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Solar vs. grid power: how much can you save?
Electricity rates are on the rise. The U.S Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates that electricity prices in the U.S. rose 6.2% in 2023 alone.
Homeowners across the country are looking for ways to reduce their energy costs and many are turning to solar energy. But just how much can you save with solar and is it worth the investment?
Solar customers can often save tens of thousands of dollars over the lifespan of their solar system. To determine exactly how much you can save, you’ll have to do a little math.
Compare your current cost per kW from Consumers Energy Co with the cost per kW of your solar system. Then calculate your monthly or yearly expenses across a 25-year period. Finally, subtract your total cost of energy with solar from your total of energy from the grid to determine your savings
A simpler way to estimate your savings potential is to compare your current monthly energy costs with your projected solar payments. If your energy costs are higher than your solar payments, there is a good chance you will see savings.
At Solar Cost Calculator, we suggest that anybody paying more than $100 a month for electricity should consider solar.
What solar incentives Consumers Energy Co does offer?
Category : Financial Incentive
Website : https://www.consumersenergy.com/residential/save-money-and-energy/rebates
Applicable Sectors : Residential, Multifamily Residential
Incentive Amount : Appliances Washing Machine: $25 - $50 Clothes Dryer: $25 Heat Pump Clothes Dryer: $75 Refrigerators/Freezers: $25 WiFi Enabled Thermostat: $75 Television: $25 - $75 Continuous Bathroom Exhaust Fan: $25 Air Purifier: $50 Room Air Conditioner: $20 Dehumidifier: $20 Bathroom Exhaust Fans: $25 Recycling Refrigerator/Freezer Recycling: $50 Room Air Conditioner/Dehumidifier Recycling: $15 Heating & Cooling Furnace: $100 - $500 Air Conditioner: $75 - $500 AC/Heating Tune-Up: $65 Heat Pump Water Heater: Varies, contact contractor for more information. Windows & Insulation Roof Insulation: $50 - $70 Wall Insulation: $50 Rim Joist Insulation: $20 Window Replacement: $15/window Patio Door Replacement: $40/door Lighting Varies
Implementing Sector : Utility
Category : Financial Incentive
Website : https://www.consumersenergy.com/residential/save-money-and-energy/rebates
Applicable Sectors : Residential, Multifamily Residential
Incentive Amount : Heating & Cooling Natural Gas (NG) Furnace: $100 - $500/unit Air Conditioner: $75 - $500 A/C and Heating Tune-up: $65 Programmable Thermostat: $75 Appliances Washing Machine: $25 - $50 Clothes Dryer: $25 WiFi Enabled Thermostat: $75 Insulation & Windows Roof Insulation: $125 - $200 Above-Grade Wall Insulation: $125 Basement Wall/Crawlspace/Rim Joist Insulation: $50 Window Replacement: $15/unit Patio Door Replacement: $40/unit Water Heating High Efficiency Gas Storage Water Heater: Varies Tankless Gas Water Heater: Varies
Implementing Sector : Utility
Category : Financial Incentive
Website : https://www.consumersenergy.com/business/energy-efficiency/rebates-and-programs
Applicable Sectors : Commercial, Industrial, Local Government, Nonprofit, State Government, Federal Government, Multifamily Residential
Incentive Amount : Consumers Energy Business Solutions offers a wide variety of rebates. The categories are listed below. See the full catalog for information on individual incentive amounts. Lighting Lighting Controls Variable Frequency Drives Compressed Air Miscellaneous Electric Manufacturing HVAC Equipment Building Automation System Advanced Air Distribution and Energy Recovery Laboratory Tune-up/Maintenance Refrigeration, Laundry, and Kitchen Building Envelope and Insulation Pipe and Ductwork Insulation Agricultural LEED Whole Building Custom Incentives Business Instant Discount Program
Implementing Sector : Utility
Category : Financial Incentive
Website : https://www.consumersenergy.com/business/energy-efficiency/rebates-and-programs
