Solar Power

[itnetpro]

I'm interested in becoming a villager. However, I have one major requirement and would like some info on the rules. I have searched and searched found nothing. I want to install solar panels on the roof of the property we decide to purchase. The intent is to generate enough power to not have an electric bill for the property and charge one electric automobile.

Are there any restrictions in the HOAs concerning solar panels in the Village?

John

[DangeloInspections]

John, I do not know about the HOA rules, but I do know I inspected a home on Wading Heron Way that had a system like what you want. It was quite nice.
Also, you see many solar pool heaters on many roofs here. I know that they are not the same thing at all, but from a distance they do look similar. hope that helps!

Frank

[villagetinker]

Check with the local utilities, primarily SECO and Duke, and you will find they have little to no incentives, so plan on the entire cost being yours.
Remember this is Florida, lightning, and potentially high winds. There is a development to the east of the villages off Rolling Acres and Lake Ella roads that all of the houses have solar electric panels.
I would also as part of due diligence check with the architect that designed the house to confirm the roof trusses can ALL of the expected loads from the solar panels.
There are 1 or 2 vendors in the area that will install these, no experience with them.

And finally, I would love to hear your experience, I have 40+ years experience in the electric utility field, and almost 30 years is the areas of parallel generator, specifically, solar panels. I have looked at this for our house, and I am going to hold out until Florida (the SUNSHINE STATE) gets on board and into the current century with customer owned generation.

[golf2140]

Not sure of the cost to do what your attempting but: I have a designer that is total electric and my cost is around $1,200 per year. Just some food for thought. SECO is cheaper than those in the north

[jimbo2012]

No roof load issues at all, each one is less than 50lbs.

There are no HOA, covenants or restrictions on solar.

Although Fl solar incentives are about zero, you will get the 30% federal incentive.

If you are looking to go NET ZERO, my quick guess is about 5-7,000 watt array.

At a $1 a watt and $3-4500 for inverter & wiring your break even after 30% is about 4 years, then live for Zero electric.

[Markam]

One note of caution: When you shop for homeowners insurance, make sure your roof and attached panel array will be covered for wind damage.

[biker1]

My power usage is about the same. My payback period is out at about 10 years for solar panels at today's cost. They are still in a deflationary period so the payback time is likely to continue to decrease. The 10-year payback period is consistent with what the folks out at the solar community off Rolling Acres told me.

Not sure of the cost to do what your attempting but: I have a designer that is total electric and my cost is around $1,200 per year. Just some food for thought. SECO is cheaper than those in the north

[outlaw]

Several homes have solar PV on their roofs. I was told by a solar contractor that Florida law prevents HOAs from restricting solar arrays or solar heaters. The utility company SECO will hook your solar array to the grid and they provide 1 to 1 credit against your electric usage for what you generate with your PV system.

[biker1]

Does this mean they do not pay you for excess power (i.e. your meter running backwards)? In other words, the best you can do is zero SECO power usage during the day? That is what I understood.

Several homes have solar PV on their roofs. I was told by a solar contractor that Florida law prevents HOAs from restricting solar arrays or solar heaters. The utility company SECO will hook your solar array to the grid and they provide 1 to 1 credit against your electric usage for what you generate with your PV system.

[outlaw]

Does this mean they do not pay you for excess power (i.e. your meter running backwards)? In other words, the best you can do is zero SECO power usage during the day? That is what I understood.

The contractor told me they pay wholesale or 50% on excess electricity at the end of year, or something like that. If that is a big deal to you, you should check with your utility, because they have different terms. It wasn't a big deal to me.

[DangeloInspections]

Great info. Yesterday I inspected a house for a good friend of mine who had this system. He told me that with the 30% credit he expected a payback of about 9 years. Here is a picture....http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v86/faithfulFrank/DSCN9987_zps1jtqh4mp.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/faithfulFrank/media/DSCN9987_zps1jtqh4mp.jpg.html)

[itnetpro]

The term used is Net Metering.

I have solar panels on my roof here in PA and the payoff was 7 years because our local utility pays the wholesale rate for any excess i generate back to the grid over and above what I use. If I generate more then I use its banked every month and they cut a check in May. On top of that they have these things called SRec's that are sold on a market once a year. My system designed to generate enough power for 12-14 of these per year. In the early days they could sell upwards of $300 each. Now they worth between $25-$50 per Srecs.

So far it seems Solar power is not restricted by the HOA there. So I guess my remaining questions.

Can we confirm that there is NetMetering in your area Meaning the utility will pay the excess generation back to the grid?

Is there only NetMetering for specific utilities?

