Below is a list of frequently asked questions about solar PV systems. Purchasing and installing a solar system is a large financial and logistical commitment. System size, cost and location are just a few things to consider. NV Energy recommends you research you options thoroughly prior to submitting and application.

Frequently Asked Questions About Solar

What is solar electricity?
What is Net Metering?
How do solar electricity or “PV” systems work?
Why use photovoltaic power?
What does a typical PV system look like?
Is my home, small business or school right for a PV system?
Can my home, small business or school accommodate a PV system?

Do I need to be concerned with the condition of the existing roof?

How much does a PV system cost?
How long will a photovoltaic system last
What incentives are available to help reduce the cost?
Who can install a photovoltaic system?

How do I find an installer for my solar system?

Am I required to give my contractor a deposit? What should I do if my contractor requires one?

Is there any advantage to installing solar panels on my roof when replacing my roof shingles?

What is solar electricity?

Solar electric or photovoltaic (PV) technology converts sunlight directly into electricity. You may be familiar with PV cells that power watches and calculators, but PV can do much more. It can provide electricity for your home, small business or school and allow you to take advantage of Net Metering.

What is Net Metering?

Net Metering allows you to offset your purchase of electricity with your own generated electricity, essentially making your meter run backward. Your utility will then only bill you the monthly customer charge and the net amount of electricity you use from its system. Net Metering rules will not allow the utility to pay you for more electricity than you consume, so proper sizing of your system is critical.

How do solar electricity or “PV” systems work?

Sunshine is converted into electricity by using solar panels (also called photovoltaics or PV panels) that produce direct current (DC) when exposed to sunlight. Our homes and workplaces use AC, or alternating current. A device called an inverter converts the DC electricity generated by the PV array to AC electricity that is usable in your home. The inverter also serves several other functions, most notably preventing unsafe operating conditions that could damage equipment, harm occupants, or affect the utility.

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Why use photovoltaic power?

The sun generates an abundance of clean energy that is largely unused for residential and commercial purposes. PV preserves the Earth’s finite fossil-fuel resources – coal, oil and natural gas – which are used to generate electricity. PV also reduces the air and noise pollution associated with electricity generated from those sources.

In addition, many people value the independence gained by producing the energy that their homes, small businesses or schools use, and they appreciate knowing their efforts are also helping conserve the environment.

Recent technological breakthroughs, combined with the incentive program from NV Energy, has greatly reduced the cost of PV ownership. PV system reliability and durability are outstanding – typical PV systems may last 40 years with minimal maintenance.

What does a typical PV system look like?

A typical PV panel consists of solar cells connected electrically to form a module that can measure two to four feet wide and four to six feet long. Some solar modules look just like traditional roof shingles. Multiple interconnected PV modules are called an array. Another typical feature of a PV system is an inverter, which changes the electricity produced by the PV system from DC to AC, the type of electricity used in your home or workplace.

What happens if the sun doesn’t shine?

Your PV system will continue to produce electricity during cloudy weather, although the total amount produced will be lower.

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Is my home, small business or school right for a PV system?

A PV system needs unobstructed access to the sun’s rays for most or all of the day throughout the year. PV panels are relatively unaffected by changing weather. In fact, most PV cells work better at colder temperatures. PV modules are angled to catch the sun, not snow, and any snow that does collect melts quickly. To maximize the energy produced, PV systems are usually installed on a south-facing roof with no shading and mounted parallel with the roof at a 30- or 40-degree pitch. However, roofs that face east or west may also be acceptable. PV panels should have their surfaces exposed to the sun’s rays with minimal or no shadows from trees, chimneys and roofs between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Can my home, small business or school accommodate a PV system?

The amount of space needed by a PV system is based on the output of the PV system and the type of PV system installed. Most small “starter” systems need as little as 50 square feet, while larger systems can require up to 1,000 square feet. A typical 1-kilowatt (kW) system should occupy approximately 100 square feet. If your location limits the physical size of your system, you may want to install a system that uses more efficient PV modules. Greater efficiency means that the module uses less surface area to convert sunlight into a given amount of electric power.

Do I need to be concerned with the condition of the existing roof?

A PV system can be installed on any well-structured roof. Typically, asphalt shingles are easiest to work with, while slate or tile is the most difficult. If your roof is older and needs to be replaced in the very near future, you may want to replace it before the PV system is installed to avoid the future cost of removing and reinstalling your PV system. PV systems are also available that integrate PV cells into the roofing materials themselves, allowing the roof to act as the PV collecting device. An integrated PV system can be an attractive option when replacing a roof or designing and/or building a new home, small business or school since it helps offset the cost of roofing materials.

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How much does a PV system cost?

The total cost of a PV system includes the cost of the PV equipment and installation. Your PV system’s cost will depend on a number of factors, including system size, the energy efficiency of your home, small business or school, whether the building is under construction and whether the PV is integrated into the roof or mounted on top of an existing roof. The cost also varies according to the PV system rating, manufacturer, retailer and installer.

Small-scale PV systems with built-in inverters that produce about 1 kW of power may cost about $10 to $12 per watt ($10,000-$12,000) installed. These small systems will offset only a small fraction of your electricity bill. A 2-kW system, which will offset most of the needs of a very energy-efficient home, may cost $8 to $10 per watt ($16,000-$20,000). A 5-kW system, which will completely offset the energy needs of many conventional homes, may cost $7 to $9 per watt ($35,000-$45,000). These prices, of course, are just rough estimates, and your costs will depend on your system’s configuration, your equipment options and other factors.

There are several online resources available to help you or your contractor calculate your estimated energy output, go to the Resources and Links on the SolarGenerations web page and scroll down to System Sizing Assistance.

