Renewable Energy Program

IMPORTANT: Please contact SSVEC prior to starting any renewable projects as the SunWatts incentive program has reached its mandated spending limits and an incentive reservation form is now required.

SSVEC collects a Renewable Energy Surcharge from each of its customers based on their kWh usage and with a maximum amount collected based on your rate class. These funds are collected on a monthly basis and are used to fund the SunWatts program. Operation expenses include program incentives, debt service for the PV for schools program, the SunWatts loan program, and other program costs.  The SunWatts program is reviewed and approved by the ACC.

SunWatts has had a great increase in participation in the program. In order to ensure fairness, SSVEC instituted an incentive reservation system. For information about the current REST program, click the link in the menu to the right.

Your first step is to complete the incentive reservation form. This will place you on the Sun Watts incentive reservation list.  The reservations are placed on the reservation list on a first come first served basis. When the incentive monies to fund your system become available, the member will be notified in writing and has a 30 day period to begin the installation process.  If you choose to install your system prior to reaching the “top of the list” your incentive will be paid when you have reached the “top of the list” or when excess funds are made available.

If an SSVEC member chooses to install their system before they make a reservation, they must still complete the reservation form, the installation application forms, and submit the entire completed packet to SSVEC. The date that the reservation form is received by SSVEC will be the date that they are placed on the reservation list which determines the incentive levels.

We feel that this new process will give our members a more secure position when working with the renewable energy contractors when they are choosing their system.  Getting multiple bids is the best way for you to make sure you are getting the most value for your investment.

IN REVIEW

The purpose of this section is to update our members on the status of the SSVEC Sun Watts Program (renewable energy program).

Background

The Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) passed the Environmental Portfolio Surcharge Program (EPS) and in December 2005 it was adopted by SSVEC and the other Arizona electric cooperatives. This plan required the levy of a surcharge on all electric bills in order to fund a renewable energy program.

Every year SSVEC must submit for approval to the ACC a renewable energy plan. Upon approval, this plan will go into effect. This plan includes the tariff to be charged as well as a budget to be spent on renewable energy projects by type (residential, commercial, large projects, etc.).

In 2006, the ACC made significant changes in the statewide EPS program which ultimately became the Renewable Energy Standard and Tariff Program (REST). Each year SSVEC submits its REST plan, or SunWatts Program to the ACC for approval. The ACC approved the calendar year 2008 and 2009 plans. Due to the overwhelming demand in the third quarter of 2009, SSVEC submitted its 2010 plan to the ACC earlier than scheduled for approval.

Our Current Status

SunWatts had a great increase in participation levels as well as the size of the projects beginning in the third quarter of 2009 that has depleted the incentive budget that allowed “quick” payments. This led SSVEC to implement a reservation system to ensure fairness in the system.

The Reservation System

As stated above, SSVEC uses a reservations system.  The most common questions asked is,  “how long does it take to reach the top of the list?”  It is difficult to give you a specific answer on when a member will receive their incentive as there are many variables involved. Some of these variables include, is it business or residential incentive, the significant variance in incentive amounts depending on the size of the project, the moneys SSVEC collects each month, the number of people requesting loans, the number of people choosing performance based incentives (PBI’s) instead of a one-time incentive and whether or not someone on the reservation list decides to go ahead with a project or not. So we can give you your order on the list but we cannot give you an accurate estimate as to when your reservation will come to the top of the list. We are doing everything that we can to move through the list as quickly as possible.

SunWatts Self-Install Requirements

If you choose to self-install your PV system you still have to provide all the documentation (1-line and 3-line drawings, forms, etc…) as any other PV installation. For self-installed systems the PV system must also be certified as meeting our requirements by an AZ licensed electrical contractor who must fill out all section 2 forms pages 1, 2, and 3.

Additional information and documentation is required for any self installed system. You must provide receipts for all components you purchased for the system. You may include mileage to pick up parts as an allowable cost component (mileage to match with receipts). The cost for the electrician to certify the system is also an allowable cost. The most important thing to remembers is YOUR LABOR IS NOT AN ALLOWABLE COST to be used to determine the total system cost which is how the total incentive is determined.

Net Metering

The ACC approved SSVEC Net Metering Tariff which is based on the Net Meter Rules which became effective on May 23, 2009. Members who have renewable generation sources may participate in Net Metering, even if you have received a SunWatts Incentive (or have a SunWatts Incentive reserved). There is a $2.70 per month charge to pay for the incremental cost increase in the billing meter.

Per the Net Metering rules you will receive retail credit for each kWh you send back to the grid up to the amount of kWh purchased from SSVEC in the billing month with any excess being saved for future use. The Net Metering regulations require that SSVEC “true-up” the account once per year. SSVEC lets you choose one of two months to have your account “trued up” which are September or March. In the “true up” month all excess kWh (that is kWh you have produced but not consumed in the last 12 months) will be purchased by SSVEC at the currently approved avoided cost (for true up amounts of less than $100  will be in the form of a credit on your bill, amounts over $100 will be paid by check). The avoided cost is calculated by SSVEC and then reviewed and approved by the ACC annually (to be effective on September 1 each year), and is based on the 12 month average wholesale cost ending the previous June.