February 2010

By Derek Girling, HelioPower Energy Consultant

This past year’s tremendous growth in residential solar installations hasn’t gone unnoticed and new solar companies are hanging their shingles out every day!  Contractors that up until last year were busy installing aluminum windows and garage doors or wiring parking lot lights are now touting themselves as solar power experts. California alone has over 1,500 solar installers operating in the state. More than a few of these companies are very small operations run out of the owners’ garage.

Designing and installing a reliable and efficient solar power system requires expertise in engineering, roofing techniques, and electrical systems. Another overlooked skill is the ability to accurately submit your permitting and rebate application paperwork in a timely manner.

Selecting a contractor can be stressful! This is a significant investment and you’ll have to live with the results for decades. Some questions a homeowner should ask include:

Does the contractor have more than one crew? If not, managing your installation along with inspections and follow up visits will be challenging.

What is the likelihood of this contractor being around in ten years to back up their warranty? The California Solar Initiative requires all installers to warranty their workmanship for 10 years but if your contractors is out of business, you’re out of luck.

How does this contractor manage their cash flow? This is very important considering they may be floating literally tens of thousands of dollars in rebates. Cash flow problems can result in delays or substandard materials used on your home. Make sure your contractor is well capitalized. Evidence of a financially strong contractor can include direct relationships with their industry partners. Larger contractors are able to leverage their size to get the best pricing and availability of components from their vendors as well as offer residential solar financing services from companies that trust their installation abilities.

Fortunately for homeowners there are several on-line tools to help answer these questions and steer you to an experienced professional.

The first place to start is at the California Contractors Board website to check their license. Just type in the contractor’s license number (if they don’t provide you with a license number be suspicious!) and this website will verify that their license is current and in good standing. Confirm that the license number they gave you corresponds with their company name. You can also check the contractor’s bonding and workmen’s compensation policy information as well as if there are any complaints against them.

Next go to the California Solar Initiative website to find out a little more about your potential installer. This webpage has a search function so you can see how many, where, and what size installations they’ve done. The data is compiled from reservation requests filed within the last three years with Southern California Edison, San Diego Gas and Electric, or Pacific Gas and Electric. (Municipal utilities like LADWP or SMUD are not included in this database.) Many solar water-heating installers with limited solar electric experience inflate their installation number claims – this is where you’ll see just how many installs they’ve done. Another red flag is an inordinate amount of withdrawn or cancelled applications.

One of the best features of this site is the ability to determine if your installer is actually the one doing their installations! Many new solar marketing companies function as a middleman and are not the actual contractor on the job. Note the two different fields “Seller” and “Contractor” in the search tool. If they aren’t the same, this may be the case.

Two other useful resources are Angie’s List and the Better Business Bureau. You can see if anyone else has experience with your contractor. Of course, a potential contractor should be able to provide you with a few customers as references.

It’s a fact that a well-engineered and properly installed solar system will deliver you clean low-cost power for decades. Spending a little time researching your solar power contractor is the best way to avoid headaches and ensure that you get your money’s worth out of your investment!

Contact Derek Girling at DGirling@HelioPower.com

By Matt Turville, HelioPower Solar Consultant in Nevada

On February 17 I posted on overview of the SolarGenerations solar rebate program status here in Nevada.  This week NV Energy circulated an update, setting March 24 as the date they will begin taking rebate reservations for SolarGenerations, with applications being taken then throughout the year. Applications will be accepted on a first come first served basis and reservations will be issued from available incentive steps. Incentive steps correspond to program years and have declining incentive values. Example:

Step 1
Corresponds to Program Year 2010/11
Rebate per Watt Installed
Residential – $2.30
Small Business – $2.30
Public Building – $5.00
Schools – $5.00

Step 2
Corresponds to Program Year 2011/12
Rebate per Watt Installed
Residential – $2.10
Small Business – $2.10
Public Building – $4.90
Schools – $4.90

Step 3
Corresponds to Program Year 2012/13
Rebate per Watt Installed
Residential – $1.90
Small Business – $1.90
Public Building – $4.80
Schools – $4.80

Pending the approval by the Commission of NV Energy’s Annual Plan, the maximum incentives per meter per step will also increase to the following kilowatt levels:
• Residential from 5kW to10kW
• Small Business from 30kW to 50kW
• Public and Other Property from 50kW to 100kW.   
• School applicants may apply for 50 kW per meter or up to a maximum 100 kW per meter if the applicant applies to the Commission for approval of capacity greater than 50 kW within 10 calendar days of submitting the application.

