Dwelling and enterprise photo voltaic arrays proceed to realize reputation in Clark County, however potential patrons ought to rigorously contemplate their circumstances and choices earlier than signing on the dotted line with a contractor.
“Putting in photo voltaic makes loads of sense and is usually a good funding, but it surely’s vital that prospects contemplate a photo voltaic system inspection by Clark Public Utilities earlier than signing a contract with an installer,” mentioned Ashley King, Vitality Providers Program Coordinator at Clark Public Utilities. “We’re right here to assist our prospects make good investments in renewable power.”
The photo voltaic home, additionally referred to as distributed photo voltaic power programs within the trade, is a crucial funding in a particular product. Typically, it may be tough for the common particular person 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 fitting contractor.
First step: Analysis — autodidact’s favourite. Many trade instruments supply clear and useful details about the photo voltaic technology potential of 1’s house. Google affords the “Undertaking Sunroof” web site that makes use of Google Earth data to research your roof and decide what number of “solar hours” it receives in a median yr. Additionally, the Nationwide Renewable Vitality Labs affords a web-based software 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 positioned on the prime of the globe, the solar is on our southern horizon a lot of the yr. Which means photo voltaic panels ought to solely be put in on south-facing exposures of a roof or property. Panels positioned going through west are the second greatest design choice, and panels going through east or north will not be beneficial. Blocking timber south of your roof line has the potential to negatively impression photo voltaic technology.
“Regardless of our comparatively excessive latitude, Clark County is a good place for photo voltaic manufacturing, a particularly fashionable renewable useful resource,” mentioned Vitality Sources Program Supervisor Matt Babbitts. “By the top of 2022 there might 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 least three bids from photo voltaic installers listed on the Clark Public Utilities Contractor Community. A aggressive photo voltaic system value must be between $2.50 to $4 per watt.
However do not let value alone dictate your alternative; popularity can also be vital. Search on-line for buyer opinions and even complaints to the Higher Enterprise Bureau, or regulatory companies. Clark Public Utilities doesn’t promote photo voltaic programs; any installers claiming to be utility workers must be requested to go away your private home. Please report these contractors to Clark Public Utilities by calling 360-992-3000.
Step three: After getting your contractor bids, use the Photo voltaic Payback Calculator by 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 affords web metering for purchasers with photo voltaic arrays. This profit offers a retail price credit score for every kilowatt-hour they produce, whether or not the electrical energy is used within the buyer’s house 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 yr.
Vitality Adviser is written by Clark Public Utilities. Ship inquiries to ecod@clarkpud.com or to Vitality Adviser, c/o Clark Public Utilities, PO Field 8900, Vancouver, WA 98668.
