Solar Energy FAQ’s

We recommend that you give our Solar Manager a call beforehand to:

• Take a look at your quotes
• Listen to your objectives
• Give you individualized advice to help you best achieve those

After the contract, it’s too late for us to help.

Application Processing

• Once we receive your applications, our Solar Manager typically reviews them within 10 days.
• The timeline may vary based on project specifics such as location, system type, and chosen installer.

Responsibility & Timelines

• Installers should complete applications accurately for members to submit.
• Our interconnection relationship is with the member, not the installer.
• All responsibilities and obligations lie with the member.
• It's the member's responsibility to ensure an agreement is signed and approved by Wood County Electric Cooperative (WCEC) before interconnection to our facilities for safety.
• Operating a system without written approval and inspection from WCEC can lead to meter tampering fees and service disconnection.

• There is no monthly fee to interconnect, but there is a 1-time non-refundable application fee.
• This defrays the cost of the review of your system design by WCEC personnel, along with the manual inspection to insure safety standards are met.
• The fee is based on the size class of your system and is spelled out in our tariff, but it ranges from $50 to $500 plus engineering costs.
• Most systems interconnected with WCEC fall under Class I, which has the lowest fee.

• Upon notification by you or your installer that your system construction is complete, WCEC will conduct an inspection.
• Usually this is done in about 7 business days. Timing depends on weather and workload.
• After inspection, if all is in accordance with WCEC’s interconnect agreement and safety procedures, the member will be given operating permission.
• Turning a system on without this written approval and inspection from WCEC can result in meter tampering fees and disconnection of service.

• Interconnected solar systems are power plants that have the potential to back feed high voltage energy onto our system.
• These systems run quietly and are not readily apparent. This can jeopardize the safety of line workers and have the potential to cause grave injury and even death.
• Once a system is officially interconnected, our records show our workers where these systems are, so they don’t unknowingly encounter a dangerous situation.
• As power plants, these systems can also cause erratic and unstable electrical flow to impede service and/or damage our equipment and distribution system.
• This is one reason why Class II units must carry at least $1M worth of liability insurance.

• WCEC's metering system is capable of reading both kWhs consumed and kWhs that are fed back onto our system.
• Our system is sophisticated and can send alerts when reverse rotation is detected.
• This capability allows us to identify and respond to any illegal interconnection before our approva

• The rates are subject to change and/or fluctuate at any time.
• WCEC considers many factors when setting rates, including market forces, the price the cooperative pays per kWh for energy from our Generation and Transmission sources, and also the price paid per kWh to utility scale solar.
• Because prices fluctuate, the current rate can be obtained from our Solar Manager.
• All kWh are paid based on the terms in our Member Policies and Schedules.

No, for several reasons:

• WCEC pays avoided costs for the electricity it purchases from the member.
• The figure is derived from several factors including the wholesale market value of electricity, and the cost of our distribution plant.
• The rate the cooperative charges a member per kWh includes the cost of the purchased electricity, as well as WCEC’s overhead and facilities costs (our wires, meters, substations, and other hardware and overhead costs like trucks, fuel, people, and offices).
• For obvious reasons, we don’t pay the DG member for the cooperative’s services and equipment when we buy their electricity.
• We are just buying their commodity of kWhs, and paying them the fair market value.
• As a cooperative, our mission is to keep rates as affordable as possible.
• We have a promise to members to seek the best electricity rates we can for the power we serve them.
• Paying DG members one-to-one would not fit that model.

• Reverse rotation of the meter counts the number of kWhs a member sends to the grid.
• At the end of the billing cycle, the credits are net billed.
• This means the account receives monetary credit for the amount sent to the grid by the member’s solar unit, and the money owed to WCEC by the member is reduced by that amount.
• The customer owes WCEC the remainder.

• For the best financial advantage, a member with grid-tied solar should try to use every single kWh their unit makes.
• That’s because for every kWh of solar they manufacture and use, they’re avoiding purchasing a kWh that costs more.
• Too, when a member sends electricity to our system, it is not “banked” for future use.
• If a member does wish to “bank” excess kWh they generate, they can purchase battery systems along with their system.

End of Billing Cycle

• At the end of each billing cycle, you will receive a statement.
• In most cases, your system will reduce the amount owed to WCEC for the billing cycle as it helps you avoid purchasing some kWh from WCEC.

Reduced Charges

• In the vast majority of cases, the kWh produced by your system will not completely eliminate all charges.
• Solar systems do not produce power at night, and most meters continue to use and purchase power at night.
• There's a monthly customer charge to cover facilities used for serving you from WCEC's distribution system.

