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<tr><td colspan=’2′ style=’text-align:left;color:black;font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;’><strong>Canada company capacity</strong></td></tr>

<tr><td style=’nowrap:nowrap;text-align:left;font-size:12px;font-family:Arial;width:200px;’>Lead Source</td><td style=’width:250px;’> <select style=’width:250px;’ name=’Lead Source’> <option value=’-None-‘>-None-</option> <option value=’Website’>Website</option> <option value=’my solar installer’>my solar installer</option> <option value=’solar panel installer’>solar panel installer</option> <option value=’call in’>call in</option> <option value=’Customer Referral’>Customer Referral</option> <option value=’walk in’>walk in</option> <option value=’Flyer’>Flyer</option> <option value=’Go Canada Solar’>Go Canada Solar</option> <option value=’Trade Show’>Trade Show</option> <option value=’Referral’>Referral</option> <option value=’Google adwords’>Google adwords</option> <option value=’Google adwords express’>Google adwords express</option> <option value=’Solarbrokers’>Solarbrokers</option> <option value=’Direct mail’>Direct mail</option> <option value=’Lawn sign’>Lawn sign</option> <option value=’Telephone sign/Hydro pole signs’>Telephone sign/Hydro pole signs</option> <option value=’Highway signs-road signs’>Highway signs-road signs</option> <option value=’Door hangers’>Door hangers</option> <option value=’Canada Company Capacity’>Canada Company Capacity</option> <option value=’City Directory’>City Directory</option> </select></td></tr>

<tr><td style=’nowrap:nowrap;text-align:left;font-size:12px;font-family:Arial;width:200px;’>Last Name<span style=’color:red;’>*</span></td><td style=’width:250px;’ ><input type=’text’ style=’width:250px;’ maxlength=’80’ name=’Last Name’ /></td></tr>

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<tr><td style=’nowrap:nowrap;text-align:left;font-size:12px;font-family:Arial;width:200px;’>Description </td><td> <textarea name=’Description’ maxlength=’1000′ style=’width:250;’></textarea></td></tr>

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Why You Should Consider Getting Solar Panels Fitted

  You will have heard that solar panels exist. There are now many companies encouraging homeowners to invest in them. While they can be costly upfront, opting for solar panels could save you a fortune in the future. There are many benefits to them, including possilbe tax breaks. Here are the main reasons you should consider getting solar panels fitted to your home.

They’re a Renewable Source of Energy

The sun is always around. Even when it is behind a cloud, the UV rays get through to the solar panels and will always be there. Opting for solar panels means that you have a renewable source of energy straight into your home. There’s no need to worry about that rising cost of coal, oil and gas. You don’t need to worry about the shortage of fossil fuels, and the debate over energy bill costs.

Solar panels come fitted with a way of storing energy, too. That means this renewable source of energy can be used on extremely overcast days and on nights.

Save Money on Energy Bills

Remember that point about no longer having to worry about the cost of energy bills? That’s because you don’t need to work with an energy company to heat or power your home. The solar panels convert the UV rays into energy, so you can use it in a way that suits you. Need to light your living room? No problem! Want to heat your dinner? You can do that.

You get to save a lot of money. The cost of energy bills is constantly on the rise, right now. There are plenty of debates and arguments over this, especially when the cost of the fossil fuels drop. Energy companies just don’t pass the savings on. Yes, there is an initial investment to get the solar panels, but you could save thousands of pounds a year on your energy bills by no longer needing the companies.

Help the Environment

The environment is being damaged through fossil fuels. Every time you use your lights or heat your home, you will add more greenhouse gases to the environment. You can prevent all that with solar panels. The energy comes from the sun; a renewable, organic source. It puts no chemicals into the air, even when you reuse it as electricity or gas.

By protecting the environment, you’re keeping other costs down. You’re also protecting your family and the generations to come.

The Cost of Installation Is Dropping

Once upon a time, it cost tens of thousands of pounds to have the solar panels installed, and only a select few homes could benefit. Things have changed considerably. The technology has become more advanced, and more people are seeing the benefit of them. That means the cost of installation has reduced, along with more homes being able to use them.

Very little maintenance is required after the panels are installed. You can even increase the value of your home when it comes to selling it, so you don’t have to worry about the cost of reinstallation if the need comes.

You Get a Financial Reward

Because of the benefit to the environment, the UK government is offering a financial reward to those who have solar panels. The amount will depend on when the panels were fitted, but either way it means money in your pocket. The tariff continues to drop as more homes take advantage of this benefit, so the sooner you take advantage the better it will be for your bank balance.

New Post has been published on http://bendygo.com/blog/why-you-should-consider-getting-solar-panels-fitted/?%www.bendygo.com%

Why You Should Consider Getting Solar Panels Fitted

  You will have heard that solar panels exist. There are now many companies encouraging homeowners to invest in them. While they can be costly upfront, opting for solar panels could save you a fortune in the future. There are many benefits to them, including possilbe tax breaks. Here are the main reasons you should consider getting solar panels fitted to your home.

