Frequently asked questions about SRP’s residential solar electric program

Prior to installing a solar electric system, please consider the following:

• Contractor selection. As with any home improvement project, its ultimate success is dependent on choosing the right contractor. Get advice to help you make an educated choice.
• System type. There are different types of systems and costs can vary widely among contractors. You should research the system types available so that you ultimately select the best type for your home.
• Maintenance. Solar electric systems will require ongoing maintenance, so know the system's recommended maintenance schedule and take these costs into consideration when selecting your system type. Some financial options include maintenance costs.
• Panel location. It is important that the panels receive the greatest amount of sunlight. As a result, you should consider factors that will impact the sun's ability to shine on the panels, including shading from obstructions (such as trees), the tilt angle of the panels, and the direction the panels are facing (western exposure is best). Systems with multiple tilts or orientations can hinder production.
• Mounting. The method of mounting for some systems could impact roof warranties and home insurance policies.
• Homeowner association (HOA) rules. Homeowner association rules may affect system selection and mounting, so review your plans with your association before installing a solar electric system.

In February 2003, the Arizona Court of Appeals ruled that a homeowner's prohibition related to the installation of a solar energy system violated the public policy of Arizona as expressed in Arizona Revised Statute Section 33-439 (Opens in a new tab) . Please refer to this statute to learn more about the state law regarding this issue.

Typically, solar electric systems produce 1,750 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year per kilowatt (kW) rating of the system. For example, a 5 kW system should produce 8,750 kWh per year. System output will ultimately vary depending on the type of components installed and the system's orientation in relation to the sun.

The typical roof space required for a solar electric system is approximately 100 square feet per kW-DC rating of the system. For example, a 5 kW system will require 500 square feet of unobstructed roof space. The amount of roof space required may vary depending on the type of solar panel installed and its tilt angle. Additionally, new fire code regulations in some jurisdictions require specific easements for safe passage of firefighters in the event of a fire at the home.

When your home is not being powered by your solar electric system, you will be connected to SRP's electric grid. A new integrated grid is formed by joining your renewable energy with SRP's traditional baseload generation. This will ensure a steady, reliable stream of energy to all of SRP's customers.

With proper maintenance, most systems should last at least 20 years. Your contractor should provide you with a comprehensive maintenance plan based on the manufacturer's recommendation for your system type.

Each solar system is unique based on the installation type, configuration and overall system performance. For solar systems operating in a year with typical weather, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (Opens in a new tab) states there is an average system energy loss of 14%. This is based on factors such as system soiling, shading, wiring, connections, degradation, nameplate rating, age and system availability.

Typical grid-tied inverter efficiencies exceed 95% under most operating conditions. Efficiency changes as a function of AC output power, DC voltage and sometimes inverter temperature.

At a minimum, your solar electric system must have the following warranties to qualify for SRP's solar incentive program:

• Modules. The modules must have a performance warranty from the manufacturer that protects against the electrical output of the unit degrading more than 10% over a 10-year period, and more than 20% over a 20-year period.
• Inverters. Inverters must have a 10-year warranty provided by the equipment manufacturer that protects against defect or component breakdown.
• Installation. The installer must provide a five-year warranty that protects against defects in the overall installation of the solar electric system that degrades the electrical output of the overall system by more than 15%. In addition, the installer must provide a two-year warranty that covers roof penetration leaks. These installation warranties also must provide for no-cost repair or replacement of affected components, including any associated labor that is not otherwise provided by the manufacturer, during the warranty period.

SRP requires that all customers that will interconnect their solar electric system to SRP's electrical distribution system sign an agreement that outlines the interconnection rules and requirements.

A properly licensed contractor must install the solar electric system to ensure it complies with all applicable building codes and SRP program requirements. SRP has partnered with a group of preferred residential solar installers. These contractors are licensed, bonded, insured and trained on how solar works in conjunction with SRP's solar price plans for residential customers.

If you choose to hire your own contractor, here are some helpful tips.

SRP acknowledges that there are two types of contractors that will work on your project – dealers and installers. In some instances, this may be the same company. Both the dealer and the installer must have the appropriate license from the Arizona Registrar of Contractors as outlined below.

