Friday, October 21, 2011
Incentive Deadline.
To date, I've secured over $42,000 in cash rebates for my clients! As 2011 draws to a close, it's still not too late to secure your funds before a new year starts and incentives change. Give me a call at 541-490-9771 to find out how you would qualify before time is up!
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Understanding the Feed in Tariff Program
The Feed in Tariff program will once again be available for Oregon homeowners on April 1rst, 2011 as an optional incentive for solar electric installations. This program actually pays you for the wattage that is generated from your solar array for a period of several years based on your location, utility provider and array size in wattage. There are several restrictions and stipulations so the following link at SolarOregon addresses the entire program in detail.
Of particular note about this program that many people don't realize is participation means the forfeiture of the State of Oregon tax credit as well as the cash rebate incentive offered by the Energy Trust of Oregon. The Feed in Tariff program is ideal for a client who has the cash on hand to pay for the solar installation up front without the need for the cash rebate or the tax credit.
Of course, if you choose not to participate in the Feed in Tariff program, you can still take advantage of the tax credits and the cash rebate programs providing you qualify. Give me a call at 541-490-9771 for answers to any and all of your questions!
Of particular note about this program that many people don't realize is participation means the forfeiture of the State of Oregon tax credit as well as the cash rebate incentive offered by the Energy Trust of Oregon. The Feed in Tariff program is ideal for a client who has the cash on hand to pay for the solar installation up front without the need for the cash rebate or the tax credit.
Of course, if you choose not to participate in the Feed in Tariff program, you can still take advantage of the tax credits and the cash rebate programs providing you qualify. Give me a call at 541-490-9771 for answers to any and all of your questions!
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Status of Federal and State of Oregon Tax Credits
There seems to be a little confusion out there as to the status of the Federal and State of Oregon Tax credits as they apply to solar installations for 2011. While certain incentives for energy efficient appliances and heating have been discontinued, the tax credit incentives for solar remain in place.
Currently, for an Oregon residence, a homeowner will receive a tax credit of $3.00 a watt up to $6000.00 for a solar electric (PV) installation installed by a licensed electrical and solar contractor who is also a registered Tax Credit Certified Technician with the Oregon Department of Energy such as myself.
As for the Federal incentives, a tax credit of 30% of the installation costs with no upper limit is still in place for 2011.
Finally, the cash rebate of $1.50 per watt offered by the the Energy Trust of Oregon for PP&L and PGE clients is still in place for 2011 so long as the system is designed and installed by an Energy Trust of Oregon Trade Ally such as myself.
Other site specific restrictions apply in order to qualify for the maximum benefits. Feel free to call me at 541-490-9771 to schedule a free site analysis. Ask for Rich.
Currently, for an Oregon residence, a homeowner will receive a tax credit of $3.00 a watt up to $6000.00 for a solar electric (PV) installation installed by a licensed electrical and solar contractor who is also a registered Tax Credit Certified Technician with the Oregon Department of Energy such as myself.
As for the Federal incentives, a tax credit of 30% of the installation costs with no upper limit is still in place for 2011.
Finally, the cash rebate of $1.50 per watt offered by the the Energy Trust of Oregon for PP&L and PGE clients is still in place for 2011 so long as the system is designed and installed by an Energy Trust of Oregon Trade Ally such as myself.
Other site specific restrictions apply in order to qualify for the maximum benefits. Feel free to call me at 541-490-9771 to schedule a free site analysis. Ask for Rich.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Utility Rate Increases Are Here
The following is a news release from the Oregon Public Utility Commission:
Electric Rates to Rise in 2011 for PacifiCorp Customers
December 17, 2010 (2010 - 029) (UE 217)
Contacts: Ray Baum, Chairman, 503 378-6611; Susan Ackerman, Commissioner, 503 378-6611
John Savage, Commissioner, 503 378-6611; Bob Valdez, Public Affairs Specialist, 503 378-8962
Salem, OR. The Oregon Public Utility Commission issued one of two pending rate decisions today that will increase rates for Oregon customers of PacifiCorp next year.
The general rate case decision issued will increase rates by 8.4 percent to cover all new expenses for operating the utility. The Commission is expected to approve the second case on Dec. 28, 2010, that deals with power costs. The power costs will likely add 6.1 percent more to the increase, bringing the total increase to 14.5 percent. PacifiCorp had requested a 20 percent increase.
“Commission staff and customer groups worked very hard to trim expenses where they could. I also know that the impact of this decision will be difficult for many households and businesses to absorb given our difficult economic times,” Commission Chairman Ray Baum said. “I hope we can avoid the situation in the future where large capital projects and power costs hit customers in the same year. However, these are resources that will serve customers for decades.”
