Antonio's New Solar Panels

My good friend, Antonio Cutolo-Ring, finally took the plunge and installed a 3.2 kW solar pv array on his home in Weston, MO.  The array is grid-tied and we (The Energy Savings Store) used 14 - 225 watt Sunpower panels with Enphase micro- inverters (because of shading issues).  Antonio e-mailed me after the first few days: "Yes, everything seems to be working well.  I know the solar panels won't be always be producing as much electricity as they have the last three days, but it looks to me like that if they did and I don't use any more electricity than last year that I'd be producing as much electricity as I use!  Pretty cool." 

Antonio's home is very energy efficient already and we estimate it will produce about 85% of his electricity needs. 

In addition to the 30% federal tax credit, he was able to take advantage of KCP&L's new $2/watt solar rebate - cutting his installation cost in half.  Antonio and I are both on the board of Concerned Citizens of Platte County together - we work on environmental and health issues.  He told me "I'm very pleased to have finally been able to put my money where my mouth has been for so long!" 

A note on the photo: that's Taneasha Bledsoe - our new Staff Engineer looking so cool on the roof.

Solar became the solution for Ray and Kathy Baisch after seeing their electric rates increase by over 30% in the last three years.  Located in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, the Baisch’s had been considering a solar-powered electric system for years.  The couple got serious about making the investment when they learned that KCP&L was offering a new solar rebate.  The new rebate was a result of Proposition C that Missourians overwhelmingly passed in 2008 (read more here). The $2/watt rebate covers about 25% of the price of a solar system.  Combining this incentive with the 30% Federal tax credit - and nearly half of the cost is covered.

After meeting with a Renewable Energy Consultant at The Energy Savings Store, the couple decided to purchase a 4.14 KW system.  The solar energy system will offset nearly 90% of their energy usage.  The system was placed in service the first week of January. “The Baisch’s may be the first rebate recipients in the state,”  said Roland Maliwat, Manager of Sustainability at KCP&L.  “We supported Prop C and are very happy to see it result in solar installations for our customers.”

Net Metering
Not only are Ray and Kathy excited about being the first KCP&L customers to receive the rebate, they are also eagerly awaiting the possibility of watching their electric meter spin backwards when their system is producing more than they need.  In addition to the rebate the utility company will allow the couple to "net meter."  With "net metering" the Baisch’s will be able to accumulate credits for months that their system produces more than they need.  When they have months that they use more electricity than their system produces they will be able to use the accumulated credits from the prior month.

Over the course of the year the Baisch’s will end up paying very little on their electric bills. They are looking forward to a day in the near future where the energy savings will have paid for the cost of the system - after that Ray and Kathy can expect decades of free electricity.