APS Solar Buy Back Rate

The APS Solar Buy Back Rate is an important aspect of homeowners saving money with solar in APS territory. When a home with a solar panel system in APS territory produces extra energy that is not used immediately, the extra energy is sent to APS’s grid. Then, APS sells this energy to their other customers and credits the generating homeowner’s bill. Also, the rate at which APS credits homeowners for sending power to the grid is known as the “buy back rate” or “solar export rate”.

The buy back rate drops 10% every year on September 1st. Therefore, you should make sure to install your solar system now to lock in your buy back rate! When you install solar before September 1st, you lock in APS’s buyback rate for a period of 10 years.  Thus, Homeowners that go solar now will lock in higher APS buyback rates and will save more money with solar. In addition, homeowners that wait to install solar will save less money. This is because the buyback rate continues to drop every year.

For more information on the buy back rate, visit APS’ Website.

Lock in Your APS Solar Buy Back Rate

Customers that purchase their solar panel system before September 1st of each year will lock in the current buy back rate for a 10 year period. However, the customer must receive the permit for the solar system within 180 days of purchasing the system. Also, this requirement becomes 270 days if the delay is not the fault of the Customer or Customer’s installer. After the 10 year period, the APS Solar Buy Back Rate will be based on the purchase rate at that time. Also, the new buy back rate may change from year to year.

APS Solar Buy Back Rate Step Down Program

The APS Solar Buy Back Rate drops 10% every year on September 1st. As you can see in the table below, APS has dropped the buy back rate since 2017.

Requirements for Receiving APS Solar Buy Back Rate

The APS Solar Program has requirements to be eligible for the Buy Back Rate. The home solar panel system must meet the following conditions:

1. It must have solar photovoltaic panels;
2. It must be merged with the company’s energy distribution grid;
3. It must be on location, installed behind the power meter, and be appropriately size for the homeowner’s typical energy usage.

Other Considerations

If a customer increases the size of their solar panel system, they’ll be ineligible for the initial buy back rate they locked in for 10 years. Rather, their new credit will be based on the current buy back rate locked in for 10 years minus the number of years they received service under their previous buy back rate.

A Customer who moves into a home with a solar system that is currently locked into an APS Solar Buy Back Rate will continue service at the same rate and will inherit the locked-in period. If a Customer moves their solar system to a different home, they will no longer be eligible for the 10 year lock-in to the buy back rate; rather, their buy back rate will be based on the annual rate as it changes from year to year.