They’re a Renewable Source of Energy

The sun is always around. Even when it is behind a cloud, the UV rays get through to the solar panels and will always be there. Opting for solar panels means that you have a renewable source of energy straight into your home. There’s no need to worry about that rising cost of coal, oil and gas. You don’t need to worry about the shortage of fossil fuels, and the debate over energy bill costs.

Solar panels come fitted with a way of storing energy, too. That means this renewable source of energy can be used on extremely overcast days and on nights.

Save Money on Energy Bills

Remember that point about no longer having to worry about the cost of energy bills? That’s because you don’t need to work with an energy company to heat or power your home. The solar panels convert the UV rays into energy, so you can use it in a way that suits you. Need to light your living room? No problem! Want to heat your dinner? You can do that.

You get to save a lot of money. The cost of energy bills is constantly on the rise, right now. There are plenty of debates and arguments over this, especially when the cost of the fossil fuels drop. Energy companies just don’t pass the savings on. Yes, there is an initial investment to get the solar panels, but you could save thousands of pounds a year on your energy bills by no longer needing the companies.

Help the Environment

The environment is being damaged through fossil fuels. Every time you use your lights or heat your home, you will add more greenhouse gases to the environment. You can prevent all that with solar panels. The energy comes from the sun; a renewable, organic source. It puts no chemicals into the air, even when you reuse it as electricity or gas.

By protecting the environment, you’re keeping other costs down. You’re also protecting your family and the generations to come.

The Cost of Installation Is Dropping

Once upon a time, it cost tens of thousands of pounds to have the solar panels installed, and only a select few homes could benefit. Things have changed considerably. The technology has become more advanced, and more people are seeing the benefit of them. That means the cost of installation has reduced, along with more homes being able to use them.

Very little maintenance is required after the panels are installed. You can even increase the value of your home when it comes to selling it, so you don’t have to worry about the cost of reinstallation if the need comes.

You Get a Financial Reward

Because of the benefit to the environment, the UK government is offering a financial reward to those who have solar panels. The amount will depend on when the panels were fitted, but either way it means money in your pocket. The tariff continues to drop as more homes take advantage of this benefit, so the sooner you take advantage the better it will be for your bank balance.

New Post has been published on http://bendygo.com/blog/why-you-should-consider-getting-solar-panels-fitted/?%www.bendygo.com%

Why You Should Consider Getting Solar Panels Fitted

  You will have heard that solar panels exist. There are now many companies encouraging homeowners to invest in them. While they can be costly upfront, opting for solar panels could save you a fortune in the future. There are many benefits to them, including possilbe tax breaks. Here are the main reasons you should consider getting solar panels fitted to your home.

They’re a Renewable Source of Energy

The sun is always around. Even when it is behind a cloud, the UV rays get through to the solar panels and will always be there. Opting for solar panels means that you have a renewable source of energy straight into your home. There’s no need to worry about that rising cost of coal, oil and gas. You don’t need to worry about the shortage of fossil fuels, and the debate over energy bill costs.

Solar panels come fitted with a way of storing energy, too. That means this renewable source of energy can be used on extremely overcast days and on nights.

Save Money on Energy Bills

Remember that point about no longer having to worry about the cost of energy bills? That’s because you don’t need to work with an energy company to heat or power your home. The solar panels convert the UV rays into energy, so you can use it in a way that suits you. Need to light your living room? No problem! Want to heat your dinner? You can do that.

You get to save a lot of money. The cost of energy bills is constantly on the rise, right now. There are plenty of debates and arguments over this, especially when the cost of the fossil fuels drop. Energy companies just don’t pass the savings on. Yes, there is an initial investment to get the solar panels, but you could save thousands of pounds a year on your energy bills by no longer needing the companies.

Help the Environment

The environment is being damaged through fossil fuels. Every time you use your lights or heat your home, you will add more greenhouse gases to the environment. You can prevent all that with solar panels. The energy comes from the sun; a renewable, organic source. It puts no chemicals into the air, even when you reuse it as electricity or gas.

By protecting the environment, you’re keeping other costs down. You’re also protecting your family and the generations to come.

The Cost of Installation Is Dropping

Once upon a time, it cost tens of thousands of pounds to have the solar panels installed, and only a select few homes could benefit. Things have changed considerably. The technology has become more advanced, and more people are seeing the benefit of them. That means the cost of installation has reduced, along with more homes being able to use them.

Very little maintenance is required after the panels are installed. You can even increase the value of your home when it comes to selling it, so you don’t have to worry about the cost of reinstallation if the need comes.

You Get a Financial Reward

Because of the benefit to the environment, the UK government is offering a financial reward to those who have solar panels. The amount will depend on when the panels were fitted, but either way it means money in your pocket. The tariff continues to drop as more homes take advantage of this benefit, so the sooner you take advantage the better it will be for your bank balance.