If you are interested in going solar or even thinking about it, please give me a call with your questions.  HelioPower will provide you with a free solar pre-site of your home or business and an estimate for your solar power system in Nevada.

For more information contact Matt Turville at MTurville@heliopower.com or call him directly at 775.297.5579.
Click here for the NV Energy information site.

By Matt Turville, HelioPower Solar Consultant in Nevada

The Nevada Solar Rebates are coming back! The Nevada Public Utilities Commission approved new

Tahoe Regional Planning Agency 30 kW solar installation by HelioPower

regulations for the solar, wind, and hydro power incentive programs at the end of January 2010. On February 1, 2010, NV Energy submitted its Annual Plans for the three programs that described the implementation of the program per the new regulations. The Commission is deliberating the Annual Plans and has until July 1, 2010 to approve them. During this process, there could be adjustments to the Plans.

Here are a few preliminary highlights of the New SolarGenerations Guidelines for Nevada per VoteSolar.org:

Rebate Levels: Residential rebates will begin at $2.30 per watt in step 1, declining by $0.20 cents per step. Schools and Public Buildings start at $5.00 per watt in step 1, declining by $0.10 per step. *These levels are at the same level as 2008 for residential and commercial installations.  With the declining costs of Photovoltaics in late 2008 and 2009 customer who install in 2010 will enjoy more accelerated returns on their solar investments: Lower cost solar + high rebates = faster ROI.  These high rebate levels are more than twice the level of rebates that are being paid in California!

Awarding of Rebates in Step 1-3: Beginning in 2010, Steps 1 through 3 can be reserved on a first-come, first-serve basis until the capacity limits are reached.  However, the rebates for steps 2 and 3 will not be paid out to customers until 2011 and 2012 respectively.  NV Energy will be required to issue a confirmed rebate notice, which companies should be able to use to secure capitol to complete projects.

Start Date of Revamped Program: The step 1 start date was left to the discretion of NV Energy in their annual plan. However NV Energy stated in the public record that they plan to release rebates tentatively on March.

16.59 kW commercial solar power installation in Carson City, NV by HelioPower

System Size Limits: NV Energy shall be able to determine individual system size limits in the annual plan.  However at the workshop we came to a verbal agreement with the utility that residential customers could receive rebate for up to 10 kilowatt (kW) systems, while public agencies could receive a rebate for up to a 100 kW system.  Systems on school will remain at 50 kW with the ability of a school district to petition for an exemption to rebate up to 100 kW.  Small commercial projects will be capped at 30 kW as to not eat up the entire combined residential/small commercial category capacity limit.

Revamped Website: NV Energy is required to keep an updated website to indicate total kWs available in each step and each category, including kWs newly available due to reallocations.  This information should be real-time, at the least updated weekly. (We need to make sure that this accurately reflects unspent previous allocation when the website is published!)

Signed Contract: To apply for a rebate a customer must have signed a contract with a solar installer.

Completion Timeline: All categories of projects need be completed within 12 months. However schools and public building will be given an initial 90 day period to submit a “checklist” approved by the Commission documenting progress towards project completion.

This is all very good news for anyone who is planning for solar in Nevada.  As a result of these large

5.28 kW residential solar power installation in Reno, NV by HelioPower

rebates and pent up demand we are expecting a big rush  of applications at the end of March in order to secure the highest level rebates available.  If you are thinking about going solar or if you have already made the decision HelioPower is standing at the ready to offer free solar pre-sites, evaluations and estimates for your home or business.  With ten years of solar installation experience and over 1,000 installations to date HelioPower is your best option for a licensed, quality engineered solar power solution that will eliminate or lower your electricity costs while improving the value of your home and business and contributing to a cleaner environment for all.

Please visit our installation galleries online at www.HelioPower.com to see a sampling of our professionally installed systems or call or email your local Nevada Solar Energy Consultant: Matt Turville at (775) 297-5579, email:  mturville@heliopower.com with any questions or if you would like to schedule a free pre-site and energy analysis for your home or business.

By Derek Girling, HelioPower Solar Consultant

2009 was a watershed year for residential solar photovoltaic (solar PV) installations in California. Lower panel costs coupled with the uncapping of the Federal Personal Tax Credit (previously limited to $2,000) made solar PV more affordable than ever. Factor in announced rate increases from state utilities and you can see why solar system integrators are one of the few bright spots in today’s economy.

