Micro-Grid Energy Systems

What is a Micro-Grid

What is a Micro-Grid?

A micro-grid is an innovative energy system that operates independently or in conjunction with the main power grid. It is a localized power distribution network that generates, stores, and manages electricity on a smaller scale. Unlike traditional centralized power grids, micro-grids offer several advantages in terms of reliability, efficiency, and sustainability.

The Importance of Micro-Grids

Reliability

One of the key benefits of micro-grids is their ability to provide reliable power supply, especially in remote or off-grid areas. By utilizing a combination of renewable energy sources, such as solar panels, wind turbines, or even small-scale hydroelectric generators, micro-grids can ensure a constant and uninterrupted energy supply.

Energy Efficiency

Micro-grids are designed to optimize energy efficiency by minimizing transmission losses. In traditional power grids, electricity travels long distances from centralized power plants to end-users, resulting in significant energy losses along the way. However, with micro-grids, power generation and consumption occur in close proximity, reducing energy waste and improving overall efficiency.

Sustainability

With the increasing focus on sustainable energy solutions, micro-grids play a crucial role in promoting clean and renewable sources of power. By harnessing solar, wind, or other green energy options, micro-grids contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating climate change. Additionally, they provide local communities with greater energy independence and resilience.

Components of a Micro-Grid

Generation

The generation component of a micro-grid comprises various renewable energy sources, such as solar panels, wind turbines, or even biomass generators. These sources convert natural resources into electrical energy, ensuring a sustainable and eco-friendly power supply.

Storage

To ensure a continuous power supply, micro-grids incorporate energy storage systems. These systems store excess energy generated during periods of low demand and release it during peak times or when renewable sources are temporarily unavailable. Common storage technologies include batteries, flywheels, or even pumped hydro storage.

Distribution and Control

The distribution and control component of a micro-grid involves managing the flow of electricity between various sources and consumers. Advanced control systems and smart grid technologies enable efficient monitoring, coordination, and optimization of power distribution within the micro-grid.

Benefits and Applications of Micro-Grids

Rural Electrification

Micro-grids are instrumental in providing electricity to rural and remote areas where extending the main power grid is often economically or logistically challenging. By deploying micro-grids, communities can access clean and reliable energy, powering homes, schools, hospitals, and other essential facilities.

Resilience and Disaster Management

During natural disasters or grid failures, micro-grids can act as a reliable backup power source. They can operate independently, ensuring critical services like emergency response centers, communication networks, and healthcare facilities remain functional during challenging times.

Integration with Existing Grids

Micro-grids can also integrate with the main power grid, providing additional support and resilience to the overall energy infrastructure. By enabling two-way power flow, micro-grids can help balance the grid, manage peak demand, and incorporate more renewable energy sources into the existing system.

In conclusion, micro-grids are revolutionizing the way we generate, distribute, and consume electricity. With their numerous benefits, including reliability, energy efficiency, and sustainability, micro-grids are paving the way for a more resilient and sustainable energy future. By embracing this innovative technology, we can create a decentralized energy system that empowers communities and reduces our carbon footprint.

solarkits

Battery KITS

Safari LiON LT

500 Watt All Purpose

Solar Backup Generator

SALE: Save 15%

LiON Safari ME

2000 watt Heavy Duty

Solar Backup Generator

SALE: Save 15%

Champion Power Equipment

Champion 4250-Watt RV Ready, Open Frame Inverter Generator, Pure Sine Wave,  Quiet Tech!

SALE: $542.00 (SAVE 218.00)

More great deals on our AMAZON Energy Store (below)

Wireless Smart Outlets

SALE: 19.97 (save $15.00)

Pecron E1000 Portable Power

Station 1000W, Pure Sinewave!

SALE: 899.99 (save $300.00)

ALLPOWERS Portable Power

Station 300W – Pure Sinewave!

SALE: 239.99

Stop Watt Energy Saver

SALE: $15.98  (2 pk)

Wireless Smart Outlets

SALE: 15.97 (save $5.00)

Pure Sinewave – 882 Watt Solar

Generator with 5 x 1400W AC

Outlets, Fast Charging!

SALE: 849.00 (save $450.00)

Pure Sinewave – Progeny

300W Portable Power Station

SALE: 238.99 (SAVE $170.00)

LED adjustable 3-Color, desk

lamp with Wireless Charger.

