Tesla Powerwall customers in Texas can now sell their electricity back to the grid

The plan to operate as a giant distributed utility is moving closer to reality.

The Powerwall home battery owners were invited to sell electricity back to the grid at peak times in order to mitigate brown outs. Next, the effort will be coming to Texas with a twist.

In parts of Texas where retail choice is available, such as Houston and Dallas, the company has announced a new electric plan called theTesla Electric. The product allows Powerwall owners to sell some of their excess electricity back to the grid in the Lone Star State if they so choose, as long as they choose to do so withTesla.

You will see a banner on your Powerwall home page if you have a home in a deregulated area of Texas.

GM, which is working with solar seller SunPower, and Toyota, which is teaming up with a utility in Texas, are allying with the idea of growing beyond automaking.

There have been some highs and lows this year. In July, the company said its solar business had its best quarter in a long time. According to a report from Electrek, the company recently canceled some of its solar reservations and laid off workers.