Anyone on these forums living in a 3,500 Sq FT home with pool?

If so how much are you paying per month for your electricity and gas?

Regards,

John

[graciegirl]

The term used is Net Metering.

I have solar panels on my roof here in PA and the payoff was 7 years because our local utility pays the wholesale rate for any excess i generate back to the grid over and above what I use. If I generate more then I use its banked every month and they cut a check in May. On top of that they have these things called SRec's that are sold on a market once a year. My system designed to generate enough power for 12-14 of these per year. In the early days they could sell upwards of $300 each. Now they worth between $25-$50 per Srecs.

So far it seems Solar power is not restricted by the HOA there. So I guess my remaining questions.

Can we confirm that there is NetMetering in your area Meaning the utility will pay the excess generation back to the grid?

Is there only NetMetering for specific utilities?

Anyone on these forums living in a 3,500 Sq FT home with pool?

If so how much are you paying per month for your electricity and gas?

Regards,

John



John. Look directly at me, right into my eyes, and answer my question. Are you in any way involved with the new community down the way?


Welcome to the forum. I have solar panels on my roof.

[villagetinker]

OP, go to the SECO website, there you will find three (if I remember correctly) documents that will provide all of the information that you will need to have your proposed facility connected to the grid. SECO as I recall uses the 'Net metering' model, however, I do NOT remember what happens if you generate excess power over the month or year. I do down load these about a year ago, but what I have may be dated.
There will be multiple inspections involved, and Sumter County just changed the building code as of June 30th, no idea if this would impact your proposed project. There is a push in the state to open up the area of solar generation, but this will take some time to get into law.
Hope this helps.

[itnetpro]

LOL NO, Wife and I live IN PA. We are about to retire early and looking into the Villages. Solar is one of my requirements for where ever we go.

We were originally planning on buying some land and building something in the mountains but after coming across this community and all the activities. Seems this is a better fit for us.

John

[graciegirl]

LOL NO, Wife and I live IN PA. We are about to retire early and looking into the Villages. Solar is one of my requirements for where ever we go.

We were originally planning on buying some land and building something in the mountains but after coming across this community and all the activities. Seems this is a better fit for us.

John


Please forgive the question. I betcha you will find the right answers to your questions. We are very satisfied with the cost to heat and cool our home. The price for energy here is lower than Cincinnati, Ohio. Check the taxes and the fees and other costs too. Plus the political climate and general attitude. I have a feeling that solar is more than just the expense in your value system.


I don't work for the developer but have been accused of doing so. I am a very satisfied villager.

[biker1]

OK, thanks for the info, appreciate it.

The contractor told me they pay wholesale or 50% on excess electricity at the end of year, or something like that. If that is a big deal to you, you should check with your utility, because they have different terms. It wasn't a big deal to me.

[Markam]

With respect to any excess electricity your system might generate, it can go into one of these (http://www.teslamotors.com/powerwall) - if you can afford them (notice I didn't say "justify")

[dotti105]

There is a large movement to get Solar incentives on the ballot in 2016.

There is also a utility backed group "citizens for RESPONSIBILE solar". Stay away from them. They are backed by Florida Power and Light and several other large utilities that do NOT want to pay you for excess power you generate back to the grid. They have been put in place by deep pockets who do not want Florida residents to have the solar incentives that most other states offer.

Arizona, California, New Jersey, Utah are a few of the states that offer the tax incentives and monthly pay backs to customers who generate excess power back into the grid.

I find it hard to believe that "the sunshine state" is in the dark ages with solar being discouraged. Otherwise we would have whole house solar already.

[outlaw]

I get the impression that the utility companies do not want individuals installing their own solar power generation. Duke, I think, is planning to build a large solar power gen facility, and I expect that is the way they are going to fight the individual solar systems. Also, I think the the contract offered by SECO states that terms can change based on what their supplier (Duke) decides to do. So, it seems to me, they could decide to eliminate the excess credits, or start charging more for "managing" the power grid, or charge more for just the "special" hookup to your power system. Bottom line is I think Duke is going to try and recoup anything they lose to individual solar power systems. Just my opinion.

[dotti105]

I just posted some additional info there.

1. Florida, "The Sunshine State" , is one of only 4 states where it is illegal to purchase solar systems from anyone other your local utility. thus the price is highly inflated, due to no competition. As well as very limited payment options.

2. You also do not get paid back (credited) for excess power you produce which flows back to the grid.

3. No state tax incentives exist.

4. Check out "Floridans for Solar Choice" that is the legit group trying to get this on the 2016 ballot.

5. Stay away from "Citizens for Responsible Solar" it is a front for the big Power companies, Duke, FP&L etc who want to keep the restrictive laws in place.