SALE: $28.99 (SAVE $22.50)

Pecron P600 Power

Station with 100W Solar Panels

SALE: $699.99

General Purpose

Generac 7676 8000W

Generator

SALE: $1,279.00

5 Outlets, 4-USBs (1 USB C,

4.2A Total) POWERIVER Wall

Charger and Extended Surge

Protector

SALE: $16.98 (SAVE $5.00)

Easy Traveller Renogy Phoenix Elite Portable Generator, Built-in Solar Panel and 300 Watt Lithium Battery Backup Power Bank –

SALE: $395.99 (SAVE $125.00)

POPULAR MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT USING SOLAR ENERGY OR ANY ALTERNATIVE POWER FOR YOUR HOME

“I Have Solar So I’m Protected in a Grid Outage” — 

 well….Let’s take a closer look…

If you have Solar on your home or intend to use a generator during a grid outage you will not have powerunless you have installed a component called a Transfer switch.

The primary reason is safety of lineman trying to restore power for customers.  Your solar energy system is outfitted with a block during a grid outage to eliminate the possibility of your solar energy power being upconverted into HIGH VOLTAGE while linemen are working to restore power.

When you use a Transfer Switchit keeps the power inside your house preventing it from being returned to the grid while repairs are taking place.


There are several variations of these units and they essentially fall into two categories.

The first is called a whole-house transfer switch and the other is called a protected circuit transfer switch.

The whole-house switch is typically mated to a large battery or generator rated at 14 kWh, 22 kWh or even a 39 kWh to maintain seamless power even if the grid outage occurs at night.

whole-house transfer switch is routinely used with large generators like GENERAC or CHAMPION or KOHLERS or a large battery wall like TESLA, LG CHEM, Enphase, and others and might even include your own DIY battery bank using the latest LiFePO4 batteries.

A whole-house transfer switch will run about $3,000 installed (your are may be higher or lower) and are usually installed with a generator or battery backup system otherwise there is little value in having one

As EV’s become more commonplace, they actually have very large batteries – a 100kW battery is not uncommon for an EV that can run 400 plus miles without a recharge. So guess what?  You CAN use your EV as the battery backup system for your home in an emergency if you have a Transfer Switch!

The transfer switch frankly doesn’t know the difference between an EV battery in your car (and now trucks like the new Ford F-150E) or a Energy Wall battery system or a generator.

Each home is different though in terms of layout and sizing.

Using a transfer switch with a battery or generator may vary from something as small as portable gas generator running 4500 watts to 8500 watts to support 30 Amps of power needs; to a larger whole-house 200 Amp transfer switch system using as I mentioned above, a large battery wall and/or a 22 kW or 39 kW generator. 

We typically use these larger generator systems which are feed with natural gas or propane, in severe weather areas like the Gulf Coast, during hurricanes or the upper Mid-west with severe ice storms, where power can be down for weeks on end.

You may recognize some of the photos of popular transfer switches being used today – (see on the Right)

Protected Circuit Transfer Switch

Protected Circuit Transfer Switch is typically used in areas that have a more stable grid and where interruptions may only occur for 3-4 hours at a time, versus 3-4 weeks, and will target primary importance circuits like furnace, water pumps, refrigerators, etc. When we use a protected circuit transfer switch we only need to focus on 8-10 power circuits which will typicalyl only need 30-50 Amps of power resources.

Click the images to get the full listing in our Amazon store.

IMPORTANT!

Get on our private sale list to stay informed of special incentives throughout the year, available to homeowners, including products with installation labor, and discounts on related electrical service and bundles like HVAC installations, and even water filters for your home.

BTW – if you are looking for a certain product or product technology not currently on the Solar Marketplace, message us and request it to be added, we likely have a special price discount available for you and others who might be looking for similar solutions.

Look for a number of Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries and power wall options coming soon, as parts and component availability have finally recovered from last year’s amazing world-wide impact to product availability.

50 Amp Protected Circuit Transfer Switch
30 Amp Protected Circuit Transfer Switch

shed

Solar for Sheds (standalone off-grid)

Solar Sheds usually fall under the category of DIY systems and can honestly be installed with basic electrical knowledge. There are as many variations for shed systems as there are sheds, but this one is a great example of a balanced solution of power and cost with high quality components.

Solar panel kit – Panels are used to charge the batteries not run the equipment.

For a great all-purpose Solar Shed system, a 400 watt solar array will work very well and the best part it comes with everything you need to install it and energize it – Panels, Inverter, MPPT Charge Controller, Cables, mounting brackets for panels, a pair of safe Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries.

Sometimes you just want to order and have all the pieces in one shipment.

If have questions, take a minute and call and we’ll offer assistance, even on the weekend.

For certain aspects on a shed system like needing support for 220 V equipment, those are the components that require some additional discussion and context to ensure fitness.