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How long will a photovoltaic system last?

Since PV systems have no moving parts, they are reliable and require little maintenance. Typically, a PV system will not stop functioning but its output will diminish over time. After approximately 20 years, they system output may drop to 80% of the nominal. Manufacturers of PV panels typically provide warranties for their panels of between 20 and 25 years and inverter manufacturers offer warranties between five and ten years even though most inverters have a useful life of 20 years. Still, a solar system can last as little as a week or up to 30 years depending on several important factors. The quality of the modules and inverters and whether they are certified will affect the life of the system. Whether a system was properly installed and tested to verify baseline performance are very important to the life of the system. A properly designed system for optimal interaction between components is critical to the maximum life of the system. Finally, timely maintenance and regular system examination are important to ensuring the maximum lifetime of the system.

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What rebates are available to help reduce the cost?

NV Energy currently offers incentives to their Nevada customers that can significantly reduce the cost of purchasing and installing a PV system. The 2009-2010 program year incentives will be::

These incentives are scheduled to be available through June 30, 2011 and are subject to available funding. Additionally, you may also be eligible for tax credits that will further offset  your PV system cost. Please see your tax accountant for details.

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Who can install a photovoltaic system?

According to the Nevada State Contractors Board, a Nevada licensed electrical contractor with a full C-2 or C-2(g) electrical license can install a photovoltaic system.  However, a Nevada contractor with a C-2(g) license may not connect the system to the service panel and/or meter.  Only a Nevada licensed electrical contractor with full C-2 classification may connect the system to the service panel and/or meter.

A SolarGenerations participant using a C-2(g) contractor to install their photovoltaic system must also have a Nevada licensed electrical contractor with a full C-2 classification complete the connection to the service panel and/or meter.  In this case the participant will need to submit a copy of the invoice from both the C-2 and the C-2(g) contractors. The invoice from the C-2 contractor must specifically state that a Nevada licensed electrical contractor with full C-2 classification made the connection to the service panel and/or meter.

Clarification:

In a clarification to the Nevada Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Task Force (Task Force) on April 20, 2009, the Nevada State Contractors Board (Contractors Board) clarified that a Nevada licensed electrical contractor with a full C-2 classification may install a solar electric, wind energy or waterpower system in the State of Nevada.  (A contractor’s classification, license limit and other information may be found on the Contractors Board web page, http://www.nvcontractorsboard.com or by calling a State Contractors Board office.)

In addition, a Nevada contractor with a C-2(g) may install a photovoltaic system but the Contractors Board clarifies “the work allowed under a C-2(g) would allow the installation, alteration and repair of photovoltaic cells, batteries and invertors but would not include making the connection to the service panel and/or meter.  The connection to the service panel and/or meter would require a full C-2 classification.”   Therefore, applicants having their photovoltaic system installed by a contractor with a C-2(g) classification would need to also have a Nevada contractor with a full C-2 classification complete the connection to the service panel and/or meter.  In this case the applicant will need to submit a copy of the invoice from both the C-2 and the C-2(g) contractor.

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How do I find an installer for my solar system?

Finding an experienced, licensed Nevada contractor requires a little effort, but is well worth it. Here are a few suggestions to find the right company:

• Ask neighbors and friends for recommendations
• Look in the Yellow Pages
• Focus on local companies
• Look for Nevada licensed, C2 insured contractors
• Get three bids with details in writing
• Ask about previous experience
• Check references
• Check with the Better Business Bureau Check NV Contractors Board nvcontractorsboard.com .
• NV Energy offers a list of contractors and consultants who provide renewable energy services. This list is provided as a convenience for customers, and is presented for information purposes only. It does not constitute an endorsement or preference among these contractors or consultants.
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Am I required to give my contractor a deposit? What should I do if my contractor requires one?

Contract law in Nevada does not require providing a deposit for materials and/or equipment. However, should you agree to provide a deposit to your contractor, we encourage you to get a written receipt specifying in detail what the deposit represents and to verify that your contractor has a valid and active contractor’s license by contacting the Nevada State Contractors Board at:

Southern Nevada
2310 Corporate Circle, Suite 200
Henderson, NV 89074
(702) 486 – 1100 phone
(702) 486 – 1190 fax

Northern Nevada
9670 Gateway Drive, Suite 100
Reno, NV 89521
(775) 688-1141 phone
(775) 688-1271 fax

Please visit the Contractors Board web page at http://www.nvcontractorsboard.com and click on “Contractor License Search.”  You can check for your contractor by business name, principal name or license number. You may also talk to someone at the Contractors Board should you have questions or wish to file a complaint.

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Is there any advantage to installing solar panels on my roof when replacing my roof shingles?

Yes. Installation can be simplified for either pipe or wire runs to the existing meter location, making it easier to meet program rules. If you are financing your renovation, the cost of the solar photovoltaic system can most likely be included in your loan.

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Along with our efforts to protect habitat, work on environmental projects, and cooperate with environmental groups, NV Energy is doing its share by promoting clean sources of renewable energy.

Nevada is the No. 1 state in the nation in solar watts per capita and solar as a percentage of retail sales.

We are very proud of our accomplishments in furthering Renewable Energy in Nevada. And every day we are doing even more. The State of Nevada has taken a leadership role in the nation’s effort to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and foreign oil. State law mandates that a significant portion of the energy we sell to our customers comes from renewable sources. In its most recent Integrated Resource Plan filed with — and approved by — the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada, NV Energy will spending approximately $2 billion to purchase and invest in new renewable energy by 2015.

To learn more about our efforts, please view our NV Energy 2008 Sustainability Report.