Solar arrays and installations are available for Medina Electric members interested in this service. Through Solar by Medina EC, members can purchase a 5-kilowatt, ground-mounted solar photovoltaic system with installation for $15,000 plus tax. There can be additional installation charges, but those would be determined by cooperative staff during the site visit. Members will be informed of any additional costs before they make a purchasing decision. Full payment is due before materials can be ordered.
All construction and installation will be done by Medina EC staff or an approved contractor. Medina EC’s licensed staff electrician will perform the final inspection and connect the system to the location and grid.
Production
The amount of energy produced by a system varies based on the time of the year and hours of sunlight. A good rule of thumb when looking at solar PV systems is that for every kilowatt of capacity, the system should produce about 125 kilowatt-hours per month. Using those figures, a 5-kW system should produce about 625 kWh per month.
Selling Power Back
The cooperative purchases electricity produced by distributed generation systems in excess of electricity consumed at an avoided cost rate. The avoided cost rate is the cost the cooperative would have incurred had it purchased the energy from a wholesale power supplier. It varies monthly and is based on the prior 12 months’ total wholesale power purchase cost, excluding some fees.
The cooperative does not allow banking, or storing, of electricity credits. That means you cannot save excess power to offset use later in the same day or billing period; if it is not consumed, electricity is purchased at the avoided cost rate when it is generated.
Because of that, savings will vary depending on when you are producing and using power. A 5-kW system would equate to about $62.50 in savings each month if you are producing the energy at the same time you are using it, but savings would be lower if you are putting power back on the grid and selling it at the avoided cost rate.
If you are considering a solar PV system, there are various resources that can help you determine if it is the right purchase for you. Do your homework, and research what you are told by salespeople. Even if you are looking at another vendor and don’t intend to purchase a system from Medina EC, our staff is happy to answer questions to help you. Certain paperwork and requirements can be found at MedinaEC.org/DG, and those things are required regardless of who you purchase a system from.