Here are some great one-off components if you are trying to simply replace equipment on a Shed system already in operation.

Inverter(s)

For a Shed or a garage, make sure your inverter is a PURE SINE WAVE inverter – do NOT buy a stepped or Modified Sine Wave inverter otherwise you will have issues with tools and sensitive electronic equipment like mobile devices.

Real nice all-purpose inverter that can also be used for a mobile applications.

For applications needing more than 2000 Watts, give us a call or message us at service@cs2energy-f8x97rhcdh.live-website.com  to discuss related components that are required to build the system properly.

Batteries

For your shed you can choose from Sealed Lead Acid, AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) or the current crop of Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries.

Quick reference:

Typical sizes for batteries are 6V, 12V, 24V and 48V.  For Shed systems 6V or 12V batteries can be combined in Series and/or Parallel to create higher voltage designs.  In many cases you will see 4-8-12 or even 16 batteries being used to create the energy source needed for power requirements.

GOOD

  • Sealed Lead Acid (SLA)  require venting so cannot be used indoors
  • Most inexpensive based upon price alone BUT, cannot be discharged more than 50% of the rated capacity, so you really have to re-calculate the real operating costs before you buy.
  • SLA batteries are readily available from many sources making them a good choice for DIY projects
  • Typical lifecycle for SLA batteries is 3-5 years then they will likely begin to exhibit symptoms like inability to hold a charge
  • SLA batteries are readily available in anywhere from 35 Amp Hour to 120 Amp Hour sizes
  • SLA batteries require maintenance to ensure fluid levels are at the correct levels.

BEST

  • Currently the best battery technology is LiFePO4, and are also the most expensive
  • LiFePO4 batteries typically come in 12V, 24V and 48V power rating
  • LiFePO4 can be discharged 100% but better to limit that to 80% to minimize recharging times.
  • These are the current Go-TO battery technology for Off-Grid, large shops, Residential applications with batteries
  • One 48V LiFePO4 battery can produce 5,120 watts of power
  • Lifecycle of these batteries is 5,000 – 7,000 charge/discharge cycles or about 10-15 years or longer
  • An issue for LiFePO4 batteries is that they do not like real cold weather. Anything below freezing the built in battery management system will shut down re-charging…which could be a problem in many locations. These batteries perform best indoors or at least with a triggered warmer which is usually a feature of the more sophisticated Inverters used for Off-Grid and Grid-Tie projects

So, the takeaway is that for an outdoor shop or shed that will be exposed to cold weather, utilizing 2 – 6 12V AGM 200 Amp Hour batteries make a great power solution in combination with 400-800 watts of solar panels.

Solar Panel Bundles

Charge Controller for the Batteries

A charge controller protects batteries from over charging when using Lead Acid or AGM batteries. Typically only the newer LiFePO4 batteries come with battery management systems. These are too terribly expensive and usually start around $20 and go up. For a shed with limited use, these items will work fine.  If you are planning to use your shed as a man cave or a she shed, then spend a few dollars and get a higher quality controller for $75 – $100.

Fuses

Whenever you have a battery in your system you will want to use at least an inline fuse to protect the battery from being over drawn or over charged

  • Wires & Cables
  • Distribution panel
  • Ground Rod(s)
  • Outlets

energy-rates

ENERGY RATE CHANGES will be a major Negative Impact to All Americans!

Proposed energy rate changes on electricity including the use of solar energy and Net Energy Metering will result in major rate hikes starting in late 2022.

This policy brainstorm is rooted in California as the result of California PUC making it more and more difficult for people to access energy.

Unfortunately California “environmental” policies have a nasty habit of replicating like rabbits across the nation.

When these changes hit your neighborhood it will impact regular grid rates and will likely be accompanied by Time of Use or Time of Day fee rates which were primarily used for commercial applications.

That means we will be charged the HIGHEST RATES for using electricity when you need it the most, which is typically late afternoon after school into early evening when you prepare dinner and do the clothes.

DO NOT BE A VICTIM!

You can prevent all this melee by moving to Solar Energy as your primary energy source whiel connected to the grid for convenience.

Change how you acquire energy. You are going to be using Solar Energy one way or the other as a result of Federal legislation forcing utilities to go green.

You will either continue RENTING electricity from the utility for 18 – 25 cents per kWh or you can OWN IT  for about 5-8 cents/kWh depending upon whether you use a roof mount or a ground mount solution.

Reserve your benefits for zero-out-of-pocket transition to use Solar Energy with the New Solar RE-FI program!

