Size your system properly
Looking beyond energy usage is crucial when planning your solar and battery systems. Here’s a streamlined guide to ensure you size your system wisely:
- Minimum Connection Charge: Verify if your power provider enforces a baseline grid connection fee. In Florida, homeowners face a $30.00 monthly charge, regardless of surplus energy production.
- Battery Usage: Use your battery nightly to lessen dependence on the power grid after sunset. Savings are estimable, but a year’s data will yield accuracy. Ensure your battery includes a no-cycle clause.
- Tier-Based Fees: Anticipate extra costs for systems exceeding a specified size, like Florida’s $400.00 fee for a tier two meter, which is essentially the same as a tier one meter, except for the fee.
- Insurance Requirements: Exceeding tier 2 (11700 AC watts) systems will require acquiring special liability insurance worth $1 million, significantly increasing expenses. The necessity for this insurance is often unexplained by power companies.
Target 90% of your yearly energy needs to optimize your system. This balances cost-effectiveness with utility. For instance, with an annual need of 20,000 Kwh (or 1,665 Kwh monthly) and an average bill of $240.00, consider the following:
- Grid Connection Fee: Incorporate your power company’s $30.00 minimum charge into your system’s size. Any energy above 90% is given freely to the power company to sell to your neighbors.
- Battery Utilization: Subtract an extra 5% from your system’s size if you plan on nightly battery use, adjusting it to 85% of your electricity bill.
- Tier Limitations: opt for a tier-one system to dodge additional fees and insurance requirements.
For a concrete example, if your monthly bill averages $240.00 and you buy 20,000 Kwh yearly from Duke Energy, you might install a system that produces 18,000 Kwh annually, accounting for 90% of your bill. Nightly battery usage could reduce your need to purchase about 1,000 Kwh yearly or 5% of your bill.
Your monthly solar investment could be $199.00, locked in for 30 years. This strategy saves you $40 monthly and provides backup power during outages you currently don’t have. It seems like a no-brainer when you understand how to size your system correctly.