Consumers Must Weigh Costs vs. Benefits of Arrays
9% of Coosa Valley Electric Cooperative (CVEC) members have considered installing a home solar energy system, a recent survey revealed.
As interest grows in this “green,” or renewable, energy source, CVEC wants to help members make the right decision about solar energy for their households. Members should evaluate several factors when considering installing solar panels, including project goals, cooperative policies, project costs, and the characteristics of their homes.
Determining the Best Path
Members may have several reasons to want a solar panel installation at their residence.
Some may be environmentally conscious and want to provide another low-carbon way to generate power. Some may hope to reduce, or even eliminate, their power bills — and some may even wish to sell electricity back to CVEC.
Those who fall into the latter categories must consider these factors:
- The cost of the solar panel installation and any financing needed.
- Their home and property characteristics. For instance, rooftop assemblies with south-facing roofs and no surrounding shade generate the most electricity. The age and condition of roofs could require the installation of extra support or an outright replacement, though.
- Any connections to the larger electric grid. If members wish to remain connected to CVEC’s grid, CVEC’s engineering team must study the project’s effects on the grid. If upgrades to cooperative equipment, like transformers, are needed, those costs must be passed along to the member.
- Other costs. If members desire to have CVEC power “back up” their solar energy system, CVEC will charge a capacity reservation fee of $5 for each kilowatt (kW) the system can generate. This fee helps ensure CVEC has enough power available to deliver to every member continuously, especially in high-demand times. CVEC will also collect a distribution access charge that is standard on all residential bills.
- The paperwork. If members wish to sell any excess power to CVEC, they must complete an interconnection agreement and a purchase of power agreement.
Resources to Help
While the considerations can be daunting, CVEC offers some resources that can help members make the best decision for them.
- A solar calculator located in the Energy Services menu at coosavalleyec.com can help members verify the cost savings a solar energy system could generate monthly. Then the calculator compares that to the average national costs of various-sized systems, creating an estimated timeframe in which each system would pay for itself.
- Energy services representative Lucas Browning can discuss each member’s goals with them and provide advice to the member if so desired. Email Lucas Browning.
Be Vigilant
In August, the U.S. Treasury Department issued an advisory noting it had received several complaints about solar energy company scams.
CVEC encourages all members to fully evaluate any solar energy system installer’s claims regarding its processes, potential energy bill savings and its connections to CVEC.
CVEC does not have a preferred solar energy services contractor.