Your system will be PAID-IN-FULL at closinglocking in super low electric rates for the future and reducing your monthly electric bill to only a nominal “Access Fee” that typically varies from about $9/mo to $35/mo depending upon which utility serves your area.

Each utility ‘s Access Fee is different so Call Now to clarify yours

The point being that when you own your solar energy power your home is EXEMPT from all future rate hikes from the utility.

You will likely have q2uestions about batteries and what happens during a grid outage and ALL of those questions can be answered in a short telephone discussion – Call us Now to get answers and protect your family from these outrageous policy changes heading our way…

This technique or solution isn’t new, its the same common sense we apply when we decide to RENT a house or BUY it with financing.

Paying for RENTING electricity today...
AFTER using a Solar Re-Fi to OWN your electricity

Important Changes To Electric Billing for 2022

1) Utility companies are moving to Time of Use (TOU) or Time of Day (TOD) pricing models.

2) TOU/TOD pricing may DOUBLE or TRIPLE your electric bill…

3) There is still No ROI renting electricity

SOLUTION:

  • Qualify your home for the New Solar Re-Fi program
  • No Fees Required for qualifying
  • Start Off the New Year Right!

nem3

(Comments in blue are from us… So how do YOU feel about government interference in the market)

Solar power industry slams latest proposed California Net Energy Metering Regulations (NEM 3.0) to reduce subsidies paid to homeowners!

California regulators proposed significant changes to the state’s solar incentive program in a move vehemently opposed by industry advocates.

The new policy would reduce payments granted to solar customers for the excess power they generate — a policy known as net-energy metering — and add monthly charges for customers. These changes would apply to new customers as well as consumers and businesses who already have rooftop panels.

 

Beware the best intentions of Government regulators...

The California Public Utilities Commission said the proposed changes, in a decision known as NEM 3.0, are meant to encourage consumers to install battery storage systems alongside solar panels, so they can store the excess power generated by solar panels and feed it back to the grid when it’s most needed.

Although we encourage homeowners to use batteries where it is warranted, THAT decision should be the HOMEONWER's decision, NOT forced compliance by and through government regulators

Solar adopters have traditionally been wealthier consumers, given the high up-front cost of installing a solar system, and the state’s utility companies have long argued that other customers are unfairly subsidizing grid costs for these solar customers. In the 204-page document, the regulatory body said that the current net-energy metering policy “disproportionately harms low-income ratepayers.”

The proposed changes would also create a $600 million fund to help low-income customers gain access to distributed clean energy.

(hmmm, more Free stuff for people who don’t pay bills)

Southern California Edison, one of the state’s largest utility companies, said the proposed decision is a “meaningful step toward modernizing California’s rooftop solar program.”

Southern California Edison, one of the state’s largest utility companies, said the proposed decision is a “meaningful step toward modernizing California’s rooftop solar program.”

But solar companies and advocacy groups were quick to sound the alarm. California has the highest number of residential solar customers across the U.S. — more than 1.3 million — and the incentive program has been a key driver of that growth.

Solar executives said that the elevated costs under the new proposal will significantly dampen growth since the policies will increase the payback period — that is, how long it takes for a customer to make back their initial investment due to lower electric bills.

 

Is the industry being protectionist? - The answer is, of course. And why not, we actually SOLVE energy problems not create them, or make them worse with "best intentions"

The Solar Energy Industries Association said it’s working on its own calculation to determine the payback period under the new policy, and argued that the proposal would create the “highest solar tax in the country and tarnish the state’s clean energy legacy.

“The last thing we need is to go backward on our climate goals,” Abigail Ross Hopper, president and CEO of SEIA, said in a statement. “The only winners today are the utilities, which will make more profits at the expense of their ratepayers,” she added. “California is now on the wrong path.”

The California Solar & Storage Association echoed this statement, saying “CPUC proposed a giveaway to investor-owned utilities that would boost utility profits at the expense of energy consumers, family-supporting jobs, and California’s clean energy future.”

Solar executives also weighed in, saying the proposal would “impose the highest discriminatory charges on solar and energy storage customers in the U.S., putting rooftop solar and batteries out of reach for countless families in California just as more households are demanding that the state do more to combat climate change and provide them with reliable, sustainable energy.”

This is a warning for you as a homeowner – make your feelings known about these ridiculous government interference policies and your right to choose.

The proposed decision is not final. A comment period will now follow, with the full commission voting on a final decision no sooner than Jan. 27. The ultimate decision could wind up looking nothing like Monday’s proposed decision.

Complicating matters further, the CPUC’s president — one of the five commissioners — is set to step down at the end of this year.

