Spin Your Meter Backwards
Net metering is a utility service under which electricity generated from a solar system is used by the grid and the homeowner’s meter spins backwards, usually at periods of peak demand, or is credited at the same rate as the retail electricity price (measured in kilowatt hours). The customers still has to pay the monthly difference between energy used and energy generated, but net metering allows for a really easy battery backup integration with the solar system, which is demand right now.
Solar in the Brunswick County
Until now, a residential solar installation size in the Brunswick Electric Membership Corporation (BEMC) territory was effectively capped at 5 kW, due to the generous NC GreenPower rebates and their program’s limits. Introducing net metering will allow for larger, more economically designed solar systems. Homeowners currently under contract with NC GreenPower should stay on it until the contract expires. During the first five years with NC GreenPower, solar is worth a combined 11.5 cents/kWh, where straight net-metering is worth 9.69 cents/kWh.
How Your Power Bills Will Change
For net metering, a bilateral meter must be installed to record your power production that you feed back to the grid as well as the power you have used from the utility. So let the hot summer days begun! During the day when the sun is shining your solar system will produce power and feed the grid. If your home is energy efficient, you may produce more than your HVAC needs and you will be credited on your power bill.
Net Metering Changes National Power Grid
Net metering is transforming the power grid nationwide. However, in some areas, utilities are reluctant to adopt straight net metering. So let us applaud Brunswick Electric Membership Corporation for launching this program and supporting our beautiful community with clean energy production!
Please contact Cape Fear Solar Systems at 910-409-5533 or at www.CapeFearSolarSystems.com, if your NC GreenPower contract is expiring and you would like to switch to the net metering program with BEMC.
First Meter Change Already Done in St. James Plantation
Len and Debby Surniak were the first to install photovoltaic solar system in St. James when they built their home in 2009. They signed a contract with NC Green Power, a non-profit organization in NC that supports alternative energy use, and for five years they received a quarterly rebate based on their production of roof-top electricity. In Sept. of 2014, that contract expired, and the only credit they continued to receive was an amount from BEMC that was subtracted from their bill. They were thrilled to learn that BEMC was considering net metering. They are grateful for the efforts of Ann Baldzicki, another St. James resident with photovoltaic, who met with BEMC officials to encourage this change.
On February 27, 2014, the Surniaks were also the first residents in St. James to have their meter changed allowing for net metering under BEMC.