6. Educate yourself so that you will know where Florida stands compared to the 46 other states that encourage solar use.

[graciegirl]

I just posted some additional info there.

1. Florida, "The Sunshine State" , is one of only 4 states where it is illegal to purchase solar systems from anyone other your local utility. thus the price is highly inflated, due to no competition. As well as very limited payment options.

2. You also do not get paid back (credited) for excess power you produce which flows back to the grid.

3. No state tax incentives exist.

4. Check out "Floridans for Solar Choice" that is the legit group trying to get this on the 2016 ballot.

5. Stay away from "Citizens for Responsible Solar" it is a front for the big Power companies, Duke, FP&L etc who want to keep the restrictive laws in place.

6. Educate yourself so that you will know where Florida stands compared to the 46 other states that encourage solar use.



Would you link us to your source? This is a volatile issue with both sides offering simplistic and I think misleading information.


Putting in whole house solar may cost longer to break even than I have on this earth. I am not that motivated.


We have solar heat to our pool and it works beautifully.


Our neighbor has solar panels on his roof with no pool and has a 3000 plus square foot home. It was not purchased or installed by the local energy folks and neither was ours. It was vetted by the local building inspectors so it must not be illegal.

Reuse. Repurpose. Recycle. Save your money and try not to spend the governments money.

[biker1]

I generally believe solar panels are a good idea. However, in your list below, you mentioned "No state tax incentives", presumably as an issue in FL. Please consider that tax incentives are essentially other people paying for your solar panels. You can argue that such incentives are necessary for increasing the market but there is no getting around the issue that there is no free lunch.

I just posted some additional info there.

1. Florida, "The Sunshine State" , is one of only 4 states where it is illegal to purchase solar systems from anyone other your local utility. thus the price is highly inflated, due to no competition. As well as very limited payment options.

2. You also do not get paid back (credited) for excess power you produce which flows back to the grid.

3. No state tax incentives exist.

4. Check out "Floridans for Solar Choice" that is the legit group trying to get this on the 2016 ballot.

5. Stay away from "Citizens for Responsible Solar" it is a front for the big Power companies, Duke, FP&L etc who want to keep the restrictive laws in place.

6. Educate yourself so that you will know where Florida stands compared to the 46 other states that encourage solar use.

[rubicon]

I generally believe solar panels are a good idea. However, in your list below, you mentioned "No state tax incentives", presumably as an issue in FL. Please consider that tax incentives are essentially other people paying for your solar panels. You can argue that such incentives are necessary for increasing the market but there is no getting around the issue that there is no free lunch.

biker: stated quite nicely. Federal tax credit mean taxpayers foot the bill. At many utilities customers subsidize solar users.

Its the same with autos. People who can well afford an expensive vehicle ranging from $30,000 (Leaf) and from $71,000 up to over $100,000 (Telsa) get a federal tax credit and some a state tax credit. I say expensive vehicles because at this point they are expensive electric toys. The replacement batteries cost anywhere from $5,000 for the Leaf to $30,000 for the Telsa
Telsa is so subsidized with other peoples money it is the only reason it is staying afloat.

Perhaps in the end we will all benefit from this? Hard to know. But I'd rather this all be market driven than government subsidized given the poor track record the government has in this area of green enterprises.

Recall the tax credit up to $7500 for anyone buying an e-merge electric golf cart and the subsequent bill sponsored by O'Toole?

I too am supportive of exploring renewables but the government's approach is going to cost us dearly in terms of tax credits and increased cost of fossil fuels for heating and transportation, etc , not to mention the exposure of compromising the nation's energy infrastructure because of their over reach.

Bringing it down to the local level why is it here in The Villages so many residents abandoned their electric golf carts for gas golf carts? Ethanol anyone?

[outlaw]

Would you link us to your source? This is a volatile issue with both sides offering simplistic and I think misleading information.


Putting in whole house solar may cost longer to break even than I have on this earth. I am not that motivated.


We have solar heat to our pool and it works beautifully.


Our neighbor has solar panels on his roof with no pool and has a 3000 plus square foot home. It was not purchased or installed by the local energy folks and neither was ours. It was vetted by the local building inspectors so it must not be illegal.

Reuse. Repurpose. Recycle. Save your money and try not to spend the governments money.

What the poster meant was that in Florida a business cannot install and "lease" a solar power generation system to an individual. The law does allow an individual to buy outright a solar power generation system and have it professionally installed by the seller.