Interesting – I wonder if he will show up on the Board of utility company…

Monday’s decision follows a process that’s been going on for months. A number of parties, including SEIA and the California Solar & Storage Association, submitted proposals for the committee to review in March. California’s three largest utility companies — PG&E, SoCal Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric — submitted a joint proposal.

Other groups, including The Utility Reform Network and the Natural Resources Defense Council, also offered proposals on what California’s solar policy should look like going forward. There was wide variety among those proposals.

(article excerpts from original www.cnbc.com column)

 

FREE Consultation

Call 719.671.5000 or email service@cs2energy-f8x97rhcdh.live-website.com to request a Free Consultation on using Solar Energy for your home –

Services

CS2Energy provides State of the Art Solar Energy Systems, options for up to 30 year warranty, Battery and Storage, Backup Generators and Off-Grid Solutions

Solar RE-FI

The coming changes to the Net Energy Metering regulations is a perfect inventive for you to use a Solar RE-FI to acquire an entire custom designed solution for Zero out of pocket!

All the services you need, all in one place.

We offer a wide range of Solar Energy services to meet almost every type for homeowners.

Let us help you discover whether using Solar Energy is even a good fit for your home – not every homeowner can qualify to use Solar Energy as much as we would like that to be true —

answer

Time of Day/Time of Use Utility Pricing, Net Metering, Solar Energy Evolution & Benefits

Its OK to be excited about moving to Solar Energy for your home, and there are some recent changes in electric policies that you will want to know about.

The primary program for using Solar Energy for your residential property falls under the tariff for a program called Net Metering with Solar Energy (or NMEP), which allows a homeowner to OWN their energy and take advantage of the utility company paying you for excess energy you don’t consume from your system…   

That’s a great draw for most homeowners, I’m sure you would agree.

A few years ago there were no limits on how large of a system a homeowner could build and the utility companies starting having to deal with large amounts of excess energy coming back to their grid that they had no place to store it.  Predictably, tariffs were “amended”, which is a kind way of saying “no longer in the homeowner’s interest.”

Today in most utility service areas, a homeowner is allowed to build a maximum size solar system of

10 kW or one that produces not more than 120% of their current consumption based on their actual billing information.

The issue that comes up is that SUMMER-time there are large demands on electric especially if you use central A/C. In July and August and sometimes September, you may use more energy than your panels can actually produce from a 10 kW system.

For those cases you simply use more grid electricity at what ever the going rate is for your area.  You may end up with a single month bill of anywhere from $50 – $250 in those circumstances if you are a large electric user.

There is a great way to overcome this limitation by adding a battery or two or three to your solar energy system to provides that extra renewable power to supplement higher usage times and ensure that you *ZERO-out your electric bill every month.

* ZERO means you are producing ALL of your electric needs with your Solar/battery

power and still be able to sell back the excess to the utility company – which is why

why most homeowners want to be on solar energy

 “Wait a minute…Are You Serious – the utility company PAYS me?”

Yes!  Call 719-671-5000 to learn more about Net Metering Energy Credits and how to use a battery to Offset those energy spikes in the Summer and Winter and how this hybrid system design protects you from a grid outage as well!

…and be sure to ask about our new SRF program that allows you to acquire, install and pay-off your entire system at installation!

tod

Time of Day / Time of Use Utility Pricing

First – What Is It?

TOD/TOU pricing is the utility’s policy to charge different cost rates for electricity depending upon the time of day or the time you “use” electricity.

In general the rates for TOD/TOU outside of the 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM range are about half the current rates you pay today. The weekends are also usually at lower rates.

As with most everything, context is useful.

On the surface you are thinking Hey – have the regular rates – that is awesome – finally some relief from high electric rates!

And you may be be able to enjoy that benefit if you are retired or find yourself being able to work from home the better part of the day, and in that case this may be a useful feature. Remember though, nothing is FREE, and these rates are subject annual uplift as they are now and may have additional “adjustments” over time.

Let’s take a closer look…

PRO’s

  • Low cost outside fo the 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM range
  • Low cost on the weekends
  • now fees or adjustments to your current account are required

CON’s

  • During the 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM period your rates may be 2-3 times HIGHER than they are now.
  • You come home from work, its 99 degrees outside you instinctively turn the A/C on high, you know, just to cool the house down…in fact you will probably NOT do that under TOD as you will see your electric bill jump substantially

OK, so maybe we’ll just be HOT till 9:00PM and then we can really cool off the house –

Let’s continue.

What else do families do between 4:30 PM and 7:00 PM every evening after the kids get home from school and the parents get home from work?