As a Solar Consultant with HelioPower, one of the most common questions I hear from my customers is “Do you think I should wait another year or two to install my system?” Homeowners are fearful that either the cost of the systems will come down significantly or new technologies with significantly better efficiencies will come on the market.

There are several reasons why this argument does not hold up!

First and foremost is the fact that our current state utility ratepayer funded system is functioning exactly as it was designed. When the California Solar Initiative was created, the incentives were high to reduce the impact of the initially high system costs. The theory was that, until enough manufacturers and installers entered the market, homeowners and businesses would need large rebates to incentivize them to invest in their solar PV systems. As competition drives pricing down, the rebates required to make solar PV a sound financial investment are reduced as well. The program is functioning exactly as planned and is even ahead of schedule!

Another good reason to invest in your system now is that when you factor your current utility bills in the period between now and when you decide invest, you’ll have to increase the system’s efficiency or decrease in the system’s price just to compensate for the lost costs the solar PV system would have avoided. If your current bill is $200 per month and you wait 18 more months, you’ll need to save almost $3,400 just to break even. More efficient technologies are on the horizon over the next several years but their actual efficiencies, price-points and reliability have yet to be determined. Solar PV modules have been around for over 30 years and have a well-established track record of production and reliability.

Postponing your decision has a dramatic effect on the back end of the investment as well. To get the best return on your solar system (IRR’s of over 14% are not uncommon), you’ll want to use your system for the longest time possible. In fact, solar systems are designed to produce clean energy for over 25 years. Unless you’ve figured out a foolproof way to extend your life, you’ll lower your return by waiting to install.

Here’s an example of exactly how much doing nothing costs. A typical homeowner in Southern California uses about 10,000 kWh. They will spend over $150,000 on electricity over the next 25 years if rates follow their historical rate of inflation. The typical system to offset 90% of this use would be around 6.4 kW. Right now this system will return nearly $110,000 in avoided utility bills including factoring in the cost of the system! So the cost of doing nothing is $110,000. Who wouldn’t want to have an additional $110,000 in their retirement account?

New financing vehicles like SunRun’s residential Power Purchasing Agreement (PPA) bring the investment required to go solar down to as low as $1,000. Your installer designs and installs the your system exactly as if you’d purchased it from them and SunRun pays the installer and sells you the power produced at a greatly reduced price. You get most of the financial benefits of solar right away with a minimal investment.

Finally, let’s not ignore the reason that most of us were interested in solar in the first place – our environment! Whether or not you believe global warming is both real and controllable, solar PV reduces the amount of pollutants introduced into the environment from burning dirty fuels.

The bottom line is that by installing your solar PV system now, you’ll make a big impact on your cost of living for decades to come.

You can reach Derek Girling at DGirling@HelioPower.com

Last week, Canadian Solar Inc (CSIQ) announced that five of its solar module series, CS6P- 220P, 225P,

HelioPower Temecula, CA solar installation using Canadian Solar modules

230P, CS5P-240M and CS5A- 180M, rank amongst the highest performing in last month's PV USA (PTC) ratings. PTC ratings are quickly becoming universally accepted standards for measuring real-world module power and performance.

The PTC measurement, a mandatory test in the State of California, measures a PV system's power output at atmospheric conditions that closely resemble true solar and climatic variable conditions. A higher PV rating indicates higher actual production on-site per-watt installed, which translates directly into higher rebates for system owners.

“With this industry recognition, it is again confirmed that Canadian Solar brings high quality products to market,” said Scott Gordon, Vice President Sales, Residential for HelioPower. “We are very pleased to offer Canadian Solar modules to our customers because of their compelling value proposition.”

Resource: Go Solar California, List of Eligible SB1 Guidelines Compliant Photovoltaic Modules http://www.gosolarcalifornia.ca.gov/equipment/pvmodule.html

If you received a letter and selection form recently mailed from Southern California Edison’s (SCE) to Net Energy Metered (NEM) customers, as required by AB 920, this information if for you.  On October 11, 2009, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed Assembly Bill 920 (AB920 – Huffman – Solar and Wind Generation) into law.  This law addresses several aspects of renewable energy in California.  One provision of the law that directly affects SCE NEM customers is a requirement that SCE offer customers compensation for any net surplus electricity generated over a 12-month period.

AB 920 also requires that the California Public Utilities Commission set the compensation amount for surplus electricity by January 1, 2011.  The compensation amount will be used to pay eligible customers for net surplus electricity generated during their relevant period ending in 2011.  SCE will notify customers of the compensation amount as soon as it is established; then, they will have the option to either receive payment for their surplus electricity, or have the surplus electricity credited towards their electricity usage in their next relevant period.

