City of El Paso launches free solar program to help homeowners save money

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The City of El Paso launched a free program to help homeowners look into solar energy and possibly save on installation costs.

The program will provide guidance to help those who participate decide whether rooftop solar is right for their home.

Switch Together and the nonprofit Solar United Neighbors partnered with the city, according to a news release sent Wednesday. Switch Together is a group-buying model that secures competitive pricing from qualified solar installers, the city said.

The city said Switch Together does a reverse auction for qualified installers to compete to provide their most competitive pricing. Participants then choose a free recommendation outlining options and estimated costs. The city said some homeowners could qualify for additional solar incentives.

Registration is free, the city said. There's no obligation to accept or proceed with an installation.

The deadline to register is Oct. 14. If the program doesn't meet their needs, participants can drop out at any time.

You can register here.

Switch Together's recent auction secured an average discount of 23% and average savings of $6,748, according to the city. Beyond rooftop solar systems, homeowners can also look at options for home battery storage and electric vehicle chargers.

"Registering for Switch Together provides the opportunity to explore installing solar and achieve energy bill savings without any obligations to move forward with the installation," said Fernando Berjano, the senior climate program manager for the city. "If the personal recommendation does not make financial sense for their household, they may withdraw at any time."