  • Cook food
  • Do the clothes
  • Wash dishes
  • Run the Dryer
  • Take showers

So if you have electric appliances, especially an electric dryer, or water heater, you are going to be in for a shock – UNLESS – you just put off everything till the weekend  or eat dinner at 9:30 PM.

Like it or not, we have all become addicted to convenience – we want what we want and we want it NOW.

So there will be lifestyle impacts you will only be able to guess about until you actually live through it.

If we did not have years of actual data about these anomolies from places like California, Texas and Florida you might be able to say – “Hey, you are pushing solar energy products, so of course you are going to focus on the doom and gloom” – you coudl say that, it wouldn’t be correct, but you could say that.

If you are watching the handwriting on the wall though you will quickly see that these anomalies have NOTHING TO DO WITH SOLAR ENERGY companies, these events transpiring are the result of an overwhelmed Utility grid that has relied far too long upon NON-renewable energy that is NOT SCALABLE to the degree it needs to be to handle the growth of population any given area .

OK – so how do we fix this?  People generally want a magic pill to FIX STUFF, so let’s see what’s in the ole medicine cabinet…

Options

1) Well, without being overly obtuse, STOP using electricity and these problem go away now – but like I said we are addicted to convenience – so this option is really not going to fly.

2) With TOD/TOU pricing – CHANGE when you eat, do your clothes, heat and cool your house – again that convenience thing rears its ugly head so people don’t like being impacted in their daily activities, so this option won’t last too long either.

3) Change the type of appliances you use from Electric to Gas — OK, now we are on a legitimate path to success – did you know that you electric dryer alone can consume 3,500 kWhs a year or MORE if you have a small family and are soing laundry 2-3 times a week. This is a workable option and if you scout around and watch for the LOWE’s and HOME DEPOT ads , you can solve a large amount of your problem with different appliances. 

So this option is an MKS (Maybe-Kinda-Sorta)

4) Don’t be mad, but, MOVE to a different location not using TOU/TOD pricing – this of course is ripe with a number of logistic and personal issues not to mention the expense of the move itself – I’d have to mark this option generally speaking as a NO-GO, unles you getting read y to move to Bermuda and live on  island that does not need a whole lot of electricity.

5) If we apply some common sense to this matter, and realize that very people want to change the way they live to accommodate a lower electric bill, then the last option is to find a way to get CHEAPER electricity that is NOT subject to rate hikes or “policy changes” you cannot control — some of you already guessed… which is correct –

install solar energy that you OWN

Here are the benefits and conveniences of using renewable energy –

  • ZERO cost to implement unless you choose to pay for it up front, in which case your electric bill is eliminated* and drops to next to nothing
  • Your Solar Energy systems that you own, is connected to the grid, the same grid you rent energy from today – except, instead of you PAYING them – THEY PAY YOU for any excess electricity you do not consume in your home – No Matter what time of the day it is.
  • Solar energy is an asset that ADDS value to your home – there is a government watchdog agency called Lawrence Berkeley Laboratories in Washington (www.LBL.gov) who shows that homes with solar energy gain 6%-8% of home value after installation which continues to compound over the life of the ownership
  • You decide when to use your energy, not some energy policy dictated by a nameless accountant at a utility company
  • If any of this strikes a chord, kindly know this is the last year you are eligible to claim a 26% Tax Credit on your system installed 2022, for the average home that amounts to about $6,000 is tax credits and larger homes can claim as much as $17,0000 – $19,000 – your will likely fall somewhere ion the middle of that range.

Lastly -let me share that like most new technology there is a lot of marketing fluff that you have to sort through to find the truth, except here, where we help you do the sorting up front before you invest one penny of your hard earned money.

We constantly update this data, so if you should come across an article that dispels what I have written hear – call me, I’m not perfect and sometimes make a mistake and is that is the case, I will take the lumps and correct the data.

Solar Energy itself is in fact perfect, the conversion of that Light into electricity by human hands is subject to ongoing evolution and improvement and that’s what we focus on, watching the technology and knowing when to adopt it and when to wait.

Here is an example –

Just a year ago using batteries with solar for your home was REALLY EXPENSIVE, the COIVD crisis magnified that more than necessary with impacts to manufacturing and distribution.

TODAY however adding a battery to your solar energy system will allow you to reduce the number of panels on your roof, be able to STORE excess energy before you send the balance to the grid, and provide the BEST way to manage your energy for your home.

We don’t do wild-assed guessing for a design. It is based upon your actual usage, so we ask to analyze your most recent electric bill to provide an initial design report for your review.