New Post has been published on http://bendygo.com/blog/why-you-should-consider-getting-solar-panels-fitted/?%www.bendygo.com%

Why You Should Consider Getting Solar Panels Fitted

  You will have heard that solar panels exist. There are now many companies encouraging homeowners to invest in them. While they can be costly upfront, opting for solar panels could save you a fortune in the future. There are many benefits to them, including possilbe tax breaks. Here are the main reasons you should consider getting solar panels fitted to your home.

They’re a Renewable Source of Energy

The sun is always around. Even when it is behind a cloud, the UV rays get through to the solar panels and will always be there. Opting for solar panels means that you have a renewable source of energy straight into your home. There’s no need to worry about that rising cost of coal, oil and gas. You don’t need to worry about the shortage of fossil fuels, and the debate over energy bill costs.

Solar panels come fitted with a way of storing energy, too. That means this renewable source of energy can be used on extremely overcast days and on nights.

Save Money on Energy Bills

Remember that point about no longer having to worry about the cost of energy bills? That’s because you don’t need to work with an energy company to heat or power your home. The solar panels convert the UV rays into energy, so you can use it in a way that suits you. Need to light your living room? No problem! Want to heat your dinner? You can do that.

You get to save a lot of money. The cost of energy bills is constantly on the rise, right now. There are plenty of debates and arguments over this, especially when the cost of the fossil fuels drop. Energy companies just don’t pass the savings on. Yes, there is an initial investment to get the solar panels, but you could save thousands of pounds a year on your energy bills by no longer needing the companies.

Help the Environment

The environment is being damaged through fossil fuels. Every time you use your lights or heat your home, you will add more greenhouse gases to the environment. You can prevent all that with solar panels. The energy comes from the sun; a renewable, organic source. It puts no chemicals into the air, even when you reuse it as electricity or gas.

By protecting the environment, you’re keeping other costs down. You’re also protecting your family and the generations to come.

The Cost of Installation Is Dropping

Once upon a time, it cost tens of thousands of pounds to have the solar panels installed, and only a select few homes could benefit. Things have changed considerably. The technology has become more advanced, and more people are seeing the benefit of them. That means the cost of installation has reduced, along with more homes being able to use them.

Very little maintenance is required after the panels are installed. You can even increase the value of your home when it comes to selling it, so you don’t have to worry about the cost of reinstallation if the need comes.

You Get a Financial Reward

Because of the benefit to the environment, the UK government is offering a financial reward to those who have solar panels. The amount will depend on when the panels were fitted, but either way it means money in your pocket. The tariff continues to drop as more homes take advantage of this benefit, so the sooner you take advantage the better it will be for your bank balance.

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Why More Businesses Are Choosing Solar

For businesses, going green means more than saving the planet or setting a good example in the community. It’s a money matter.

While environmental sustainability and reducing greenhouse gasses are legitimate concerns, the tipping point for many businesses has become the long term cost savings. Seeing no end to the rise in fuel costs, operations managers and business owners are opting for the lower, more predictable costs and rates of return found in solar power systems.

For example, Ontario hydro customers have seen persistent price increases over the past several years, all driven by increased demand for a finite amount of power. The Ontario Energy Board (OEB) Hydro One Ontario rate hike in May of 2015 to 16.1 cents per kWh during peak hours, an increase of 2.1 cents per kWh. Most of the increase is attributed to rises in operational costs for Ontario’s nuclear and hydro-electric facilities.

According to the Ontario Ministry of Energy, monthly electric bills are “expected to increase by about 3.5 per cent per year” over the next 20 years for residential customers. Costs for business customers are expected to follow a similar trend.

With more energy cost increases on the horizon, converting a building into a mini solar power plant makes perfect sense. Unlike other facilities maintenance and operating costs, solar power upgrades are seen as an investment with a known rate of return. After all, why should businesses continue to pay on a hydro bill with no return when offsetting or even eliminating that cost is within reach?

Then there’s the ability to sell excess power back to the grid. Ontario has created incentive programs that help businesses not only switch to solar, but tie in to the grid and become a producer of electricity. With a guaranteed rate of return on locally produced solar power, it’s like having two businesses in one. Because solar production is totally passive, it requires very little from the business to produce revenue.

Rising utility costs isn’t the only reason for switching to solar. Some businesses see the opportunity to get more bang for the buck in building maintenance. Installing a new roof or rewiring a building is costly. But if they can upgrade to solar at the same time, the cost for both projects combined may go down. Strategically timed building renovations can offer even more cost savings for businesses interested in shaving dollars off wherever possible.

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Why More Businesses Are Choosing Solar

For businesses, going green means more than saving the planet or setting a good example in the community. It’s a money matter.

While environmental sustainability and reducing greenhouse gasses are legitimate concerns, the tipping point for many businesses has become the long term cost savings. Seeing no end to the rise in fuel costs, operations managers and business owners are opting for the lower, more predictable costs and rates of return found in solar power systems.

For example, Ontario hydro customers have seen persistent price increases over the past several years, all driven by increased demand for a finite amount of power. The Ontario Energy Board (OEB) Hydro One Ontario rate hike in May of 2015 to 16.1 cents per kWh during peak hours, an increase of 2.1 cents per kWh. Most of the increase is attributed to rises in operational costs for Ontario’s nuclear and hydro-electric facilities.