Applicable Sectors : Commercial, Industrial, Local Government, Nonprofit, State Government, Federal Government, Multifamily Residential
Incentive Amount : Custom: $0.10 per kWh of electricity and $12 per Mcf of natural gas saved Building Envelope & Insulation Wall Insulation: $0.60/sq. ft. Attic Roof Insulation: $0.30/sq. ft. Flat Roof Insulation: Up to $0.16/sq. ft. Window Reduction: $0.75/sq. ft. Window Film: $0.40/sq. ft. Window Awning: $0.25/sq. ft. High Performance Glazing in Windows: $0.25/sq. ft. Cool Roof: $0.02/sq. ft. Automatic High Speed Doors (exterior): Up to $0.50/sq. ft. Domestic Hot Water: $0.50 - $1.00/linear ft. HVAC & Mechanical AC/Heat Pump Systems: $30 - $70/ton Computer Room Air Conditioning: $10/MBH Computer Room Air Conditioning Glycol Economizer: Up to $60/MBH Air-Cooled Chiller: $7/ton Water-Cooled Chiller: $10/ton Laboratory Fume-Hood Ventilation Reduction: Up to $1.40/CFM Enthalpy Wheel Energy Recovery Unit: $0.40/CFM Fixed-Plate Energy Recovery Unit: $0.35/CFM Dust Collector Air Exhaust Recovery Unit: $1.50/CFM Web-Based Building Automation Systems: Up to $0.15/sq. ft. Hydronic HVAC Pump Control: $80/HP Critical Zone Supply Air Reset Control: $25/ton Air-Side Economizer: $15/ton Optimal Start/Stop on Air Handling Units: Up to $0.30/sq. ft. Occupancy Sensor Control for HVAC Systems: Up to $0.08/sq. ft. Chilled Water Reset Retrofit: Up to $30.00/ton Demand Control Ventilation: Up to $0.10/sq. ft. Hotel Guestroom Occupancy Sensor: $80 Auto Sash Closer: Up to $100/ln. ft. Occupancy Sensor with VAV Hood: Up to $60/ln. ft. Low Flow Hood with VAV Hood: Up to $60/ln. ft. Domestic Water Heater Tune-Up: Up to $350/boiler Air and Water-Cooled Chiller Tune-Up: Up to $7,500/chiller Steam Trap Repair/Replacement: $175/trap Kitchen, Refrigeration & Laundry Commercial Kitchen Ventilation Control: $0.50/CFM LED Lighting for Refrigeration Cases: $10/ln. ft. Occupancy Sensors for LED Refrigeration Lighting: $20/door Anti-Sweat Heater controls: $75/door Evaporator Fan Demand Control: Up to $130/controller Floated Head Pressure Control: Up to $150/ton Refrigerator Case ECM: $70/unit Walk-In ECM: $150/unit Walk-In Cooler Evaporator Motor Reduction: $250/motor removed Reach-In Refrigerated Case Doors: Up to $100/ln. ft. No Heat Reach-In Case Doors: Up to $200/door Cooler/Freezer Strip Curtains: $8 - $25/sq. ft. Door Gasket Seals: $5/ln. ft. Laundry Ozone Generation System: $40/lb Lighting: Varies
Implementing Sector : Utility
Installing and connecting your solar system
When you install a solar system in Consumers Energy Co territory, these are steps you can expect to go through:
Once you’ve hired a contractor, you will need to communicate with Consumers Energy Co to prepare the interconnection paper. Your contractor will handle most of these responsibilities
After the interconnection agreement has been finalized, your contractor can begin the installation process.
Once your system is installed, it needs to be inspected for safety and code compliance.
After the final inspection, you will receive a written notice within a few days that your system is approved to operate. You can turn on the system yourself or you can contact your installer for further assistance.
Most homeowners prefer to do it themselves. The whole process should only take 10 - 15 minutes.
Is solar worth it for Consumers Energy Co customers?
The short and sweet answer is a resounding YES. Going solar is definitely worth it for Consumers Energy Co customers. The average homeowner in _UtilityCompanyName_ can save an estimated #### over the lifespan of their solar system.
Going solar is a long game so you need to think several years ahead. It can take a few years to hit your break even period. But between net metering and solar incentives, you can drastically reduce that timeframe.
Want to get an idea for what it will cost you to go solar with Consumers Energy Co? You can use our Solar Cost Calculator to generate a customized estimate instantly. We take into consideration a wide range of criteria including location, electric bill, roof size, and other factors. Try it out today and start planning for your future.