The monthly bill of a typical residential customer using 900 kilowatt hours of energy a month will increase by $9.38 from $88.21 to $97.59 or 11.5 percent. ($5.38 is due to the general rate case and $4.00 is for power costs. The increase includes the monthly service charge. The amount will vary for customers using above or below 900 kilowatt hours.)
Energy rates for industrial customers will rise by 17 percent and large commercial customers by 17.6 percent.
The new rates take effect Jan. 1, 2011.
General Rate Case Summary
In the general rate case, PacifiCorp requested $130.9 million, a 13.1 percent increase. The Commission reduced it to $84.6 million a year, or approximately 8.4 percent overall. Residential rates will go up by approximately 7.9 percent.
PacifiCorp has invested $470 million in the Oregon-allocated portion of its system since its 2010 general rate case (UE 210). This includes costs for constructing transmission lines, adding wind resources, installing pollution control measures, and paying hydroelectric relicensing expenses.
The Commission reduced PacifiCorp’s original requested increase for a number of major expenses, including:
* Administrative and General Costs $2 million
* Populus to Terminal Transmission line $500,000
* Operations and Maintenance $20.9 million
* Capital Structure and Cost of Debt $20.3 million
The Commission held the line on PacifiCorp’s Rate of Return (ROR), which remained unchanged at 8.08 percent and its authorized Return on Equity (ROE) at 10.125 percent. PacifiCorp had asked to raise its authorized ROR to 8.38% and its ROE to 10.60 percent.
Power Costs Summary
PacifiCorp has asked to collect $60.9 million for power costs, a 6.1 percent increase. The utility is facing higher power costs because of expiring long-term, low-priced hydropower contracts, an expired fixed-price gas contract, and expenses for integrating wind-generated energy.
The new rates take effect Jan. 1, 2011. END OF NEWS RELEASE
If you look at some of earlier posts, you'll see the threat of this rate increase has been coming. A homeowner or business can do many things to help offset rate increases but the most effective and economical way to see dramatic results in cutting electrical utility costs is to install a solar array. Some of my clients are seeing close to fifty percent savings in their electrical utility bill because of a solar array I installed on their roof. With the tax incentives, cash rebates, and now, the coming utility rate increases, now is the time to install solar. Call me at 541-490-9771 for a free consultation. Ask for Rich.
Electric Rates to Rise in 2011 for PacifiCorp Customers
December 17, 2010 (2010 - 029) (UE 217)
Contacts: Ray Baum, Chairman, 503 378-6611; Susan Ackerman, Commissioner, 503 378-6611
John Savage, Commissioner, 503 378-6611; Bob Valdez, Public Affairs Specialist, 503 378-8962
Salem, OR. The Oregon Public Utility Commission issued one of two pending rate decisions today that will increase rates for Oregon customers of PacifiCorp next year.
The general rate case decision issued will increase rates by 8.4 percent to cover all new expenses for operating the utility. The Commission is expected to approve the second case on Dec. 28, 2010, that deals with power costs. The power costs will likely add 6.1 percent more to the increase, bringing the total increase to 14.5 percent. PacifiCorp had requested a 20 percent increase.
“Commission staff and customer groups worked very hard to trim expenses where they could. I also know that the impact of this decision will be difficult for many households and businesses to absorb given our difficult economic times,” Commission Chairman Ray Baum said. “I hope we can avoid the situation in the future where large capital projects and power costs hit customers in the same year. However, these are resources that will serve customers for decades.”
The monthly bill of a typical residential customer using 900 kilowatt hours of energy a month will increase by $9.38 from $88.21 to $97.59 or 11.5 percent. ($5.38 is due to the general rate case and $4.00 is for power costs. The increase includes the monthly service charge. The amount will vary for customers using above or below 900 kilowatt hours.)
Energy rates for industrial customers will rise by 17 percent and large commercial customers by 17.6 percent.
The new rates take effect Jan. 1, 2011.
General Rate Case Summary
In the general rate case, PacifiCorp requested $130.9 million, a 13.1 percent increase. The Commission reduced it to $84.6 million a year, or approximately 8.4 percent overall. Residential rates will go up by approximately 7.9 percent.
PacifiCorp has invested $470 million in the Oregon-allocated portion of its system since its 2010 general rate case (UE 210). This includes costs for constructing transmission lines, adding wind resources, installing pollution control measures, and paying hydroelectric relicensing expenses.
The Commission reduced PacifiCorp’s original requested increase for a number of major expenses, including:
* Administrative and General Costs $2 million
* Populus to Terminal Transmission line $500,000
* Operations and Maintenance $20.9 million
* Capital Structure and Cost of Debt $20.3 million
The Commission held the line on PacifiCorp’s Rate of Return (ROR), which remained unchanged at 8.08 percent and its authorized Return on Equity (ROE) at 10.125 percent. PacifiCorp had asked to raise its authorized ROR to 8.38% and its ROE to 10.60 percent.