According to the Ontario Ministry of Energy, monthly electric bills are “expected to increase by about 3.5 per cent per year” over the next 20 years for residential customers. Costs for business customers are expected to follow a similar trend.

With more energy cost increases on the horizon, converting a building into a mini solar power plant makes perfect sense. Unlike other facilities maintenance and operating costs, solar power upgrades are seen as an investment with a known rate of return. After all, why should businesses continue to pay on a hydro bill with no return when offsetting or even eliminating that cost is within reach?

Then there’s the ability to sell excess power back to the grid. Ontario has created incentive programs that help businesses not only switch to solar, but tie in to the grid and become a producer of electricity. With a guaranteed rate of return on locally produced solar power, it’s like having two businesses in one. Because solar production is totally passive, it requires very little from the business to produce revenue.

Rising utility costs isn’t the only reason for switching to solar. Some businesses see the opportunity to get more bang for the buck in building maintenance. Installing a new roof or rewiring a building is costly. But if they can upgrade to solar at the same time, the cost for both projects combined may go down. Strategically timed building renovations can offer even more cost savings for businesses interested in shaving dollars off wherever possible.

New Post has been published on http://bendygo.com/blog/why-more-businesses-are-choosing-solar/?%www.bendygo.com%

Why More Businesses Are Choosing Solar

For businesses, going green means more than saving the planet or setting a good example in the community. It’s a money matter.

While environmental sustainability and reducing greenhouse gasses are legitimate concerns, the tipping point for many businesses has become the long term cost savings. Seeing no end to the rise in fuel costs, operations managers and business owners are opting for the lower, more predictable costs and rates of return found in solar power systems.

For example, Ontario hydro customers have seen persistent price increases over the past several years, all driven by increased demand for a finite amount of power. The Ontario Energy Board (OEB) last increased rates in May of 2015 to 16.1 cents per kWh during peak hours, an increase of 2.1 cents per kWh. Most of the increase is attributed to rises in operational costs for Ontario’s nuclear and hydro-electric facilities.

Source: http://www.torontosun.com/2015/04/20/hydro-rates-going-up-may-1

According to the Ontario Ministry of Energy, monthly electric bills are “expected to increase by about 3.5 per cent per year” over the next 20 years for residential customers. Costs for business customers are expected to follow a similar trend.

Source: http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/en/budget/fallstatement/2010/chapter1.html

With more cost increases on the horizon, converting a building into a mini solar power plant makes perfect sense. Unlike other facilities maintenance and operating costs, solar power upgrades are seen as an investment with a known rate of return. After all, why should businesses continue to pay on a hydro bill with no return when offsetting or even eliminating that cost is within reach?

Then there’s the ability to sell excess power back to the grid. Ontario has created incentive programs that help businesses not only switch to solar, but tie in to the grid and become a producer of electricity. With a guaranteed rate of return on locally produced solar power, it’s like having two businesses in one. Because solar production is totally passive, it requires very little from the business to produce revenue.

Rising utility costs isn’t the only reason for switching to solar. Some businesses see the opportunity to get more bang for the buck in building maintenance. Installing a new roof or rewiring a building is costly. But if they can upgrade to solar at the same time, the cost for both projects combined may go down. Strategically timed building renovations can offer even more cost savings for businesses interested in shaving dollars off wherever possible.

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How much did the solar system cost?

Roof top solar power systems for residential use, are becoming more and more common, especially in Ontario thanks to the microFIT program. So you can find several companies that offer different packages, and prices are changing all the time.

When you consider how much money the microFIT program will pay you, it’s quite feasible to pay part of the cost for the system using a line of credit on your property. If you do that, there’s little cost to you upfront, you have a high degree of confidence that the loan will be completely paid back by the microFIT revenue, and you could end up with a profit at the end of the microFIT contract too.

For a system similar to ours, rated for around 3,000 watts, in 2010 it would have cost you anywhere from $20,000 to $30,000 depending on the exact equipment, wattage, complexity of installation, etc. And depending on when in the year you bought it.

As of 2012, the costs should be less, and the package should include all parts, labour, building permits, inspections, etc. A system equivalent to ours will likely generate about $41,000 in revenue over the next 20 years (based on the payment rate in effect after the two year review of the microFIT program — the rate was over 30% higher when the program was first launched).

In the industry, a common measurement is the cost per installed kilowatt, or even per watt. For example, if a system with a nameplate capacity (ie: manufacturer’s rated output) of 10 kW cost $75,000, then the cost per installed kilowatt would be $7,500, or $7.50 per watt.

For a small residential system, costs have been dropping from as high as $9.00 per watt in 2009, down to $6.00 per watt in 2011, and I think even lower now. It’s hard to get exact figures when speaking generally, since each installation will be different, and some figures you will see are based on the cost-per-watt for the equipment, not the cost-per-watt for having the entire system installed on your roof.

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The Ontario Net-Metering Program

The Ontario Net-Metering Program

MicroFIT not right for you? Net-Metering is a great money-saving alternative!