This analysis ensure that we stay within the guidelines set forth by energy policy at the Utility company, which keeps you out of trouble BEFORE we do the installation.

Is this article makes sense and you want to at least see if you home might be able to use Solar Energy with the benefits I described above, then call or email: service@cs2energy-f8x97rhcdh.live-website.com – simple include your street address and your preferred phone or email and we can do the rest over a a 2-minute conversation to see if this technology makes sense or not.

nmep

Net Metering for solar energy

Net Metering for solar energy (NMEP) provides a direct way for homeowners to

  • own their electricity
  • reduce and lock your electric rate at or below what you are paying today
  • exempt your home from All future PUC rate hikes, and

The Net Metering renewable energy program (NMEP) is administered by local power companies in each state under the guidance of each respective state’s Public Utilities Commission.

Back in 2015 the Federal EPA announced an energy policy change that terminated licensing of all fossil fuel (i.e. coal-fired, heavy oil) power plants. As a result, each state’s PUC was required to develop a strategy to decommission their remaining fossil fuel power plants by 2030 or before. Over the last few years the decommissioning process has moved faster than expected and the first coal-fired power plants will be decommissioned in early 2023 –

The impact of decommissioning a power plant is simple…your electric rates go up about 30% – 50%!

The impact of moving to Time of Day or Time of Use utility pricing will cause your electric BILL to go up 50% – 100%, if yuou have a friend in California, ask them whwat their average bill BEFORE Time of Day (TOD) pricing and what it is now.

NMEP is available to all homeowners, but nobody talks about this!

NMEP is designed to extend homeowners excellent benefits and incentives to integrate solar energy as the primary power source for their home, while remaining connected to the grid, which allows the homeowner to take advantage of earning energy credits throughout the day for all excess energy produced and not consumed by your home..

Solar energy generators have no moving parts and are extremely resilient to hail, wind and water withstanding hail-storms routinely seen on the Gulf coast and “Tornado alley” in the mid-west, which have recorded hailstorms and wind speeds in excess of 250 mph.

In the past, IF your solar panels get damaged by a weather event you have likely been in a Tornado and repairs and reconstruction to your home will also be necessary, and would then require a homeowner’s insurance claim. However, this concern is now moot as systems warranties are readily available with 25-year warranty!

When Solar energy generators panels are exposed to sunlight they generate electricity at fixed cost (about 6-8 cents per kWh).

Because you own your solar energy generators, your future electric cost is contained and fixed, and exempt for all future utility rate hikes.

Your cost of electricity then ultimately goes to ZERO after your NMEP equipment is paid off; which is not even an option when you’re RENTING electricity as you do today!

Annual electric rates typically rise 3.5% – 5% a year and are rarely if ever denied. For context, in 2004 the average cost of electricity was about 4 cents per kWh…versus 11-18 cents today!

If you could have capped your electric rate at 4 cents by paying a fixed monthly fee back then, would you have done so?

NMEP is your second chance to do this now and still take advantage of the 26% tax credit gift from the government!  That’s right, the 26% Federal tax credits have been extended for 2021!

Delaying the use of NMEP for your home means you are consciously giving up a 26% free gift from the government. For an average home, that amounts to $5,500 or MORE!

How To Register to use NMEP to OWN your own electricity…

1. Locate your last electric statement

2. Click -> here to upload your (paperless) statement – If you do not have a PDF paperless statement, simply TXT a clear copy of the front and back of your paper statement to 719.671.5000.

house

Solar Energy for Houses (Grid-Tie & Off-Grid)

Residential Solar solutions use what is known as a “Grid-Tie” connection, meaning your home remains connected to the grid for energy access at night after the sun goes down.

For an off-grid solution, batteries are most commonly used to provide power at night after being charged again when the sun comes back up in the morning by your solar panels.  Batteries also allow you to store energy that is not being consumed instead of wasting it.

Utilities are moving to adopt Time of Day or Time of Use power pricing. That simply means we will pay the highest amount for electricity during the 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM period, which of course is when most families are all coming home from work, making dinner, washing clothes, taking baths, etcetera…

The takeaway:  Don’t stress about this right now – to combat this pricing model, batteries are readily available and can be used just like in a off-grid scenario.

Request your instant estimate below and let’s determine if Solar Energy will help you take back control of your power.

Ask about our 7YR Same As Cash financing option, or, if you have a mortgage – ask about our new SRF program… call 719.671.5000

solarenergy

Time of Day/Time of Use Utility Pricing, Net Metering, Solar Energy Evolution & Benefits

Thanks for stopping by  —

When a homeowner considers the use of solar energy there are a number of questions and concerns which need some context to help you make an informed decision.