Power Costs Summary
PacifiCorp has asked to collect $60.9 million for power costs, a 6.1 percent increase. The utility is facing higher power costs because of expiring long-term, low-priced hydropower contracts, an expired fixed-price gas contract, and expenses for integrating wind-generated energy.
The new rates take effect Jan. 1, 2011. END OF NEWS RELEASE
If you look at some of earlier posts, you'll see the threat of this rate increase has been coming. A homeowner or business can do many things to help offset rate increases but the most effective and economical way to see dramatic results in cutting electrical utility costs is to install a solar array. Some of my clients are seeing close to fifty percent savings in their electrical utility bill because of a solar array I installed on their roof. With the tax incentives, cash rebates, and now, the coming utility rate increases, now is the time to install solar. Call me at 541-490-9771 for a free consultation. Ask for Rich.
Friday, October 22, 2010
A Fundamental Design Concept for Solar
Of all the factors to consider when designing a solar array, one that is the most important is the record low temperature for the area where the array is being installed at. Interestingly enough, a solar module's operating characteristics is directly affected by the outside air temperature. The colder it is outside, the more voltage is produced and conversely, the hotter it is outside, the more voltage output begins to degrade. As a matter of fundamental design criteria, the record low temperature is determined first to ensure that the inverter is capable of handling the increased voltages at low temperatures. Applying a solar array voltage in excess of the inverter rating will damage the inverter which is why I base the sizing of the array in conjunction with the inverter on the record low temperature.
Fortunately, Oregon is considered an ideal climate for electric solar arrays due to the moderate to cool climate we enjoy. Also, adequately spacing the solar modules off the roof provides air flow between the array and the roof which aides in cooling the array as well. These are just a few of the design factors I incorporate into all my array installations.
Fortunately, Oregon is considered an ideal climate for electric solar arrays due to the moderate to cool climate we enjoy. Also, adequately spacing the solar modules off the roof provides air flow between the array and the roof which aides in cooling the array as well. These are just a few of the design factors I incorporate into all my array installations.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
New Financing Available
I'm excited to announce that I am now offering Same-As-Cash financing, also known as a bridge loan, to qualified homeowners for solar electric installations! Even with the tax credits and cash rebates, there is still the upfront cost of installing solar. With same-as-cash financing for up to eighteen months, you spread out the initial upfront costs and pay no interest or no mandatory payments. Of course within that time frame, you'll receive your cash rebate which you could then apply directly to your bridge loan leaving a small enough balance to easily pay off within the eighteen months. Again, with the tax credits, cash rebates, and now the same-as cash-financing available exclusively through Ridgeline Electric and Design, there truly is no better time to go solar! No other solar installer in the Columbia River Gorge makes it easier. Give me call at 541-490-9771 for more details!
Friday, April 30, 2010
What Makes a Good Solar Profile?
Some people aren't sure if they have the right "solar profile" to qualify for the rebates and tax credits in the State of Oregon. In many cases, a detailed on-site analysis by someone like myself will determine whether or not you meet the criteria.
A quick way to perform a self analysis is to check the following characteristics of the roof area you're considering. First, you need to have adequate roof area to accommodate a solar array. As an example, a 2300 watt array would need ten solar panels occupying approximately 150 square feet. Second, you want to have a South or mostly facing South roof area. Third, there shouldn't be many trees around that cast shading on the roof area where the solar array would be installed. Obviously, trees closer to the roof area will have more of an impact in terms of shading than trees that are farther away. Fourth, the pitch of the roof has an impact on the array as well and various depending on your location. For Northern Oregon 34 degrees is optimum. Lastly, You must be either a PGE or PPL client to access the cash rebates and, of course, the system must be installed by an Energy Trust of Oregon Trade Ally as well as a Tax Credit Certified Technician and a licensed Electrical Contractor such as myself.
Fell free to give me a call if you would like to discuss your potential for solar at 541-490-9771!
A quick way to perform a self analysis is to check the following characteristics of the roof area you're considering. First, you need to have adequate roof area to accommodate a solar array. As an example, a 2300 watt array would need ten solar panels occupying approximately 150 square feet. Second, you want to have a South or mostly facing South roof area. Third, there shouldn't be many trees around that cast shading on the roof area where the solar array would be installed. Obviously, trees closer to the roof area will have more of an impact in terms of shading than trees that are farther away. Fourth, the pitch of the roof has an impact on the array as well and various depending on your location. For Northern Oregon 34 degrees is optimum. Lastly, You must be either a PGE or PPL client to access the cash rebates and, of course, the system must be installed by an Energy Trust of Oregon Trade Ally as well as a Tax Credit Certified Technician and a licensed Electrical Contractor such as myself.
Fell free to give me a call if you would like to discuss your potential for solar at 541-490-9771!
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