Ontario’s Net-Metering program gives you fair credit for all the electricity you produce yourself. You only pay for the amount you use. Produce more than you used? The Net-Metering program lets you carry over any excess production for up to 12 months!

Bendygo Solar can install a Net-Metering solar array that in effect locks in your electricity rate for the next 25+ years. For a 10 kW solar PV Net-Metering system on a south-facing roof you only pay 13 cent per kWh for the life of your system! Compare that to today’s average rate of 18.5 ct/kWh. Every time Hydro raises their rates your cost is unchanged and you save more and more.

Ontario Net-Metering Installation Solutions Offered By Bendygo Solar

Bendygo Solar provides professional solar installation services for Ontario’s Net-Metering program. Some of our customers prefer to go the Net-Metering route to lock in the savings on their electrical bill for years to come. We even have existing MicroFIT customers adding a Net-Metering project (the OPA allows for both on the same property)!From an installation perspective there is little difference between a MicroFIT and a Net-Metering project. We can do either one for you.

What is Net-Metering?

The Ontario Net-Metering program is another great way of using a renewable “green” energy technology to generate your own electricity and reduce your monthly costs. If you’re not interested in a MicroFIT solar system, or want nothing to do with the OPA/IESO, then Net-Metering might be the ideal solution for you. Unlike MicroFIT and FIT, there is no contract. There are far fewer rules too!

The Ontario government has mandated that the electrical providers in the province (the official name for an electrical provider is “LDC” for Local Distribution Company) allow for their customers to offset their own electricity use by generating renewable energy, and this is called Net-Metering. The details differ a little from provider to provider, though by-and-large it works the same way.

Net-Metering systems can be up to 500 kW in size, though for most residential customers a typical system size would be 10 kW or less. The trick with Net-Metering is to size the system in such a way that annual energy production is equal or less to your energy use: You can zero out your electrical bill by producing your own electricity, but you do not get a penny for any additional energy production beyond your own use.

To make life a little easier you can ‘store’ any excess energy in the electrical grid, for later use. The way it works is that excess energy can be carried forward against future use for up to 1 year. For solar PV this is great! Any excess production in summer can be used up in winter, when there is little sun. As long as you use up all your excess energy credits within a year life is good!

Net-Metering Process and System Size

First, please be sure to read our MicroFIT page; much of the information there applies to Net-Metering as well (such as Bendygo Solar’s services, system pricing etc.). That said, Net-Metering is of course different from MicroFIT: There is no contract with the OPA/IESO. You can place solar panels anywhere you like, the MicroFIT constraint of practically having to mount panels on a rooftop no longer applies. For Net-Metering ground mounted panels are fine.

At a more fundamental level, with a MicroFIT contract you generate steady income through solar PV, while with Net-Metering you lock in your electrical rate for years to come. We will show several examples of that further down this page.

As mentioned before, with Net-Metering you do not want to produce more electricity than you use on an annual basis. The LDC will not pay you for overproduction, so you want to even out your electrical bill for the year, but no more than that. So what solar system size should you install?

Annual Electrical Use Net-Metering System Size 6,000 kWh annually 5 kW Solar System 7,200 kWh annually 6 kW Solar System 8,400 kWh annually 7 kW Solar System 9,600 kWh annually 8 kW Solar System 10,800 kWh annually 9 kW Solar System 12,000 kWh annually 10 kW Solar System

Each kW of solar PV generates around 1,175 kWh of electricity annually in our area, when installed on an unshaded south-facing roof. With that, it is a matter of taking your electrical bills of the past year and adding them all up. The table on the left shows this.

This is for a nice, south facing unshaded rooftop with a 30 – 45 degree pitch. Any rooftop between east and west can be a suitable rooftop though. The Net-Metering system size can be adjusted as needed. For Net-Metering it does not have to be a rooftop: We can mount solar panels on the ground, though the installation cost for that is somewhat higher.

Net-Metering systems can be up to 500 kW in size. However, the process of applying for the Net-Metering agreement gets quite a bit more complicated for systems that are larger than 10 kW. the cost involved in this goes up as well. For 10 kW and under it is very simple and fast; just one form and the same “meter fee” as for a MicroFIT system.

For larger systems the LDC requires that one goes through “CIA” (Connection Impact Assessment), and that comes at a higher price tag. The result of CIA is a proposal by the LDC that outlines the connection requirements and the cost they will charge to hook up the system to the grid. Depending on the changes the LDC has to make to the system (i.e. a transformer upgrade etc.) it can be costly to connect to the grid. The main point here is that total cost is unclear until after going through CIA.

kWh Cost for Net-Metered Electricity

By investing in a solar installation today, Net-Metering locks in your electricity rate for the next 25+ years. That is the essence of Net-Metering! So how does this work?

