Solar power systems for the home

[Canadianman]

I feel like Enmax was much looser with their approval criteria last year. My solar provider submitted a proposal for an 8.6kw system, and Enmax only approved a 6.4kw system. We went back to them with the evidence of my new A/C sytem and they were only willing to increase it to 7.2kw. Was annoying.

[Shazam]

Enmax sucks.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

The irony of cutting down a tree to save the earth...

Yeah, sometimes nature gets in the way of progress and a sustainable lifestyle.

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

Yeah, sometimes nature gets in the way of progress and a sustainable lifestyle.

Should've just lifted your house.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Shazam

Should've just lifted your house.

Anything is possible with more government subsidies.

[Canadianman]

Who are you all using as your electrical provider?


Are you also doing carbon credits?


My 6.5 cent/kwh rate expired a month ago, so I moved over to Spotpower's pre-solar rate. My solar should be going online tomorrow though, so it's time to decide what to do....

[the-rasta-masta]

Originally Posted by Torture

How big are your guys' system that you're generating that much more than your usage? Mine cuts into my natural gas, water, etc during the summer but doesn't completely eliminate it.

The limit is 100% in Alberta, and Enmax is a lot more stringent on that limit than say Fortis or Atco areas of the province. Fortis and Atco seem to have more leniency for slight variations above the 100% limit compared to Enmax, where Enmax allows a max of 102% as a variance compared to Fortis and Atco sometimes going 105-110% depending on a few factors.

If you're getting quotes higher than 102% in the city, the Solar company is not building in system loss factors in their modelling and what you'd get in reality would be much lower, or alternatively they'd get you to sign on and then through the permitting process will most definitely come back to you and say they need to remove a panel to resize the system to come down to what Enmax will approve. High offset numbers promised by companies way above the 100% limit should be taken with a grain of salt and explored further.

[gasman]

Originally Posted by Shazam

You need to change your username.

Oh.... I've still got gas!

[gasman]

Originally Posted by Torture

How big are your guys' system that you're generating that much more than your usage? Mine cuts into my natural gas, water, etc during the summer but doesn't completely eliminate it.

I am 10.1KW modeled at 110% of usage, but I am only offsetting electricity. Gas/Water etc is all a separate provider and separate bill.

Foothills Energy for Electricity
Atco for Gas
Enmax for City Utilities.

[gasman]

Originally Posted by Canadianman

Who are you all using as your electrical provider?


Are you also doing carbon credits?


My 6.5 cent/kwh rate expired a month ago, so I moved over to Spotpower's pre-solar rate. My solar should be going online tomorrow though, so it's time to decide what to do....

You probably don't want to do anything until next spring as we are getting into import season. Then you need to determine if your system will export power in the summer, if it does sign up for a solar club high rate. My system tends to export March 15 - October 15.

[FlameOn]

Lucky all you guys with 10KW+ systems. I had one planned for 10.13KW then Enmax kyboshed that and only approved the 7.7KW. My system gets installed next Monday and then it's up for city inspection. Anyone know how long that takes post install?

Also, anyone with Parkpower and is there any advantage of going with one solarclub vs. another when the export season happens next year?

[Bill Bumface]

Our installer booked the city inspection before they even started. The inspection was the day after our install.

[gasman]

Originally Posted by FlameOn

Lucky all you guys with 10KW+ systems. I had one planned for 10.13KW then Enmax kyboshed that and only approved the 7.7KW. My system gets installed next Monday and then it's up for city inspection. Anyone know how long that takes post install?

Also, anyone with Parkpower and is there any advantage of going with one solarclub vs. another when the export season happens next year?

My experience was the same as Bumface, the Installers (YYC Solar) had the inspection on the last day of install. It was enmax installing a 2 ways meter that really took a long time (2+ months)

The solar clubs are all the same as far as I know. I went with foothills energy coop for electricity and solar offset for carbon credits.

[McG]

So if a person was on enmax, with the crappy <100% approval, should a person change to a more 100%+ friendly supplier?

