Dwelling and enterprise photo voltaic arrays proceed to achieve reputation in Clark County, however potential patrons ought to fastidiously think about their circumstances and choices earlier than signing on the dotted line with a contractor.
“Putting in photo voltaic makes numerous sense and could be a good funding, nevertheless it’s necessary that prospects think about a photo voltaic system inspection by Clark Public Utilities earlier than signing a contract with an installer,” stated Ashley King, Vitality Providers Program Coordinator at Clark Public Utilities. “We’re right here to assist our prospects make sensible investments in renewable power.”
The photo voltaic home, additionally referred to as distributed photo voltaic power methods within the trade, is a vital funding in a particular product. Typically, it may be tough for the common individual to really feel like they’ve an unbiased studying of their property’s potential when assembly with a salesman for the primary time. Clark Public Utilities recommends a comparatively easy three-step course of to find out if photo voltaic is best for you and the way to decide on the suitable contractor.
First step: Analysis — autodidact’s favourite. Many trade instruments supply clear and useful details about the photo voltaic technology potential of 1’s dwelling. Google gives the “Undertaking Sunroof” web site that makes use of Google Earth data to investigate your roof and decide what number of “solar hours” it receives in a mean 12 months. Additionally, the Nationwide Renewable Vitality Labs gives an internet device referred to as the “PVWatts Calculator” that estimates how a lot electrical energy your theoretical photo voltaic array can produce.
As a result of Clark County is situated on the prime of the globe, the solar is on our southern horizon a lot of the 12 months. Meaning photo voltaic panels ought to solely be put in on south-facing exposures of a roof or property. Panels positioned dealing with west are the second finest design possibility, and panels dealing with east or north aren’t advisable. Blocking timber south of your roof line has the potential to negatively influence photo voltaic technology.
“Regardless of our comparatively excessive latitude, Clark County is a superb place for photo voltaic manufacturing, a particularly standard renewable useful resource,” stated Vitality Assets Program Supervisor Matt Babbitts. “By the top of 2022 there will likely be roughly 17.5 megawatts value of customer-owned photo voltaic manufacturing capability in Clark County.”
Second step: Go for bids. Clark Public Utilities encourages all prospects to acquire at the very least three bids from photo voltaic installers listed on the Clark Public Utilities Contractor Community. A aggressive photo voltaic system value ought to be between $2.50 to $4 per watt.
However do not let value alone dictate your alternative; popularity can also be necessary. Search on-line for buyer opinions and even complaints to the Higher Enterprise Bureau, or regulatory businesses. Clark Public Utilities doesn’t promote photo voltaic methods; any installers claiming to be utility workers ought to be requested to go away your house. Please report these contractors to Clark Public Utilities by calling 360-992-3000.
Step three: After you have your contractor bids, use the Photo voltaic Payback Calculator by way of the MyAccount areas of clarkpublicutilities.com or the photo voltaic web page on the primary web site to estimate your annual photo voltaic electrical energy technology and a possible that return on funding.
Clark Public Utilities gives internet metering for purchasers with photo voltaic arrays. This profit offers a retail fee credit score for every kilowatt-hour they produce, whether or not the electrical energy is used within the buyer’s dwelling or delivered again to the utility grid.
On common, and with good southern publicity, each 1 kilowatt of put in photo voltaic panel capability produces about 1,150 kilowatt hours per 12 months.
Vitality Adviser is written by Clark Public Utilities. Ship inquiries to [email protected] or to Vitality Adviser, c/o Clark Public Utilities, PO Field 8900, Vancouver, WA 98668.