Solar PV is very predicable in how many kWh’s it will produce over a long time period. As mentioned, each kW of solar PV will produce about 1,175 kWh of electricity per average year. Solar PV is also very reliable: The warranty on solar panels is 25 years and in actuality they are expected to live for 30+ years. The other expensive part in the system is the inverter, and a conservative estimate would be to assume that it needs to be replaced after about 12 years of service (that is a very conservative assumption, in real-life most inverters should live 20+ years). For accounting purposes we can (again, very conservatively) assume the panels produce electricity for 25 years, and replacing the inverter costs us 1.2 cent per Watt during that time, since that is today’s inverter cost.

By dividing the cost of the solar system (including HST) by the number of kWh’s it produces over 25 years, and adding in 1.2 ct/Watt, we can find out how much each kWh of solar electricity costs. That is what the following table shows. It is clear from the numbers that Net-Metering is well-worth it! Even at today’s prices it is cheaper to make your own electricity, and that only gets better as electricity rates are bound to go up.

Array Size (kW) Annual Energy (kWh) Total Price (CAD) kWh Cost (cent/kWh) 5 5,875 $19,180+HST 16.0 6 7,050 $21,950+HST 15.3 7 8,225 $24,490+HST 14.7 8 9,400 $26,700+HST 14.0 9 10,575 $29,770+HST 13.9 10 11,750 $31,995+HST 13.5

Note: The cost-per-kWh number assumes 25-year life of the system, and adds 1.2 ct/kWh for maintenance (such as replacing the inverter once during this time). The PV array is south facing at a 35 – 45 degree pitch.

With Net-Metering, each kWh your solar array produces offsets a kWh you would otherwise have to buy from your electrical company. So it offsets the cost of that kWh. For most people that cost is around 18.5 ct/kWh at the time this was written (just take your last electrical bill, and divide the total cost including tax etc. by the total kWh’s that were sold to you to find your cost per kWh). Since solar PV is very predictable in what it produces over a long time period, it is easy to calculate how long it would take to generate enough electricity to offset the cost of the system. That is the (simple) payback time.

Payback Time for Net-Metering

The Ontario law that governs Net-Metering also describes how the utilities have to calculate billing, and unfortunately it is about as clear as a sooth-sayer reading the coffee grinds. The long-and-short is that any fixed monthly fees the utility charges will still be there, they cannot be offset through Net-Metering. At the time this was written fixed costs are around $18 for those in “high density” areas, while people in the boonies pay around $34 per month. Using those monthly fees the table to the right shows how long it takes at today’s 18.5 ct/kWh effective rate to earn back the investment in a Net-Metering system.

While those payback times do not look too impressive there is more to the story: Ontario electricity rates are set to increase drastically over the coming years! The 2013 Ontario Energy Plan calls for a 42% jump in 5 years. The expectation at this time is for at least 30% over the next 3 years, and that would put the rate that Net-Metering offsets your bill at 24 ct/kWh by the end of 2017. Using that number the payback time gets much more interesting, as shown in the table to the right!

That is only the tip of the iceberg though: Electricity prices will continue to rise as time goes by, and that will make your Net-Metering system look better and better. Because of that actual payback time will almost certainly be shorter than the numbers listed here. It is hard to give accurate numbers beyond those in the table because so many variables are either unknown at this time, or they differ from case to case.

New Post has been published on http://bendygo.com/blog/the-ontario-net-metering-program/?%www.bendygo.com%

The Ontario Net-Metering Program

The Ontario Net-Metering Program

MicroFIT not right for you? Net-Metering is a great money-saving alternative!

Ontario’s Net-Metering program gives you fair credit for all the electricity you produce yourself. You only pay for the amount you use. Produce more than you used? The Net-Metering program lets you carry over any excess production for up to 12 months!

Bendygo Solar can install a Net-Metering solar array that in effect locks in your electricity rate for the next 25+ years. For a 10 kW solar PV Net-Metering system on a south-facing roof you only pay 13 cent per kWh for the life of your system! Compare that to today’s average rate of 18.5 ct/kWh. Every time Hydro raises their rates your cost is unchanged and you save more and more.

Ontario Net-Metering Installation Solutions Offered By Bendygo Solar

Bendygo Solar provides professional solar installation services for Ontario’s Net-Metering program. Some of our customers prefer to go the Net-Metering route to lock in the savings on their electrical bill for years to come. We even have existing MicroFIT customers adding a Net-Metering project (the OPA allows for both on the same property)!From an installation perspective there is little difference between a MicroFIT and a Net-Metering project. We can do either one for you.

What is Net-Metering?

The Ontario Net-Metering program is another great way of using a renewable “green” energy technology to generate your own electricity and reduce your monthly costs. If you’re not interested in a MicroFIT solar system, or want nothing to do with the OPA/IESO, then Net-Metering might be the ideal solution for you. Unlike MicroFIT and FIT, there is no contract. There are far fewer rules too!

The Ontario government has mandated that the electrical providers in the province (the official name for an electrical provider is “LDC” for Local Distribution Company) allow for their customers to offset their own electricity use by generating renewable energy, and this is called Net-Metering. The details differ a little from provider to provider, though by-and-large it works the same way.