Let’s shed some light on what’s really going on in the industry.

The push to adopt and encourage homeowners to use solar energy, especially over the last five years has been fueled by Federal level energy policy changes which have dripped down to the State and local levels.

In 2015, the Federal government made sweeping Energy policy changes that prevent any new fossil-fuel plants from being licensed and those in operation must be converted to renewable energy or be shut down – THAT….is a big issue as most of the power generation today is still provided by coal-fired and natural gas fired plants.

On the front range of Colorado the remaining coal-fired pants are actively being rebuilt to provide power using essentially Solar, Wind and Battery power with several of these remaining plants being shutdown THIS YEAR!

Each time a power plant is decommissioned, predictably our consumer prices push UPWARD, which should not be a surprise as each power plant is connected to a state and National grid allowing “power” to be moved or transferred from grid to grid. 

The push to adopt Time or Day or Time of Use pricing is problematic for most families as the time of day the highest cost per kWh occurs is between 3:00 PM and 9:00 PM, which is when many families come home from school, start to prepare dinner and perhaps wash and dry clothes throughout the week.

The impact of TOD/TOU Pricing can resulting doubling or tripling your electric bill which is exactly what we’ve seen happen in California over the last five years since they began to push this “environmental protection” idea.

So what can we do as homeowners to fight these ridiculous energy rate increases?

Let’s have a look —

1) Do Nothing, this is always the easiest, suck it up, pay the power bill, and give up some other convenience to cover the Bill.

The limitations of this option are self-evident as it ignores the root problem.

2) Reduce your electricity consumption – if you have not already done so, change to LED light bulbs, turn up the A/ even 2 degrees makes a HUGE difference, turn down the Furnace, swap your electric dryer, especially if you have kids, to use a gas clothes dryer, gas water heater, gas cooktop. 

Although this option does result in lowering your consumption, it still does not resolve the root problem that you still cannot control the cost of rented grid electricitythus this is simply a band-aid with super glue, delay tactic and you will ultimately still have to deal with higher rates, and will never pay off your electricity bill. 

3) Make your own electricity with Wind or a Solar energy system 

So, if you live other than the extreme eastern plains of Colorado or the pan handle of Texas, Wind is not a reliable method for powering your home – leaving Solar Energy as the only legitimate option for homeowners to control their costs.

The benefits of using Solar Energy are rather dramatic as you can now

  • Obtain Energy Independencenow, even in a grid outage
  • Eliminate your electric bill
  • Get paid by the Utility for excess energy you do not consume
  • Take advantage of lucrative government incentives
  • Make your home Exempt from grid maladies and ongoing increasing rates
  • Benefit from Long Durability (35-40 years operating life) and next to zero maintenance
  • Add substantial Value to your home, averaging about 6% – 8% of your market value when you turn your system on

You probably already know that solar energy production is based upon daylight hours available in your area, there are lot more usable daylight hours in Phoenix or south Texas than in Minneapolis, Minnesota; so even though we can routinely design a system to produce 120% – 200% of your current consumption annually, there may still be a month or two like in late summer or the dead of winter where you will need some supplemental grid power.

NOTE: If you are in a utility service area that limits the amount of solar energy you can produce or if you have a lot of Hip style roof facets the use of a  Hybrid system with Solar and Batteries, (which interestingly enough, the same design for we use for Off-Grid designs) can be used to provide as much power as you need to zero-out your electric bill.

I have to say here that commons sense needs to prevail and although we really like using hybrid systems, they are not always the best bang for the buck (yet).

Choosing a Hybrid option really depends upon your energy consumption profile and how much extra energy you need versus the cost of adding a battery.

These issues are discussed in context when we complete a Systems Design Report for your property.

The Systems Design Report starts with the alignment of your home in relation to North.

You will generate excellent energy production from roof facets that face EAST, SOUTH or WEST. Unless you live extreme southern latitudes like of Phoenix, AZ or south Texas, we typically do not use the north facing roof facets of your roof.

Your System Design Report will show the area of your roof that is most productive for solar energy and which is not affected by tree shading in order to maximize your solar energy production.

If you’ve made it this far, Thanks for your time – you may still have questions though, which is fine.  Start by requesting an Instant Estimate for your home – this will provide a cost estimate and allow you to make an informed decision on next steps.

Jerry Carleo, Regional Manager

CS2Energy | 719.671.5000

Mention code: A22 when you call, and claim a $2,500 rebate when adding a Battery, Automatic Transfer Switch with your solar energy solution…