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Solar by Medina EC

Solar by Medina EC

Solar Interest Form

 

You can now purchase a ground mount solar panel system with installation from Medina EC!

 

The price for a 5kW solar PV system starts at $17,000. The final price will be determined during your site visit. There is no cost for the initial site visit, but installation charges will vary by location.

You can read about our current DG processes and DG application (which apply if you purchase a solar PV system from another vendor or from the cooperative) here. We are working to get that application online.

If you're interested in Solar by Medina EC, fill out this form.

 

If you are considering purchasing a solar PV system from another company, please feel free to contact us. Our solar experts will help you with and they can also explain what you will need to know to interconnect that system to the MEC grid.

How Solar Works graphic

Solar FAQs

What upfront costs are involved to purchase solar from Medina EC?

The base price for the 5kW solar PV system the cooperative offers is $15,000. There could be additional charges depending on the location of array but those are determined during the site visit before the member agrees to any purchase.  Full payment for the system is required before Medina EC will order materials or start construction.

Does Medina EC offer rebates for going solar?

Medina EC does not offer rebates. Members can take advantage of federal tax credits while they are available. You can find more information on those credits at www.energystar.gov/about/federal_tax_credits/solar_energy_systems.

If I generate more electricity than I consume, will Medina EC purchase my excess energy?

Yes, Medina EC will purchase all kWh generated by the member in excess of the kWh consumed at an avoided cost rate.  Medina EC does not allowing banking, or storing, of kWh; this means kWh is purchased at the time it is generated and cannot be used to offset use later in the same day or billing period. If a member generates more electricity than they consume, they are credited for each kWh pushed back onto the grid at the avoided cost rate.

How does Medina EC determine the avoided cost rate?

The avoided cost is the cost Medina EC would have incurred had it been required to purchase the energy from a wholesale power supplier. The avoided cost is calculated by dividing the prior 12 months’ total wholesale power purchase cost (excluding demand costs, transmission and distribution costs, and Electric Reliability Council of Texas related fees) by the 12 months’ total kWhs purchased.

You can view current and historic avoided cost rates at MedinaEC.org/AvoidedCost.

What is the expected return on investment?

The ROI can vary significantly between locations, but generally you can assume a payback of 12 to 14 years.

Will a distributed generation system, like this 5kW solar PV system, pay for itself?

Installing solar or any other DG system is an individual decision. Medina EC’s role is to help educate the member in this process, regardless of who they have install the DG system. The member has the responsibility of determining whether the facility will generate enough electricity to offset the cost of equipment and installation. Medina EC will try to help you obtain information you deem relevant to your decision-making process, even if you are shopping with another installer.

Who can purchase a system from Medina EC?

At this time, only Medina EC members can purchase the solar PV system sold by Medina EC.  

How much energy does a 5 kW solar PV system produce?

This depends on the time of year and hours of sunlight. A good rule of thumb is that for every kW in size, the system should produce about 125 kWh per month.  Using those figures, a 5 kW system should produce approximately 625 kWh per month, which is about $62.50 in savings if you are producing the energy at the same time you are using it.  Keep in mind that the savings could be lower if a majority of the kWh you are producing is pushed back to the grid and purchased at an avoided cost rate. 

What type of installation will Medina EC be using for the solar PV system?

Medina EC will only be constructing ground-mount installations. No rooftop solar will be installed.

Who will be doing the construction of the array?

Medina EC will be contracting the construction of the ground-mount out to an approved contractor. Medina EC’s licensed staff electrician will perform the final inspection and will connect the system to the home/business and grid. 

What about storms?

Solar panels are rated to withstand a 1” hailstone falling at terminal velocity and winds up to 125mph, but storm damage is possible and should be considered in your decision making. There is a 10-year workmanship warranty available with installation of a Medina EC system. There will be manufacturers’ warranties on the individual parts of the system, and that information will be provided to the member at the time of sale.     

Are solar PV systems covered by homeowner’s insurance?

It is recommended to insure solar PV systems against acts of nature and accidents. The cooperative recommends talking to your insurance agent about the coverage your policy offers for a ground-mounted solar PV system and any increased costs to your policy for that coverage before purchasing the system. Medina EC does require the owner of any DG system on our lines, including the solar PV system sold by the cooperative, to show proof of insurance (view the Distributed Generation section of the Tariff for details).   

Will a solar PV system produce power during power outages?

No. The anti-islanding feature found in today’s inverters will not allow the inverter to operate unless the presence of the grid is detected. This is for the safety of the linemen working on our system. DG systems, like a solar PV system, can put energy back on the grid which creates life-threatening danger for crews working on restoring power.

Why purchase solar from Medina EC when there are other options?

We want to be your trusted energy provider and expert.  We know our membership is receiving calls from other solar salesmen. If we can provide our members with a similar product that is more affordable, we think it is our duty as your not-for-profit electric cooperative to offer that option. We also want to ensure that other companies are not selling you more panels than needed or telling members that Medina EC will buy back the excess capacity at retail rates. Whoever you decide to purchase a solar PV system from, know that you will get honest numbers and information from Medina EC staff to help you make the right decision for your home or business.  

Common Terms

ROI – Return on Investment - tries to directly measure the amount of return on a particular investment, relative to the investment's cost.

PV – Photovoltaic – a method for generating electric power by using solar cells to convert energy from the sun into a flow of electrons by the photovoltaic effect

kW – Kilowatt – a unit of electric power. One kilowatt is equal to 1,000 watts (W).

DG – Distributed Generation – the generation of electric power from a small energy source close to the end user of power.

kWh – Kilowatt Hour – unit of energy, commonly used for billing from electric utilities. If energy is used at a constant rate over a period of time, the total energy in kWh is equal to the power in kW multiplied by the time in hours.

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Informacion sobre todos los programas y servicios que ofrece Medina Electric Cooperative estan disponibles en Español al llamarnos al 1-866-MEC-ELEC o visitando una de nuestaras oficinas.

 

Medina Electric Cooperative, Inc.
PO Box 370
Hondo, TX 78861
1-866-632-3532

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©2023 Medina Electric Cooperative, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

  • About Us
    • Capital Credits
    • Career Opportunities
    • Contact Us
    • Executive Team
    • Leadership
    • Our Story
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Services
    • New Service
    • Rates & Fees
    • Load Management
    • PrePaid Electricity
    • Distributed Generation
      • Renewables
      • Solar by Medina EC
      • Generators
    • Joint Use
  • Community
    • Community Empowerment Program
    • Donations and Sponsorships
    • Operation Round Up
    • Presentations & Programs
    • Rural Friends/ACRE
    • Scholarships
    • VFD Truck Giveaway
    • Youth Tour
  • Common Resources
    • Avian Protection Plan
    • Co-op Connections
    • Energy Savings
    • Rebates
    • Texas Co-op Power
    • Vegetation Management
    • Work Locations and Updates
    • Life Support Registry
    • Products