Net-Metering systems can be up to 500 kW in size, though for most residential customers a typical system size would be 10 kW or less. The trick with Net-Metering is to size the system in such a way that annual energy production is equal or less to your energy use: You can zero out your electrical bill by producing your own electricity, but you do not get a penny for any additional energy production beyond your own use.

To make life a little easier you can ‘store’ any excess energy in the electrical grid, for later use. The way it works is that excess energy can be carried forward against future use for up to 1 year. For solar PV this is great! Any excess production in summer can be used up in winter, when there is little sun. As long as you use up all your excess energy credits within a year life is good!

Net-Metering Process and System Size

First, please be sure to read our MicroFIT page; much of the information there applies to Net-Metering as well (such as Bendygo Solar’s services, system pricing etc.). That said, Net-Metering is of course different from MicroFIT: There is no contract with the OPA/IESO. You can place solar panels anywhere you like, the MicroFIT constraint of practically having to mount panels on a rooftop no longer applies. For Net-Metering ground mounted panels are fine.

At a more fundamental level, with a MicroFIT contract you generate steady income through solar PV, while with Net-Metering you lock in your electrical rate for years to come. We will show several examples of that further down this page.

As mentioned before, with Net-Metering you do not want to produce more electricity than you use on an annual basis. The LDC will not pay you for overproduction, so you want to even out your electrical bill for the year, but no more than that. So what solar system size should you install?

Annual Electrical Use Net-Metering System Size 6,000 kWh annually 5 kW Solar System 7,200 kWh annually 6 kW Solar System 8,400 kWh annually 7 kW Solar System 9,600 kWh annually 8 kW Solar System 10,800 kWh annually 9 kW Solar System 12,000 kWh annually 10 kW Solar System

Each kW of solar PV generates around 1,175 kWh of electricity annually in our area, when installed on an unshaded south-facing roof. With that, it is a matter of taking your electrical bills of the past year and adding them all up. The table on the left shows this.

This is for a nice, south facing unshaded rooftop with a 30 – 45 degree pitch. Any rooftop between east and west can be a suitable rooftop though. The Net-Metering system size can be adjusted as needed. For Net-Metering it does not have to be a rooftop: We can mount solar panels on the ground, though the installation cost for that is somewhat higher.

Net-Metering systems can be up to 500 kW in size. However, the process of applying for the Net-Metering agreement gets quite a bit more complicated for systems that are larger than 10 kW. the cost involved in this goes up as well. For 10 kW and under it is very simple and fast; just one form and the same “meter fee” as for a MicroFIT system.

For larger systems the LDC requires that one goes through “CIA” (Connection Impact Assessment), and that comes at a higher price tag. The result of CIA is a proposal by the LDC that outlines the connection requirements and the cost they will charge to hook up the system to the grid. Depending on the changes the LDC has to make to the system (i.e. a transformer upgrade etc.) it can be costly to connect to the grid. The main point here is that total cost is unclear until after going through CIA.

kWh Cost for Net-Metered Electricity

By investing in a solar installation today, Net-Metering locks in your electricity rate for the next 25+ years. That is the essence of Net-Metering! So how does this work?

Solar PV is very predicable in how many kWh’s it will produce over a long time period. As mentioned, each kW of solar PV will produce about 1,175 kWh of electricity per average year. Solar PV is also very reliable: The warranty on solar panels is 25 years and in actuality they are expected to live for 30+ years. The other expensive part in the system is the inverter, and a conservative estimate would be to assume that it needs to be replaced after about 12 years of service (that is a very conservative assumption, in real-life most inverters should live 20+ years). For accounting purposes we can (again, very conservatively) assume the panels produce electricity for 25 years, and replacing the inverter costs us 1.2 cent per Watt during that time, since that is today’s inverter cost.

By dividing the cost of the solar system (including HST) by the number of kWh’s it produces over 25 years, and adding in 1.2 ct/Watt, we can find out how much each kWh of solar electricity costs. That is what the following table shows. It is clear from the numbers that Net-Metering is well-worth it! Even at today’s prices it is cheaper to make your own electricity, and that only gets better as electricity rates are bound to go up.

Array Size (kW) Annual Energy (kWh) Total Price (CAD) kWh Cost (cent/kWh) 5 5,875 $19,180+HST 16.0 6 7,050 $21,950+HST 15.3 7 8,225 $24,490+HST 14.7 8 9,400 $26,700+HST 14.0 9 10,575 $29,770+HST 13.9 10 11,750 $31,995+HST 13.5

Note: The cost-per-kWh number assumes 25-year life of the system, and adds 1.2 ct/kWh for maintenance (such as replacing the inverter once during this time). The PV array is south facing at a 35 – 45 degree pitch.

With Net-Metering, each kWh your solar array produces offsets a kWh you would otherwise have to buy from your electrical company. So it offsets the cost of that kWh. For most people that cost is around 18.5 ct/kWh at the time this was written (just take your last electrical bill, and divide the total cost including tax etc. by the total kWh’s that were sold to you to find your cost per kWh). Since solar PV is very predictable in what it produces over a long time period, it is easy to calculate how long it would take to generate enough electricity to offset the cost of the system. That is the (simple) payback time.

