Alternative Energy

High West Energy offers a net-metering program to purchase any excess renewable generation from our members. We do not offer any rebates or incentives for members to purchase PV solar systems. 

While we cannot guarantee that we won't increase our rates, we are not increasing our rates at the rate that solar companies are indicating we are. We are presently projecting that they will increase at a similar or lower level the next ten years. It should be noted that we are aware some members are being told our rates will double or triple the next ten years. This is simply not true. 

Yes. As a member, you will receive a bill that will itemize any charges/debits for power in addition to the normal grid access charge and taxes associated with your account. Please be aware that you will receive a bill that includes non-energy charges, such as devices and the contract minimum. Note: please contact High West Energy for current rates. 

PV solar inverters are grid-tie systems and are required to meet Underwriters Laboratory (UL) 1741 which is a rapid system shut down in the event of a grid outage. The PV system is designed to shut down if the High West Energy grid goes down. This is to protect the member’s system as well as any utility personnel working to restore the outage. The PV solar system will only be able to continue operating if your system is installed with a battery backup. The PV solar will continue operating to charge your battery system while the batteries supply electricity for the home. 

Most PV solar inverter companies offer an app or website for monitoring the system production. The PV solar contractor should be able to assist with setting up this type of system monitoring. 

Not presently, although we are discussing ways to do this in the future. Our meter only monitors the energy consumed from the utility (when the system is not producing) and the excess energy produced by the PV system that wasn’t consumed by the home. We do not monitor system production or how much PV solar energy the home consumes. 

One of the better free PV solar wattage calculators we have found is the PV WATTS Calculator from NREL (https://pvwatts.nrel.gov/). The website uses the physical address where the system will be installed. Then it will ask for the DC system size, module type, array type, array tilt and system orientation (south being the most ideal). Once all of the information is entered, the calculator will provide a yearly estimate, as well as a monthly breakdown of the anticipated PV solar system production. 

Because energy consumption differs throughout the year (higher usage in the summer and lower in the winter), the best way to calculate system size requirements is to add up the last 12 months of energy usage for the home and compare it to the NREL estimate of what the system can produce. 

The first step is to select a licensed PV solar contractor to talk with about the types of systems and the economics thereof. Once the system is sized & selected, the High West Energy net-metering agreement should be submitted as well as a one-line diagram and site-plan including the functional test fee prior to the system being installed. This will help prevent delays activating your system.  

All documents must be submitted before we can begin processing the member’s Application for Interconnection. These documents can be filled out and submitted by the member, but most of the time, the contractor assists the member with filling out these documents.  Once the Application for Interconnection is fully approved by High West Energy and the system has received a final permit from either the City or County permitting office, we will program the meter and the system will be all clear to connect to the grid. 

Every home is different. There are many factors to consider when calculating the value of installing PV solar. We find that member who are primarily home during the day tend to benefit more from installing PV solar. 

Whether and how much you will benefit from a residential solar array depends on: 

• How much you pay for electricity 
• How much electricity you use 
• Your roof 
• Federal, state, and local incentives for solar development 
• Your solar installer 

• Does your roof face south or west and is it shaded? 
• Will you need to replace your roof sometime during the life of the panels? If so, you should replace your roof first. 
• Have you explored all of your energy efficiency options? (It doesn’t make sense to purchase more solar than you need!). 
• Does your community have restrictions? 

If you are purchasing a rooftop solar array, be sure to ask: 

• What is the total installed (turnkey) cost of the system? 
• What is the payback period? What are the assumptions underlying that estimate? 
• Will I need to finance the array? 
• Who gets the tax credits (the “renewable energy credit”)? 
• Will I receive “free” electricity once panels are paid for? 
• Does the company offer warranties on panels and inverters? 
• What are the details of the service contract? 

• What is the upfront cost of the system? 
• Are there other customers in the vicinity with comparable systems? How much electricity are their systems producing? 
• Who gets the tax benefit (the “renewable energy credit”) 
• Can the lease be transferred if I sell the house? 
• Does the lease company have the right to run a credit check? 

When you make the decision to invest in residential solar, you are making a significant financial investment. Be sure to do your research on the company. 

• Are the installers North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Electric trained and certified? 
• When was the company established and how much solar has it installed to date? 
• Can the company provide a list of the projects and references for them? 
• Are you accredited with the Better Business Bureau? If so, what is your rating? 

The calculated payback is based on assumptions that net metering laws will not change over the life of the array, that HWE’s rates will go up by X%, and that HWE’s rate structure will not change. The forecast for future rates is not provided by HWE and is sometimes overly pessimistic. Net metering laws are beginning to change across the country and there is a good chance something will change during the life of the system which could reduce the cost recovery of the system. It is also probable that HWE's rate structure will change in the coming years. 75% of HWE’s costs to provide service are fixed and do not vary based on how much energy a member uses, while our current rate design recovers only 25% of HWE’s costs through a fixed charge on the member’s bill. HWE’s future rate structure will, of necessity, change and will likely include a higher monthly fixed charge as well as time differentiated rates to recognize the lower cost, and value, of wholesale power when the sun is shining, and the additional cost of power caused by peak demand after sunset.