Adding solar panels and switching rate plans can lower your York Electric Cooperative electric bill
Updated: October 21, 2020There are three ways you can reduce your York bill: changing your habits, switching your rate plan, and adding solar panels.
You've probably heard a lot about reducing energy consumption by doing things like switching to LED lightbulbs and adding insulation to your walls, but these fixes are relatively easy compared to the far more impactful step of making changes to your lifestyle.
The second thing you can do is switch your rate plan. York doesn't offer time-of-use billing that can help you save money by shifting your usage of energy-intensive appliances to off-peak hours, but there may be other options for you .
Finally, you can reduce or even eliminate your electricity bill by installing solar panels on your home.
On this page:
Solar panel cost calculator
How much can I reduce my York Electric Cooperative bill by switching to a different rate plan
For some people, the savings from switching rate plans may only be a few dollars per month, but for many it can be $20-$100 per month. That's between $240 and $1,200 that you may now be paying to York Electric Cooperative each year for no reason.
Finding out what's available to you is as simple as a phone call or email to York Electric Cooperative. Even a small savings can be worth it.
Are solar panels worth it for York Electric Cooperative customers?
Perhaps. York Electric Cooperative customers enjoy some of the lowest rates in South Carolina, which means solar panels save you less money for every kilowatt-hour they generate.
Still, South Carolina offers an excellent state tax credit to people who pay for a solar installation, and combined with the federal solar tax credit, that can reduce the net cost of solar by half after the first year. With incentives like this, solar is a much better investment, even if you're saving less per kWh than folks served by the major electric utilities.
Does York Electric Cooperative offer full 1 for 1 net metering credits for exported solar power
York Electric Cooperative doesn't offer true net metering, which would be credits for excess kWh produced in one month that can be used to reduce the next month's bill by the same number of kWh. Instead, if your solar panels generate more energy than you need in one month, York Electric will pay you a standard "Value of Renewable Generation" rate for the excess. This rate is currently $.0479/kWh, while your retail rate is around $.09/kWh.
This is still a decent deal when it comes to solar savings, but unfortunately we can't call it net metering.
What incentives, tax credits and rebates are available to York customers for installing solar?
The major financial incentive currently available until the end of 2023 is the 30% federal solar tax credit. The way this works is that the full cost of the system needs to be paid to the installer, and this tax credit can then be claimed back as cash when you next do your taxes.
Many states, local governments and utilities also offer incentives for homeowners who go solar. This help can take the form of state tax credits, rebates, tax breaks, SRECs or even performance-based incentives. The best part is that all of these incentives apply in addition to the federal credit.
Here is every incentive you may be eligible for as a York customer:
Table 1: Incentives
| Upfront Incentives | Value* |
|---|---|
| Residential Clean Energy Tax Credit (Federal) | -$7,253 |
|
Solar Energy State Tax Credit
(State)
25% of costs up to $3,500 or half of state tax liability, per year. Unused credits carry forward for a maximum of 10 years; thus the $35,000 cap. |
-$8,059 |
|
Net Metering
(State)
Investor-owned utilities are required to offer full retail rate for excess kWh produced. New net metering rules for Duke customers require that participants accept service on a time-of-use rate plan and are assessed a minimum monthly bill. Customers who applied for net metering before June 1, 2021 will receive net metering under the old rules until May 2029. |
Varies |
| TOTAL | -$15,311 |
*Based on 14.53 kW system, average installation cost $32,234
How much does installing solar panels save the average York Electric Cooperative residential customer?
If you input the details for a York customer with a power bill of $160 per month into the best online solar panels calculator, it tells you that you need a 14.53 kW solar system that will produce 20,888 kWh per year and that this system will return the owner a $47,585 profit after repaying the cost of the system.
The solar savings possible for you as a York customer will depend on the amount of electricity you use and the cost of the solar system you buy. Savings also vary based on the direction of your roof or any shading of your roof that affects output.
Here is a monthly and lifetime solar savings estimate for the same relatively typical York customer with a $160 per month electric bill prior to solar and who installs a 14.53 kW solar system.
How much do residential solar panels cost for York customers?
Showing data for:
Prices based on a 11.6kW system, after 30% federal tax credit
Solar prices near you
Net profit (savings less system cost)
$22,507-$27,509
Payback period
9.7-11.9 years
Recommended size for the selected utility bill
11.6kW
Solar panel cost calculator
Detailed information about your estimate
Table 2: Estimate details
|
System Size (for 100% usage offset) 14.53 kW |
|
Annual Power Generation 20,888 kWh |
|
Pay-back time (assuming Cash purchase) 9.5 Years |
|
Internal Rate of Return (IRR) on Investment 6% |
|
Gross cost $32,234 |
|
Total Upfront Incentives and Rebates -$11,882 |
|
Net Cost of System after rebates and incentives $20,355 |
|
Total Cost of Utility Power Avoided over 25 years $67,940 |
Please note that the investment return figures do not include the possible increase in property value.
What are the environmental impacts of York Electric Cooperative customers installing solar panels?
While most homeowners decide to install solar panels because of financial savings over time, the environmental impacts of this choice are the primary motive for others. Here is a breakdown of the environmental benefits from a York Electric Cooperative customer installing a 14.53 kW solar system on their property:
A solar system generating 20,888 kWh per year will save you money AND make the world a nicer place
Saves you
$1,903
on average per year
Reduces CO2 emissions
10.34
tons per year
Equivalent to planting
72 trees
per year
Equivalent to driving
22,873 mi
less per year
CO2 emissions calculation based on the electricity generation and emissions data for your state in 2015 as published by the US Government Energy Information Administration.
What factors affect the price of solar panels for York Electric Cooperative customers?
The cost of installing solar panels will vary with brands of solar panels and inverters you choose and also the installation company you choose to install them.
It is common to see really good systems, using quality brands of equipment, being sold for around $2.22 per watt or $20,355 for a standard 14.53 kW solar system after the customer claims the 30% federal solar tax credit.