Optimizing Solar Energy for Cost Savings

• In rare cases, a solar meter can offset the entire electricity bill.
• For instance, a large solar array powering a small load like a remote gate might generate surplus power that is sent back to WCEC's grid.
• However, it's not always the most financially efficient way to use a solar system.
• Maximizing cost savings typically involves using the generated electricity for your own needs and avoiding the purchase of higher-priced kWhs from the grid.

Most likely.

Inverter Safety & Battery Backup

• Inverters or combiners are typically configured to disconnect all power and prevent feeding electricity back into the house or WCEC lines for safety reasons.
• This feature is essential to protect WCEC linemen and others who might come into contact with downed power lines.
• Some solar arrays may have battery backup systems, which, when configured correctly, can power the home, charge the batteries, and avoid back-feeding onto WCEC's lines.
• The ability to power specific equipment depends on how your solar system is designed and whether it can meet your energy needs without exporting excess power.

• No, but there are about 30 different companies that have successfully interconnected member systems to our grid.
• If you have questions after you’ve gotten several quotes and plans, our Solar Manager will be happy to look at them with a focused eye.
• He won’t make recommendations, but he can point out various features that may help you make a more informed decision.
• In the end, though, it’s up to each member to vet their selections and contractual agreement with their own provider.

• Solar unit savings depend on various factors: company choice, local sun conditions, system size, installation quality, rebates, tax credits, and more.
• Payback periods can vary greatly, ranging from 10 to 20 years or potentially never achieving a return on investment.
• System size, sun angle, and placement affect the payback timeline.
• The type and quality of equipment, as well as the actual lifespan, also impact the return on investment.

• If you have outstanding debt on your house, it may be better financially to get the mortgage paid off first.
• Also, if you are purchasing panels over time, when you sell your house most solar contracts require you to pay them off when the property is sold.
• Leasing panels can also have requirements, so know your agreement terms.

• Ensure your home or business is energy-efficient to save on electricity costs. WCEC offers free energy audits and provides recommendations for improvements.
• Understand your motivations for considering solar.
• Every member may have unique economic and social reasons for choosing solar.
• Research and determine if adopting solar aligns with your economic goals and preferences.
• WCEC supports members in selecting the solution that best suits their needs.

• The cost of solar array installation has significantly decreased.
• In regions with high electricity costs, solar can be a cost-competitive option.
• Cost-effectiveness depends on various factors, such as tax incentives, system costs, electricity prices, and more.

• Grid-tied solar with proper orientation typically provides around 40% to 50% of a home's electricity for most customers, regardless of the system's size.
• Larger solar systems cannot overcome these limitations because they only generate energy when the sun is shining.
• Excess production from a larger system flows to the grid unless you have a battery backup.
• At night when the system doesn't produce energy, you'll need to purchase electricity from WCEC.

• Various technologies are available for energy storage, including residential battery options.
• Batteries enable homeowners to store energy during high production, low demand times for use during high-demand periods.
• Batteries can be expensive, which may extend the payback period of your solar system.

• With high-quality modules and proper maintenance, the life of a solar system can extend to 20 to 30 years or more.
• Over time, the efficiency of solar panels gradually degrades.
• Photovoltaic (PV) modules often come with a 25-year warranty, guaranteeing at least 80% of the original output, and they may continue to generate power for years beyond that.

• Solar panels are generally safe when properly installed.
• Like all electrical systems, there are fire risks associated with solar panels.
• Fire risks can arise from module defects, improper installation, or general wear and tear, such as frayed wires.

• PV technology efficiency is improving, but limitations exist due to the inability of PV cells to respond to the entire sunlight spectrum.
• Up to 55% of the sun's energy is wasted.
• High-efficiency modules are recommended for generating more power with a smaller panel footprint.

The energy production of a PV panel depends on 4 factors:

• PV cell efficiency
• Temperature response
• Module layout
• Anti-reflective coating

• Solar panels do not emit emissions during electricity production.
• However, they have a carbon footprint during production, transport, and material mining.
• Different types of solar panels are made with various materials and metals.
• The time it takes for panels to reach a carbon-neutral status depends on the panel type and whether it's recycled after its lifecycle.
• Most new panels achieve carbon neutrality in 3 to 5 years.

• Solar panel recycling is not as simple as recycling newspapers.
• Some companies offer recycling as part of their initial system price.
• In the US, end-of-life disposal of solar products is governed by the Federal
• Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and state regulations.
• Recycling requirements vary depending on the material of your panels and are regulated by the state.