I still think it’s absolutely ridiculous that a person couldn’t install as many panels as they wanted.

[FlameOn]

Originally Posted by McG

So if a person was on enmax, with the crappy &lt;100% approval, should a person change to a more 100%+ friendly supplier?

I still think it’s absolutely ridiculous that a person couldn’t install as many panels as they wanted.

Enmax owns the Calgary power grid. It doesn't matter which reseller you go with, you still have to go through Enmax approval for your solar system to sell back to the grid.

[lucky1]

Originally Posted by McG

So if a person was on enmax, with the crappy <100% approval, should a person change to a more 100%+ friendly supplier?

I still think it’s absolutely ridiculous that a person couldn’t install as many panels as they wanted.

bit of a double edged sword on this one in regards to insurance - first thing the insurance company asked was the capacity of the solar set up. If it was built to export more than the house usage, it would be deemed commercial and subject to cancellation of the house insurance or a very large increase that would possibly negate the payback.......

after it was explained to them and I sent them a copy of the invoice, it was included into the house insurance policy with an increase of around $30/year

[gasman]

Originally Posted by lucky1

bit of a double edged sword on this one in regards to insurance - first thing the insurance company asked was the capacity of the solar set up. If it was built to export more than the house usage, it would be deemed commercial and subject to cancellation of the house insurance or a very large increase that would possibly negate the payback.......

after it was explained to them and I sent them a copy of the invoice, it was included into the house insurance policy with an increase of around $30/year

That just sounds like your insurance call center person doesn't know what they are doing, and their script needs to be upgraded to include solar.

I have had 2 separate insurers since having solar, TD and thePersonal. Both auto approved the solar as it's attached to my roof. The biggest issue is people call their insurance provider and tell them they are selling power to the grid.

Your system by definition is a microgenerator, otherwise you would never get a permit. You aren't "selling" power you "are credited for the electricity sent back to the grid on a monthly basis at their retail rates"

Also right from the Alberta website:

Commercial generators do not meet the requirements to be a micro-generator, but small commercial generators may qualify as small scale generation.

[lucky1]

Originally Posted by gasman

That just sounds like your insurance call center person doesn't know what they are doing, and their script needs to be upgraded to include solar.

I have had 2 separate insurers since having solar, TD and thePersonal. Both auto approved the solar as it's attached to my roof. The biggest issue is people call their insurance provider and tell them they are selling power to the grid.

Your system by definition is a microgenerator, otherwise you would never get a permit. You aren't "selling" power you "are credited for the electricity sent back to the grid on a monthly basis at their retail rates"

Also right from the Alberta website:

Commercial generators do not meet the requirements to be a micro-generator, but small commercial generators may qualify as small scale generation.

there are a finite # of insurer's in Alberta/Canada that are accepting solar installations due to lack of knowledge and/or lack of data regarding claims and associated costs - this was brought up by CBC not too long ago

https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/sola...ance-1.7329712

when your solar system is oversized compared to your residential needs, you are classified as 'commercial' in the eyes of the insurance company that I deal with, I suspect the same is true with others. There is an obvious disconnect with the insurance companies and the Utility companies in Alberta as the Utilities limit the solar sizing according to the previous years electrical useage, ensuring that the solar microgeneration is basically 'not for profit'. I think it would be similar to if you are running a home based business, your insurance rates would be different that just a straight residential based rate

[McG]

Originally Posted by FlameOn

Enmax owns the Calgary power grid. It doesn't matter which reseller you go with, you still have to go through Enmax approval for your solar system to sell back to the grid.

Thank you!

What if I was outside stinkville? Would that be Epcor’s grid even although I’m on enmax?

[the-rasta-masta]

Originally Posted by McG

Thank you!

What if I was outside stinkville? Would that be Epcor’s grid even although I’m on enmax?

Fortis is surrounding Edmonton as well. They have a pretty large portion of the province. Here’s a map of Alberta wire owners: https://www.hme.ca/connecttothegrid/...s%20Owners.pdf