Connecting your solar or wind power system to the grid
The majority of the systems installed in the USA and Germany are grid tied systems, meaning the solar panel or wind power systems are connected to the utility grid, extra electricity generated is sent back to the utility in which the owner of the system gets a credit per kWh (kilowatt hour) produced, a term called net-metering. Before you run out and connect your system up to the grid to take advantage of net-metering…..you need to first contact your utility company to review the utility’s interconnection agreement.
The interconnection agreement sets the ground rules for the terms and conditions including the requirement for building permits, home owners insurance, and grid connection specifications. Interconnection agreements are standard documents although each utility has its own document. Some utilities may even charge you a small fee to connect your system to the grid if its a very large installation, but again this depends on your particular utility that’s serving your area.
To turn your home or small business into a power plant, start by analyzing your electric bill and your historical usage, then call your utility to review the interconnection agreement so you make sure you understand the terms set by your utility company or just give us a call and we can guide you through the process of understanding your electric bill, figure out how many solar panels you need, and work with your utility company to help you file your interconnection agreement.