The dealer represents the company that has the contract with you for the purchase of the system equipment. Dealers must have one of the following license types: B-, KB-1, KB-2, R-11, CR-11.

The installer represents the company that is actually installing the system on your home. Installers must have one of the following license types: R-11, CR-11 or R-39 (for HVAC with solar only).

Please visit the Arizona Registrar of Contractors' website (Opens in a new tab) or call them toll free at (888) 271-9286 to verify the validity of the contractor's license.

As solar panel prices have fallen and modular solar systems can be found on the shelves in local stores, you may be thinking about installing your own solar system. Before installing any generation sources that will interconnect with SRP's distribution grid, be sure to contact SRP and check the regulations in your local municipality for the proper way to connect. All systems, small or large, go through the SRP application and review process.

Solar systems that are connected to the utility distribution grid have the potential to create electrical backfeed. Electrical backfeed is a term that describes the flow of electricity from a home generation source onto SRP's distribution grid. It can pose a serious safety hazard when there is a power outage at the home. The Underwriters Laboratory (UL) has certified solar equipment to meet stringent safety requirements. All grid-tied solar equipment must have UL certification.

Small, modular solar systems are great for off-grid applications, like on a camper in the forest. However, when it comes to an urban setting, a solar system of any size must have approved equipment and be installed correctly to ensure the safety of everyone. Residents, utility workers and first responders such as firefighters need to know that all electrical equipment is safe and up to all proper codes.

We look forward to working with you in the solar electric application process, whether you envision a very small system to handle a couple appliances or a more robust system to power your energy needs. By contacting us, we can work with you to ensure that your home is safe. For more information about how to properly interconnect a solar system, call SRP at (602) 236-4448(602) 236-4448.

SRP will install a second meter to monitor the energy production from your solar electric system. This information will be available via a report that is included with your monthly bill and on SRP My Account™.

SRP offers several price plans for customers who produce some of their own energy with rooftop solar or other distributed generation technologies.

Yes, you will still get an electric bill from SRP if your home is connected to the electric grid. You will still be responsible for paying a monthly service charge that covers the costs for energy supplied by SRP, billing and collections, meters, competitive customer service and distribution facilities.

Under the Customer Generation and Average Demand price plans, if the energy produced by your solar system is greater than the energy you used during the bill cycle, then the excess energy produced is credited to that month's bill, based on the retail price in the price plan associated with the time period in which the energy was generated.

On the Time-of-Use Export and Electric Vehicle Export price plans, if the energy produced by your solar system is fed back to the grid at any time, SRP will credit you at a fixed export rate and subtract it from your bill.

You may be eligible for state and federal tax credits associated with this investment in your home. Please consult a tax professional to determine your eligibility.

The incentive check will be issued after the solar electric system passes an interconnection test and all paperwork has been verified.

SRP pays the incentive in exchange for the renewable energy credits (RECs) generated by the solar electric system over a 20-year period. If the base term of the lease is shorter than 20 years, the amount of the incentive needs to be adjusted to account for this.

For the purposes of the Solar Energy Residential Solar Electric Program for homebuilders, the homebuilder is the customer. SRP requires that all customers that will interconnect a solar electric system to SRP's electrical distribution system sign an agreement that outlines the interconnection rules and requirements.

SRP pays the incentive in exchange for the renewable energy credits generated by the solar electric system. The Bill of Sale represents the formal document that provides SRP with ownership of the environmental attributes and environmental attribute reporting rights associated with those renewable energy credits.

The homebuilder must contact SRP with the required site information for the location where the solar electric system is to be installed. The required information can be located in section 1-9 of SRP's Electric Service Specifications.

The homeowner can request SRP service at any time after the SRP meter has been installed. It is recommended that the homeowner contact SRP three weeks prior to moving into the residence to allow SRP time to draft the homeowner's Interconnection Agreement.

To qualify for the incentive, solar panels and inverters must be tested to Underwriters Laboratories (Opens in a new tab) standards.

Yes. However, the use of a battery backup adds to the cost, complexity and maintenance of a solar electric system.