Note that although SCE is automatically enrolling its NEM customers in the compensation option beginning with customer's next relevant period, customers have the option to end their current relevant period now and start a new relevant period for tracking their surplus energy.  To do this, SCE customers are encouraged to fill out the form which was mailed to them in January and return it to notify SCE of their choice.

When available, the revised NEM tariff will be posted online at: www.sce.com/schedulenem.

SCE is available to assist with any questions regarding these new options. Please feel free to contact SCE Customer Service:

Residential NEM Customers
(866) 701-7868

Business NEM Customers
(866) 701-7869  

Source:  Mercury News. 

SANTA CRUZ – What's likely to become the nation's largest solar loan program is in line for $16.5 million of stimulus funds, setting the stage for potentially hundreds of millions of dollars for small energy projects across California, including Santa Cruz County.

The grant, announced Thursday by the California Energy Commission, will fund the administration of a 14-county financing district where homeowners and businesses can pay for solar and other energy efficiency improvements through an assessment on their property taxes.

"We're taking away the (financial) barrier for people who want to do the right thing to protect their bottom line and help the environment," said Virginia Johnson, executive director of Santa Cruz-based Ecology Action, which is helping coordinate the state effort.

With the federal funding, the so-called CaliforniaFIRST program is poised to begin this summer with financing of up to $35,000 for homeowners and $75,000 for businesses, with interest rates between 7 and 8 percent. The financing term is 20 years, with debt staying with the home or business if the property sells.

Administrators say the program will go a long way toward curbing greenhouse gas emissions and staving off global warming as well as generate as many as 2,000 jobs in the emerging green economy.

"It's the economic impact and the environmental benefits that make this program," said Johnson.

Before CaliforniaFIRST took shape, with Sacramento County as the lead administrator, several cities and counties struggled to start their own solar financing programs. While some went forward in places like Berkeley and Sonoma County, many remained stymied by the high cost of startup and liability.

"It would have taken a lot longer to get this happening here (without the grant). Our county does not have a lot of discretionary revenue right now," said Santa Cruz County Supervisor John Leopold, who has long advocated for a local financing program.

The larger 14-county program, which goes as far south as San Diego and north to Yolo County, spreads the operating costs and will allow for lower interest rates, administrators say. Oakland-based Renewable Funding is handling the financing while the federal stimulus money will cover the administrative expense – with no tab for participating governments.

Within the two-year "pilot" period, at least $25 million will be loaned out and as much as $200 million, administrators say.

The financing will be available for a range of work from solar panel installation to upgrading heating, water systems and windows and doors, many of these projects expected to pay for themselves through energy savings.

In Santa Cruz County, where residents of all four cities and the unincorporated areas will be able to participate, local advocates say the loans will lure as much as $60 million in construction work and hundreds of new jobs.

The new funding for CaliforniaFIRST was part of a $110 million award through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, earmarked for retrofitting homes, businesses and municipal buildings.

The allocations announced Thursday need a final sign-off by the board of the California Energy Commission before the money, administered by the California Recovery Task Force, is handed down.

"California has always been and will continue to be the national leader in advanced energy efficiency efforts – efforts that continue to reduce energy use, greenhouse gas emissions and petroleum dependence," said Herb Schultz, director of the California Recovery Task Force, in a prepared statement.
Counties in Solar financing Program

Alameda County

Sacramento County

San Mateo County

Ventura County

Fresno County

San Benito County

Santa Clara County

Yolo County

Kern County

San Diego County

Santa Cruz County

Monterey County

San Luis Obispo County

Solano County

The SunRun program, which HelioPower offers, enabling homeowners to receive 4 free months of electricity has been extended through the end of February.  If you sign up with SunRun through the end of February, your first 4 months of solar electricity are free! If you sign up in March you get 1 month free.

With HelioPower, this promotion is available to new customers who reside in California. The specific dollar value of the monthly credit will be equal to the value of an average monthly bill for the first year of your solar system. Each homeowner will see the specific value of the promotion credit before they sign a contract. Promotion credits will be applied when the solar system has been installed and is operating, and will appear as a credit on your monthly SunRun bill.

For more information, please visit us at www.HelioPower.com and click on the Four Free Months button.

