Solar Power
 

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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/v8...ps1jtqh4mp.jpg

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.

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.

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