Solar Panel Installation in OPALCO Territory
All solar installations that connect to the Seattle City Light (SCL) power grid must have an Interconnection Agreement. Suppose you install a solar energy system with net metering and generate more electricity than you consume. In that case, City Light will credit your electric bill for every kWh of electricity returned to the power grid. Excess generation occurs when a solar energy system generates more kWh of electricity than a home consumes. This is measured in real-time by a City Light billing meter.
Net Metering with OPALCO
Each home connected to OPALCO’s grid will have a billing meter that reads the flow of electricity from the grid toward the house (which is what you pay for on your bill). When you install solar panels on your home, the billing meter will measure the flow of electricity from the house toward the grid. When you send energy to the grid, you will receive a credit on your electricity bill as a Generation Credit. All Net Metering credits that are not consumed by April 1st will reset.
Note: Although OPALCO has met the threshold by 267% per WSU Energy Program Net Metering reporting, it has not deviated from the current Net Metering RCW 80.60.030 ruling.
Meter Aggregation?
OPALCO does not support meter aggregation.
When is solar right for you as an OPALCO Member?
Solar energy can be an excellent choice if you own your home and have an appropriate, shade-free area for solar modules, such as a well-maintained roof. It offers the opportunity for a long-term investment, allowing you to generate renewable energy and reduce your electricity bill. When considering solar, it’s essential to consider your electricity usage and whether you aim to produce a portion or all of your power, as this will influence the system size you require. Understanding the solar exposure to your South, East, and West facing roof spaces will determine the solar energy capacity on your roof.
Solar Incentives and OPALCO
Federal incentives for solar panel systems for PSE customers include the Investment Tax Credit, a 30% tax credit for solar energy systems. In Washington State, solar energy systems are sales tax exempt.
