Going solar is a great decision for you and your family, and it’s one of the most rewarding times in your life. However, as with any big life decision, there are a number of things you need to think about, including how your utility company will treat you once the project is complete.
Thankfully, writing a plan ahead of time can help make your transition smooth and simple. By doing this, you can ensure that you are acting in accordance with your own values and are not just following the plans of your utility company. In this article, we will discuss some of the most important things you need to consider when creating your solar policy so that you can retain your customers’ loyalty and encourage more people to install solar power.
Renewable Energy
As we’ve established above, going solar is a great decision for you and your family, and it’s one of the most rewarding times in your life. Although there are many positive aspects to generating your own clean energy, one of the biggest disadvantages is that the Sun doesn’t always shine, which means you won’t always have electricity. To ensure your customers have power whenever they need it, you must implement a plan to meet their energy needs when the Sun isn’t shining. Fortunately for you, your utility company is probably already doing this, either through renewable energy sources like solar or wind power, or energy storage, such as batteries or superconductors.
If your utility company hasn’t implemented any sort of energy plan, it’s time for you to step up and lead by example. Fortunately, a number of states have now made it possible for the average consumer to provide power to their residence through community solar projects. This is an ideal way to ensure that your customers get their power even when the Sun isn’t shining, as it will be provided by a group of neighbors acting together.
Power Quality
One of the major differences between electricity and other forms of energy, such as gasoline, is the way it is delivered and consumed. With electricity, there is no need to constantly check the fuel gauge, as you know when you run out of gas, you will stop driving. Unfortunately, generating electricity in sunny days is no different than in rainy days; there is no way to tell whether or not you will have enough power until you try generating it. This is why it’s important to consider the power quality of your electric bill before signing any contracts with energy providers.
The three basic power quality measurements are voltage, current, and frequency. Knowing how your electricity is generated and delivered allows you to have a more precise idea of how much energy you will have at any given time. For example, higher frequencies mean more electric and, therefore, more capable of powering your home. However, if your electricity is lower in frequency, it could mean that there is less of it or that it is of poorer quality.
It is important to consider these three measurements, and paying attention to the power quality of your electric bill will help you determine how well your system is working and whether or not you should make any adjustments. Remember, there is no perfect solution when it comes to power quality, so it is always best to be on the lookout for improvements where you can.
Peak Power Usage
Power systems, particularly those that generate and supply electricity on a large scale, are designed to handle the extra power that is needed during peak hours. These hours can vary from 7 am to 7 pm, and they depend on the time of year and the time of day, but usually are between 11 am and 7 pm. During these peak hours, it’s important to avoid using too much electricity as this will affect the quality of your power.
Peak power usage is directly related to how much electricity you are using at any given moment and how much responsibility you are willing to assume for the power your system generates. For instance, if you are using 500 kWh of electricity per month and there are no meters connected to your home, it’s a safe assumption that you are using all the power that is available to you during these peak hours. However, if you are using 300 kWh per month and you’re connected to a meter that is monitored by a utility company, you are assuming some responsibility for the extra 100 kWh per month that is generated during these peak hours. This could be anything from adjusting your appliance usage (e.g., turning it off when you don’t need it) to installing a power surge protector or an energy monitor that will notify you when high power usage is detected.
Excess Electricity
If you are connected to a meter that is monitored by your utility company, you will receive a quarterly bill that includes an item called excess power. This is electricity that is generated during non-peak hours and, in most cases, will not be used during the next peak hour. In other words, you are generating more electricity than you need.
Since you won’t be using it during the next peak hour, you should either store it or, if needed, send it to the grid for others to use. In most cases, you will be asked to store it in a nearby electric meter box that is connected to a battery or a superconducting coil so that it can be used when the Sun starts shining. However, if you are a heavy user that keeps the lights on all the time, you might not be able to store it for later use and will have to find a way to get rid of it. This excess electricity is usually sold to others who need it at that time (e.g., large businesses that are not consumers of electricity), though in some cases it can be kept for free.
Energy Storage
If you are concerned about the power quality of your electric bill or if you are a consumer that uses a lot of electricity during non-peak hours, you should look into ways to store it for later use. Fortunately, this can be easily done with batteries, which can either be installed directly into your roof or attached to an electric meter box that can be hidden inside your home. The benefits of having batteries in place to store electricity are that they are very easy to use and maintain, and they provide instant gratification by allowing you to use all the electricity you generate.
The main disadvantage of batteries is that they lose their charge over time and must be recharged, which can be a time-consuming process. Fortunately, superconductors do not suffer from this shortcoming and can retain their charge for an extremely long time. These materials are already being used in certain situations to store electricity (e.g., large solar power plants that generate more electricity than can be used at any given moment), so they can be a worthwhile option for consumers who need an energy storage system.
Interruptible Power Supply
If you’re looking for a way to get electricity with no hassles, you can opt for an interruptible power supply (IPS). With an IPS, you won’t need to worry about peak power usage as it will be automatically taken care of by the system. However, since it’s still generating electricity even when the Sun isn’t shining, you will need to find a way to store it.
In most cases, when an IPS is connected to a circuit, it will detect when there is a power outage and switch over to a generator, or when the power returns, it will switch back over to the usual power system.
The advantage of an IPS over other energy storage systems is that it doesn’t have to be maintained any more frequently as it doesn’t physically consume energy. In other words, it’s always ready to provide power and doesn’t need to be plugged in or charged.
When it comes to going solar, many homeowners assume that their utility company will treat them like garbage and deny them service because they decided to go green. Fortunately, this isn’t the case, and most companies are already doing their bit to take care of their environment, so there is no need to fear that your utility company will cut you off.
As we’ve established, going green with solar power is a great decision for your family and will provide numerous benefits. Keep in mind the important things discussed above, and you will be able to enjoy the rewards of going solar without worry.