Co-ops: your trusted energy advisors
When it comes to using electricity safely and economically, your electric cooperative—and your co-op’s energy advisor—are your source for reliable information.
“I encourage members not to sign contracts until after they call me,” says Roy Honican, Blue Grass Energy’s residential services coordinator since 1998.
Honican regularly uses the PVWatts Calculator app developed by National Renewal Energy Laboratory to project potential solar power generation based on location, climate and long-term power usage. “It’s rare that the data projections show members producing more than 48% of what they typically use,” he says.
Blue Grass Energy installed two solar panels near its headquarters in 2015 to gain experience on its performance. Honican uses data from that 500-watt array to give members an idea of what they can expect.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a roof big enough to hold enough panels to power a house,” he says. “A hair dryer uses about 1,500 watts, so it would take the output of three panels just for that.”
Alan Coffey, energy services manager at South Kentucky RECC, fields between five and 10 inquiries a week about residential solar.
While interest in solar was limited 10 years or so ago, more members now see it as a viable renewable energy alternative for offsetting the costs of their utility bills, Coffey says.
“People think they’ll receive more power than they’ll actually get,” he cautions. “They also think they’ll have access to solar power when the grid goes offline, which is not always the case.”
Coffey says many members are surprised to learn that solar power systems they’ve bought don’t fully offset their co-op electricity costs.
“People are often told one thing in the sales pitch, only to find that the system underperforms,” he says. “If a member is told that what they’re buying will cover 100% of their monthly bill, and actual return is just 30% to 50%, they’re going to be disappointed.”
South Kentucky RECC received a grant in 2017 to install a 30-kilowatt system outside of its headquarters and has compiled more than six years of data on performance, maintenance and operation.
“With 60 to 70 panels on our site, we’ve learned a lot about cleaning and servicing the panels and other components in our system,” says Coffey. “These are devices that can degrade over time, decreasing the actual output of energy each panel produces.”
The co-op’s Solar 101 guide offers tips to help members make informed decisions about residential solar.
Depending on where co-op members live, several programs may be available for those who are interested in solar energy but don’t want the hassle or financial risks of installing their own panels. Programs include Green Switch, a voluntary solar purchasing agreement available from co-ops served by the Tennessee Valley Authority and licenses for solar panels at Cooperative Solar Farm One, a 60-acre facility operated by Kentucky’s Touchstone Energy Cooperatives.
“We work for our members, so when they have questions, we want to provide sound guidance,” says Coffey. “That not only strengthens our bond with our members; it also helps them get more value for their investments in residential solar. People only buy or build homes once or twice in a lifetime, so making good choices is worth taking the time to talk about it.”
