Rooftop solar – what you should know before you commit

You will continue to receive electric bills.

• You will continue to receive monthly energy bills from Holy Cross Energy (HCE) after the solar system is energized.

Your payback timeframe is not guaranteed.

• The economic performance proposed by your solar installer is not guaranteed and will vary over time based on system performance, HCE rates, and many other variables.

Our rates will change over time.

• HCE rates and rate structure (how we bill for both your power and access to the grid) are subject to change at any time as determined by the HCE Board of Directors. Potential changes may include not just rate increases, but also structure changes that could potentially impact the economic performance or payback of your solar system.

You will not have power during an outage – unless you have backup battery storage or a backup generator.

• Members with solar systems without a battery storage system or backup generator will not have electric power during an HCE power outage. If this is necessary for you, you can consider installing an energy storage system to isolate your home or business from the grid during an outage to provide the power you need. Learn more about battery energy storage through Power+ >

Additional things to know 

• Solar energy generated by your system will vary on a monthly basis due to natural cycles, with the highest production in the summer and the lowest production in the winter.
• Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) generated by your solar system will be assigned to HCE when you accept HCE’s solar incentive payment.
• There will be a minimum of two site visits to your solar system: one by your permitting authority and a second by HCE representatives before issuing an authorization to operate. Systems cannot be energized before our authorization to operate.
•  Members must have an HCE Approval Letter before the construction of any solar system component to qualify for an HCE incentive.

• HCE does not require a contract with any rooftop solar vendor for solar panel installation within our service territory, and does not require any of its members to obtain rooftop solar generation. We accept all interconnection applications that meet the criteria listed in our Interconnection Guidelines, Policy and Procedures and our Generation Interconnect Application
• We have received reports of door-to-door salespeople and telemarketers pressuring homeowners to buy solar panels and falsely claiming to be working for or with HCE. We do not have agreements of any type with any solar installation companies granting either exclusive or non-exclusive business within our service territory, nor have we authorized any solar contractors to speak on our behalf. If you have been approached by a salesperson claiming to work with or for HCE, please let us know.
• We want to make installing rooftop solar as easy as possible for our members by supporting them financially, but also with the resources and knowledge to make the processes as seamless as possible. That being said, take the time to learn about our incentives for rooftop solar and review our interconnection guidelines and procedures. Always refer to our website for the most accurate information regarding programs and be wary of resources found on other websites and on social media. We are aware that some solar installers have made some inaccurate claims regarding our rebates and rates. Please be sure to check with us to validate any claims made by installers.
• We encourage you to get multiple quotes from solar installers to find the best value for your project. We do not and cannot prohibit solar companies from installing their products in our service territory. We also do not have a preferred company for rooftop solar installation, however, we do provide a list of preferred solar installers that have successfully worked with our members to install systems.
• Our Generator Interconnection Policy and Procedures describes net metering and qualified facilities in detail.
• Net metering is available to members installing a system that is 25 kW or less, and the annual solar production does not exceed 200% of the member’s annual kWh usage.

If you have questions or would like to speak to us about rooftop solar give us a call at 970.947.5473 or email us at renewables@holycross.com