Do You Live in Michigan?Are You a Fan of Solar Power?
If you live in Michigan and are a fan of solar energy, there is great news for you! The good news comes on three different fronts, but you should act as quickly as possible to take full advantage.
Whether you are interested in saving on your electricity bill, or your water heating bill - not necessarily the same thing - both DTE and Consumers Energy are offering to pay 30% of the cost of installation of solar systems.
Part two of the equation is that the federal government is making the same offer, an additional 30% of costs covered.
That only leaves the lucky Michigan homeowner with 40% of the bill to pay.
But that's not all.
Part three is an incentive for the customer - that's you - to install a large enough system, a minimum of 1 kw, in order to generate excess power.
Any extra power which goes back to the utility company will be paid for.
In other words, you will get a cheque.
A 1 kw system would only need 5 panels of 200 watts each.
But, quite frankly, you will be better off to get a larger system than the 1 kw minimum for a couple of reasons.
Your monthly bill will be lowered by a proportionally larger amount, and your one-time refunds will be more.
Nothing like a decent cash incentive to take action.
Both DTE and Consumers Energy are offering to buy your excess solar power at the very high rate of 67 1/2 cents per kilowatt hour for systems installed by the end of 2009.
For systems made functional after that date the payout will be 52 1/2 cents per kilowatt hour.
This is for residents of the state of Michigan only.
It appears that the plan is intended to have several benefits, which include helping the utilities to reach a state mandated goal toward reducing fossil fuelled electricity and increasing solar power; the potential to attract manufacturers to Michigan to participate in this program; the provision of jobs in the solar installation industry; and the positive effect that such installations will have on the environmental forefront.
Programs such as this are popping up all over the country, so therefore if you are not in Michigan, you should contact your local utility company - whomever it may be - to see what plans and incentives are available in your area.
Whether you are interested in saving on your electricity bill, or your water heating bill - not necessarily the same thing - both DTE and Consumers Energy are offering to pay 30% of the cost of installation of solar systems.
Part two of the equation is that the federal government is making the same offer, an additional 30% of costs covered.
That only leaves the lucky Michigan homeowner with 40% of the bill to pay.
But that's not all.
Part three is an incentive for the customer - that's you - to install a large enough system, a minimum of 1 kw, in order to generate excess power.
Any extra power which goes back to the utility company will be paid for.
In other words, you will get a cheque.
A 1 kw system would only need 5 panels of 200 watts each.
But, quite frankly, you will be better off to get a larger system than the 1 kw minimum for a couple of reasons.
Your monthly bill will be lowered by a proportionally larger amount, and your one-time refunds will be more.
Nothing like a decent cash incentive to take action.
Both DTE and Consumers Energy are offering to buy your excess solar power at the very high rate of 67 1/2 cents per kilowatt hour for systems installed by the end of 2009.
For systems made functional after that date the payout will be 52 1/2 cents per kilowatt hour.
This is for residents of the state of Michigan only.
It appears that the plan is intended to have several benefits, which include helping the utilities to reach a state mandated goal toward reducing fossil fuelled electricity and increasing solar power; the potential to attract manufacturers to Michigan to participate in this program; the provision of jobs in the solar installation industry; and the positive effect that such installations will have on the environmental forefront.
Programs such as this are popping up all over the country, so therefore if you are not in Michigan, you should contact your local utility company - whomever it may be - to see what plans and incentives are available in your area.
