that it actually really be a good idea. We've talked about doing solar panels before," said West Williams of Cedar Park.  "I know the city of Austin has a program and I know that it would definitely benefit us to have something like that to offset utility."

Others thought solar panels would be great but still lots of unknowns.

"How much it would be and what would be the payback time?" said Ralph Lund of Cedar Park. "Then how much damage would it do to the roof if we needed to take the panels off? And who would pay for that?"