What Could Go Wrong?? Grid Tied Solar Net Metering Explained

[@nareshtailor4474]

My system over produce and end of the year for solar system reset, we loose all extra kw. We get SREC $90/kw where it's take almost 4 months to get $90 despite all high tech and it's LOST. So per year it should be $90x12 months, rather we only 3 or 4 times. It's NOTHING BUT RIP OFF. IT'S a shame. Thank you for your service and keep up with great work. I watched your video and honest advice every time even I don't need it. It's awesome education, then you never know whe you need it. Again thank you for your service and be safe.

[@scottv3711]

Thanks for your videos my friend! Just got 1-1 net metering last month locked in, location Southern Illinois, 30 years locked in. 153% solar, PW3, 20 Q cell 400W panels.

[@nanotechnology8439]

Just a heads up - I learned this the hard way. On the PW3 you have 6 DC inputs, each input should be limited to about 3kw for the unit to take advantage of it correctly. Inputs 1-2, 3-4 (in recent units only), 5-6 may be paralleled with included jumpers if your strings exceed 3kw. Otherwise the unit will self limit solar to protect itself and your contracted production will be way more than what you realistically get.

[@scottv3711]

@ they only did 2 strings on mine. 1st string 10 panels facing west. 2nd string 7 east and 3 south.

[@scottv3711]

@@nanotechnology8439, I will check my strings, but they did 2 strings, I think they were in the 1 and 2 slots. What did you end up doing?

[@Dragonfiregum]

Solar installers are predatory. Our state had the incentives to encourage solar years back. The solar companies touted payback in about 7-10 years. Cost , even after incentives was thru the roof and after 9 years, we have about 30 more years before it will break even.

[@joemygawd]

Wow! That’s a lot of info

[@solargoat]

I tried to keep it simple so it was easy to understand 👍

[@TheUweRoss]

Even so-called 1:1 net metering isn't really what people think. I have a system on my house in FL. FPL, so 1:1 net metering. Just had my first true-up in late December. We'd produced an excess of 864 kWh since getting PTO in the fall. They paid us $17.64 for it. That's 2.03 cents / kWh. Typical all-in cost of electricity bought from them is about 13.5 cents. It will be interesting to see how many kWh of credit we can build up before A/C season hits. :)

[@dsmith6404]

Can you do a micro grid tie inverter install 🤔 and payback 😊

[@HB-yq8gy]

I emailed the New Jersey Public Utilities he told me “We have initiated a review of net metering policy but are still in the initial study phases and have not yet proposed any changes. If your project is installed prior to these changes, you would be able to maintain the existing net metering structure.”

[@duotronic6451]

In California with the latest contracts you pay 50+ cents daytime and get paid 5ish cents. Better to have batteries instead of net metering.

[@keything8487]

set/design your system, or have it made to NOT use net metering.....get batteries to store that excess power made, and utilize it that night...your saving money in the long run....more upfront cost though.

[@user-i-dot]

expensive power used after 5 pm.

[@user-dr2pg8fk2i]

The power companies are too blame? The VAST majority of the time the sales rep is at fault for false promises or outright fraud.

[@jacoblaw3534]

How do we get an appointment?

[@tahoe6182]

Do you know a company that is good in Texas with everything solar not no bull**** people just trying to take your money ?

[@henrykissinger8088]

Fellow Texan here. I got solar almost 5 years ago and had solar quotes from 3 companies. One company seemed fine but were locked into only offering the most premium panels from a single vendor. They ended up going under a few years later. Another company was like dealing with sales at a used car lot, fake deadlines, half-truths, made up discounts, high pressure sales and all that. I went with IES Residential. They had physical locations in my town. They offered panels from various vendors, so it was easier to believe we were selecting the panels that worked best for me. They were 0 pressure sales. The person who checked my home and designed the solar system straight up told me I could probably get a similar system for $X less from a smaller company and he was right almost down to the exact dollar amount. He also explained to me why my initial goal of building a system to match exactly what my house consumed was not the most economical route; this had everything to do with technical details of my utility company's net metering agreement that I didn't know at the time. A smaller system would break even sooner so that's what he offered first. Basically everything he told me, good or bad, was true. Once the system went online, everything worked out as expected and in the years since I have upgraded my solar system. Regardless of who you go with, make sure you know exactly how much your utility company will pay you for your excess solar. Make sure your roof is in good condition before slapping panels on top of it. Make sure you know what changes have to be made at, or beyond, your meter. Hopefully nothing beyond getting a net meter. Make sure you know which local/federal incentives you might qualify for. Get more than one quote. Estimate your break even point so you can compare quotes by more than just the upfront cost. This is difficult but can expose how hard it is to break even with solar loans at today's interest rates and why so many installers are struggling financially. If I had to do it all over and add solar to my home today, the economic side of things probably would not work for me if using loans. Lastly, if you have the time, I believe all of these points are covered in better detail somewhere in SolarGoat's video library. You'd just have to dig a bit.

[@user-dr2pg8fk2i]

If there were not incentives, installers like you would be out of business immediately. Residential costs 3x utility, and even more when including batteries. To be fair, the incentives get hijacked by sales and finances companies. So a real answer is a regulated market and punishment of the current broken system and players.