systems. Detached structures, garages, cov- ered patios, trellises, and ground mounts are a few other installation options.
Q. Will I ever have to pay another electric rate increase if I buy this system?
A. If you opt to purchase a solar electric system that covers your entire electricity usage, you won’t ever have to pay for power again. Investing in a solar electric power system is like buying insurance against future rate hikes; you’ll never get another electric rate increase for the next 30 years and you become your own power company. You’ve bought the PV system, now the fuel (sun- shine) is free!
Q. How do I get credit from the utility com- pany for solar electricity I produce?
A. With a grid-tied solar electric system you still have your line-coming-in from the util- ity, just like before, only now you also have a line-out to send your extra electricity back to the utility grid. The Net-Metering law (in place in several states), requires the local utility company to credit you for the amount of solar electricity your system produces and feeds into the grid. The utility meter measures the differ- ence between the electricity you buy from the utility and the electricity you generate with your solar electric system. When you are making more electricity than you are us- ing, your extra electricity automatically gets metered back out (sold) to the utility grid. You receive credit for this power at the same rate they sell it to you. Net Metering allows you to use the electric utility grid like a bank
account. You can put electricity into it that you don’t use immediately and you can withdraw the same amount later on at no net cost to you. The Net-Metering billing system is a 12-month billing cycle. Because you make more in the summer, and less in the win- ter, they allow you to credit your summer months into your winter months. Generally the utility will NOT write you a check, net- metering requires the utilities to credit you for up to the amount that you use. The idea is to get a system that just meets your needs and avoid paying any electric bill at all. A number of factors will determine
your eventual costs and savings, from the future price of electricity to how long your system operates. Connecticut residents pay an average of 20 cents per kilowatt-hour for electricity from utilities. Combining the Con- necticut rebate and net metering with federal tax incentives and tax-deductible low- interest financing could mean cost savings over the life of your PV system, especially if electricity prices keep climbing. Consult a tax advisor regarding potential tax savings.
Why Go Solar?
Solar Photovoltaic Systems: • are reliable, pollution-free, and use a renewable source of energy. • help preserve the Earth’s finite fossil fuel resources and reduce air pollution.
• allow owners to add an energy-producing improvement to their property and over time to recover the cost of the system through reduced electric bills. • make owners less vulnerable to future increases in the price of electricity.
Solar Photovoltaic System Costs The average cost of a residential solar
photovoltaic system in Connecticut is $6 to $8 per installed watt. The average system size installed under Connecticut Clean En- ergy Fund (CCEF) rebate program is 7.2 kW and costs between $43,200 and $57,600 with an estimated payback of 8 to 12 years. The CCEF rebate amount will depend on the design efficiency of your system. The rebate generally pays for about 20 percent of the installation cost.
Estimated price per kW is based on the
actual average price per kW installed under the CCEF Solar PV Rebate Program in calen- dar year 2010. Actual price per installation can vary due to installation conditions and other factors.
In addition to the CCEF rebate, a hom-
eowner may claim a 30% federal tax credit for qualified expenditures for the installation of their solar PV system.
Submitted by Emil Thomen of Harness the Sun. Information at
www.harnessdelsol.com or call 877-786-9798. For more information about state and federal incentives visit www.dsireusa. org. See ad on page 16.
18 Natural Nutmeg March 2012
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