Payback Time for Net-Metering

The Ontario law that governs Net-Metering also describes how the utilities have to calculate billing, and unfortunately it is about as clear as a sooth-sayer reading the coffee grinds. The long-and-short is that any fixed monthly fees the utility charges will still be there, they cannot be offset through Net-Metering. At the time this was written fixed costs are around $18 for those in “high density” areas, while people in the boonies pay around $34 per month. Using those monthly fees the table to the right shows how long it takes at today’s 18.5 ct/kWh effective rate to earn back the investment in a Net-Metering system.

While those payback times do not look too impressive there is more to the story: Ontario electricity rates are set to increase drastically over the coming years! The 2013 Ontario Energy Plan calls for a 42% jump in 5 years. The expectation at this time is for at least 30% over the next 3 years, and that would put the rate that Net-Metering offsets your bill at 24 ct/kWh by the end of 2017. Using that number the payback time gets much more interesting, as shown in the table to the right!

That is only the tip of the iceberg though: Electricity prices will continue to rise as time goes by, and that will make your Net-Metering system look better and better. Because of that actual payback time will almost certainly be shorter than the numbers listed here. It is hard to give accurate numbers beyond those in the table because so many variables are either unknown at this time, or they differ from case to case.

New Post has been published on http://bendygo.com/blog/9-net-metering-rules-to-follow-in-ontario/?%www.bendygo.com%

9 net metering rules to follow in Ontario

Hydro One Net Metering is another method of connecting renewables to the grid and has been the only way for several years. Individuals who install smaller micro-generation PV systems who do not wish to participate in the Standard Offer Program can choose to use the electricity generated for their own consumption.Ontario’s net metering regulation allows you to send electricity generated from renewable sources to the electrical grid for a credit toward your energy costs. Your utility will subtract the value of electricity you supply to the grid from the value of what you take from the grid. What you’ll see on your bill is the “net” difference between those two amounts. If you supply power that is worth more than what you take from the grid over the billing period, you’ll receive a credit that can help lower future energy bills. Net Metering measures the energy you use against the energy you generate (with Renewable Energy equipment) resulting in a ‘net’ energy total from which your bill is calculated. Local Distribution Companies may offer connection under the SOP and/or Net Metering. Here are the highlights of Hydro One’s net metering rules, as one example…

Net Metering Rules

Net Metering excesses cannot be carried forward beyond 1 year; Hydro One does not pay for excess generation.

Your installation must be inspected by the Electrical Safety Authority and requires special plan approval. This approval can take as little as a few days, or as much as a few weeks.

You are required to install an isolation switch (visible, accessible, and lockable) located between the meter and your equipment. It’s small and inexpensive.

If your system is rated at less than 10kW you must install a ‘dual register meter’ which measures consumption independently from generation. Hydro One will pay for this.

If your system is rated greater than 10kW but less than 50kW you must install, at your expense, an interval meter and supply a phone line to it.

You must be a customer of a distributor and you generate primarily for your own use.

The electricity is generated solely from a renewable source such as wind, solar power, or agricultural biomass.

The maximum capacity of the generation facility is 500 kW or less.

New Post has been published on http://bendygo.com/blog/9-net-metering-rules-to-follow-in-ontario/?%www.bendygo.com%

9 net metering rules to follow in Ontario

Hydro One Net Metering is another method of connecting renewables to the grid and has been the only way for several years. Individuals who install smaller micro-generation PV systems who do not wish to participate in the Standard Offer Program can choose to use the electricity generated for their own consumption.Ontario’s net metering regulation allows you to send electricity generated from renewable sources to the electrical grid for a credit toward your energy costs. Your utility will subtract the value of electricity you supply to the grid from the value of what you take from the grid. What you’ll see on your bill is the “net” difference between those two amounts. If you supply power that is worth more than what you take from the grid over the billing period, you’ll receive a credit that can help lower future energy bills. Net Metering measures the energy you use against the energy you generate (with Renewable Energy equipment) resulting in a ‘net’ energy total from which your bill is calculated. Local Distribution Companies may offer connection under the SOP and/or Net Metering. Here are the highlights of Hydro One’s net metering rules, as one example…

Net Metering Rules

Net Metering excesses cannot be carried forward beyond 1 year; Hydro One does not pay for excess generation.

Your installation must be inspected by the Electrical Safety Authority and requires special plan approval. This approval can take as little as a few days, or as much as a few weeks.

You are required to install an isolation switch (visible, accessible, and lockable) located between the meter and your equipment. It’s small and inexpensive.

If your system is rated at less than 10kW you must install a ‘dual register meter’ which measures consumption independently from generation. Hydro One will pay for this.

If your system is rated greater than 10kW but less than 50kW you must install, at your expense, an interval meter and supply a phone line to it.

You must be a customer of a distributor and you generate primarily for your own use.

The electricity is generated solely from a renewable source such as wind, solar power, or agricultural biomass.

The maximum capacity of the generation facility is 500 kW or less.