Palm Desert solar installation by HelioPower

The City of Palm Desert has announced the upcoming release of $6 million in new funding for its popular Energy Independence Program. Half of the new funds will be dedicated to loans for energy efficiency improvements with the other half reserved for loans for solar projects. The funding will be available to Palm Desert property owners who submit a completed loan application beginning Monday, February 8. 

The City’s Office of Energy Management, 73-510 Fred Waring Drive, will accept applications from Palm Desert property owners on a first-come, first-served basis. Property owners can apply in person by appointment only. Applications submitted by contractors on behalf of property owners will be accepted by appointment with a limit of one application per company each day.

Applications will be reviewed by Office of Energy Management staff, with written notification of approval provided to customers when their application is officially complete. Staff will schedule appointments with customers whose applications are complete to review and discuss the loan documents and processing. If an application is deemed incomplete, notification will be sent to the property owner that they must resubmit. Resubmissions will be accepted while funds are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Since its creation by the Palm Desert City Council in August 2008, the Energy Independence Program has helped nearly 190 Palm Desert residents and businesses get more than $5 million in loans for solar panels, high efficiency air conditioning and heating systems, and other permanent energy efficiency improvements.

The program makes these energy saving measures more affordable by allowing the City to loan money to residents and businesses at competitive interest rates without the credit checks or appraisals associated with home equity and other types of personal loans. Borrowers can repay the loans over time as part of their property taxes. If the property is sold, the improvements and the outstanding loan balance can be transferred to the new owner.

The Energy Independence Program’s goal is to stimulate investment in energy efficiency and conservation, thereby decreasing energy demand, boosting power generation from renewable sources, and reducing energy costs. When combined with the City’s Set to Save program, it is part of a strategy to reduce energy consumption and demand in Palm Desert by 30 percent over five years.
 
Applications are available at the Office of Energy Management and online at  http://www.cityofpalmdesert.org/Index.aspx?page=484. To schedule an appointment and for more information, please call the Palm Desert Office of Energy Management at 760-837-0287.

For more than 18 months now, California cities and counties have been empowered to offer residents and

Riverside commercial solar installation for Monster Media assisted by city rebate program, installed by HelioPower

 businesses a cost-effective way to install solar panels and other energy-saving measures, yet so far only two cities in the Inland Empire have taken advantage of it – Palm Desert and Yucaipa.

If that’s because too few people understand the scope and power granted them by the signing of Assembly Bill 811, they will now have the opportunity to unravel the mysteries of this program and its potential for their city.  On Feb. 9, UC Riverside will host the AB-811 Symposium, featuring guest speakers from Inland Empire city and county governments, public utilities, solar and electrical contractors.

“The city of Riverside is committed to becoming a Clean and Green city,” said Mayor Ron Loveridge, an early advocate of AB-811 and the opening speaker at the symposium. “Our goal is to increase our renewable energy sources, such as geothermal, hydro, wind and solar.”

HelioPower's Scott Gordon, Vice President of Residential Sales will join the roster of industry experts. HelioPower has installed many projects in the Palm Desert and Inland Empire areas, including the design and installation of the first project under the Riverside Municipal commercial solar rebate program and currently works with other group buying programs. "The combination of AB811 and private enterprise promises to make the dream of solar possible for a much broader number of California property owners," said Gordon.

The AB-811 Symposium will be held at the UC Riverside’s Highlander Union Building from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 9. The event cost of $35 includes lunch and parking.  Although the event is open the public, it’s specifically aimed at county supervisors, mayors and city council members, department heads, staff and private sector partners.

The major sponsor of  the symposium is Southern California Gas Co.; additional sponsors are the Inland Empire Labor Management Cooperation Committee, Viewpoint Green, and the Inland Empire chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council.

“AB-811 is a fantastic tool,” said Marvin Hudson of Viewpoint Green, a division of Viewpoint Financial in Redlands. “It aids local governments in the fight for economic development by putting people to work and circulating dollars.”

AB-811 grants California communities the ability to allow certain loans to residents, be repaid through assessments that appear on their property tax bills.

This idea, making solar more affordable, could result in cleaner energy, plus new jobs for solar installers.
The first step toward taking advantage of AB-811 is for a city or county to create an “contractual assessment district” within its borders. The symposium will answer such questions as: How do you create your own contractual assessment district? What components to include in your program? How to fund your program? How might you administer your program?

For more information or to register for AB-811 Symposium, contact the Inland Empire Labor Management Cooperation Committee  at (909) 307-3400.  USGBC members may attend at the discount price of $25.