it's Official (an FYI)
 

so i'm told.....
the law was passed in mass...allowing you
to sell your surplus electricity back to the power company that
you create yourself using solar energy

Not sure what is new, I've been doing Net:Net for over 3 years now: go Solar! I also get 6 cents KWH based on total production for Green Credits (called REC).

I thought they always did that
with wind power also

hmmm
 

i'll have to PUMP the ole lady for that intell ???? as she was the one to mention it to me

net net?

My monthly electric bill reflects the "net total of my usage pulled from the grid minus my net total energy sent back into the grid". NGrid doesn't know my total KWH produced only what I used from them in a given month. This is the saying that the meter spins backwards.

I do a monthly report for the REC production: total KWH * 6 cents. Payments made quarterly.

oh yeah
 

spin the meter backwards !!!

yep ya turn it upside down is all :rotf2:

Got my letter today explaining the new pay out. It only applies to customers that generate more green electricity than they use from NGrid sources on a monthly basis (monthly meter reads). I never generate more electricity in a month than what I use so I am a net consumer of NGrid electrons not a net producer of solar electrons.

it figures
 

that there'd be a little green CATCH to it :doh:

Beside selling your energy back to the company you can also sell REC credits ( Renewable Energy Certificates - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ). For the last 3 years I've been getting 6 cents per KWH. The new rate 3 cents! I'm looking for a better offer than from MA Energy or not selling at all (maybe $15-25 per quarter at that rate).

Way to stimulate going GREEN!

PRB, if you have room and the needed criteria to install solar, how long out
do you need to own your home to make it worthwhile for the investment?

I'd go with at least 8-10 yrs. That assumes a hefty increase in valuation of the home price due to the solar PV array. For my installation I was out-of-pocket over $18K. The attached Table shows calculated payback using only energy cost savings (at various KWH cost to you from electric co and REC (@$0.06KWH)). The red line is my actual. No depreciation or increase in house value included.

PRB,
How many KW is your array? I've been thinking about putting a small array for a while now...
Thanks,
Mike

3.45KW

Thanks PRB, I was under the impression it was more like 15-20 years.
Nice looking unit you have there. :btu:

Too bad we get most of our electricity from coal - I think if it was oil we'd see huge subsidies.

What happens when it is time to reshingle the roof ? Are these panels easily removable, or is it a real PIA ?

PIA. The panels do come off the mounting tracks easily but to properly install a new roof the entire tracks should be removed, too. In essence you have to remove and re-install the whole system. Once installed the panels do tend to protect the roof area underneath.

I had just put on new 40yr shingles several years prior.

My 8-10yrs was based on a minimum of $10K increase in re-sale value of the home.

2nd option is to install the photovoltaic shingles in the first place

Solar Shingles | Solar Times

There are a lot more options maturing today than 3-5 years ago. Take the time to research the + and - of each system. Here's a quick link:

Solar Shingles | Home Technology | This Old House - 1


I just happen to use grosolar.com out of White River Jcn, VT