■ Frequently Asked Questions
1. What size solar system do I need?
The size of your solar system depends on how much energy you use. For a residential system, if you size it to big, the utility company will receive the benefit of the excess energy you produce and you will not receive credit, or be paid for it. OCS will complete a site survey that will determine the orientation (south facing) of your home, the slope of your roof and the city you live in to determine the available sun hours per day. It is a fairly complex calculation and to determine the system you will need for maximum performance you want to insist on having a complete site survey.
The Calculation is comprised of the total annual kilowatt usage divided by 365 days per year, further divided by an average of 5 sun hours per day to receive the maximum benefit to zero out your utility bill
2. What if shading is an issue?
We’ll figure into the calculation of the system size. OCS will use a Solmetric SunEye, an instrument which calculates the effects of shading throughout the entire year. The Solmetric is a digital tool used for calculating and analyzing the annual available sunlight at any particular location.
You can read Rich’s article on the Solmetric SunEye in Home Energy Magazine, Solar and Efficiency Issue (Copyright 2007) “Solar Tool Hits Sweet Spot”
www.homeenergy.org - Solar & Efficiency Special
www.solmetric.com - Solar test and measurement equipment
A rough estimate before rebate incentive and tax credit is $10,000 per kW installed. This should include your site survey, basic engineering, permitting, the mounting system, panels inverters etc. Special design and engineering requirements will affect the cost somewhat. You can be sure of the costs by receiving a detailed estimate.
A site survey is an evaluation of whether solar will work for you and an opportunity to evaluate the sun exposure for the site. It should include an evaluation of the connection to the current electric service. Ultimately, it is the opportunity for you to decide if solar will meet your goals and expectations for a renewable energy system. You will want to ask yourself if your intention is to zero out your bill and does that system size and cost fit your budget.
5. How does the rebate from PG&E work?
The utility company will provide incentive monies to people to install PV systems. Currently the rebate amount is $2.20 per watt installed. IE: 1000 Watts = $2200.00 rebate.
OCS watches and monitors the PGE “trigger tracker” (http://www.csi-trigger.com/) for potential reductions in the program.
The Federal tax credit for 2008 for commercial systems is a 30% line item deduction on the total cost of the system. Residential Federal tax credit is a maximum $2000 line item deduction.
Your PV system should be installed by a licensed Contractor/Electrician. Beyond that you should expect that the contractor will follow through from permitting to Interconnection with PGE; and should also include removal of all debris, (recycled when possible), to see that all crew accommodations are met and that the install schedule is mapped out for you.
A principal of OCS will be present at the permit inspection and will follow up with training to the customer. OCS is a licensed B, C10-Electrical and C46-PV Contractor with the state of California, #426705.
A typical panel warranty is 25 years and the typical inverter warranty is 10 years. In addition to the manufacturers warranties on the panels and inverters etc, OCS offers a 10 year warranty on the installation of the equipment. Keep in mind that if you will need a new roof in that period you will need to include the cost of removal and re-install of the panels in your roof replacement budget.
9. How much electricity will a Solar energy solution produce?
The amount of electricity generated by a Solar energy solution is
dependent, primarily upon site compatibility and your local geographic and
environmental conditions. O’Connell Solar can provide an assessment of the
energy a solar electric system could provide for your home or business
facility. Please visit the section “Contact us” to find our sales
information.
10. Will I need a utility provider? Will my facility need to be grid
connected?
Residential: Unless you choose a stand-alone system with batteries, you
will still need to be connected to the grid through your local utility.
While you generate the bulk of your own electricity during the peak hours
of daylight and demand, your utility will seamlessly take over and
continue to supply your electricity at night and on very cloudy days. For
remote, off-grid applications in which utility access is not feasible,
stand-alone systems are ideal.
Commercial: Unless you plan to generate all required power through an
on-site generation system other than a solar electric system, your
facility will still need to be connected to the grid through your local
utility. While a Solar energy solution will generate a portion of your
facility’s electricity during the peak hours of daylight, your utility
will seamlessly take over and continue to supply your electricity at night
and on very cloudy days.
11. What will a Solar energy solution look like on my home or facility?
Solar energy solutions are ideal for flat or sloped facility roofs, open
areas adjacent to facilities, parking areas and walkways. Visit our
project profile section to find out what one of our systems will look like
on your home or business.
12. How safe is a Solar home or commercial energy solution?
Since solar systems are generally mounted in a low or no-traffic area,
virtually maintenance free, and have no moving parts, they are very safe.
Solar components carry all appropriate/recommended electrical
certifications. As with any electrical appliance, you should always use
proper care when handling solar system components.