Try our solar cost and savings calculator
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 Niagara Mohawk Power Corp. 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 Niagara Mohawk Power Corp. does offer?
Category : Regulatory Policy
Website : https://dps.ny.gov/distributed-generation-information
Applicable Sectors : Commercial, Industrial, Local Government, Nonprofit, Residential, Schools, State Government, Federal Government, Agricultural, Institutional
Incentive Amount :
Implementing Sector : State
Category : Financial Incentive
Website : https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/All-Programs/Programs/EmPower-New-York
Applicable Sectors : Residential, Multifamily Residential, Low Income Residential
Incentive Amount : Low-Income: no-cost Moderate-Income: 50% of eligible work
Implementing Sector : State
Category : Financial Incentive
Website : http://ny-sun.ny.gov/
Applicable Sectors : Commercial, Construction, Industrial, Local Government, Nonprofit, Residential, Schools, State Government, Federal Government, Installers/Contractors, Multifamily Residential, Low Income Residential, Institutional, Integrators
Incentive Amount : Incentive rates step down over time as MW goals are met. Incentive rates as of 8/11/2023 are: Con Edison Region: Residential: $0.20/W Nonresidential (0 - 200 kW): $1.00/W Nonresidential (200 kW - 1 MW): $0.80/W Nonresidential (1+ MW): $0.50/W Upstate Region: Residential: $0.20/W Nonresidential: $0.35/W Long Island Region: Residential: $0.00/W (MW blocks have been fully subscribed) Nonresidential: $0.00/W (MW blocks have been fully subscribed) *additional adders/incentives are available
Implementing Sector : State
Category : Financial Incentive
Website : https://portal.nyserda.ny.gov/CORE_Solicitation_Detail_Page?SolicitationId=a0rt0000000QnB1AAK
Applicable Sectors : Commercial, Construction, Industrial, Schools, State Government, Federal Government, Agricultural, Institutional, Appliance Manufacturers
Incentive Amount : Minimum incentive of $25,000 Electric Process and Energy Efficiency: $0.10/kWh (Upstate) or $0.16/kWh (Downstate) Fossil Fuel Process and Energy Efficiency: $6/MMBtu (Upstate and Downstate) Operational and Maintenance: $0.04/kWh (Electric) and $3/MMBTU (fossil fuel)
Implementing Sector : State
Category : Financial Incentive
Website : https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/All-Programs/Programs/Assisted-Home-Performance-with-ENERGY-STAR
Applicable Sectors : Residential, Multifamily Residential, Low Income Residential
Incentive Amount : 50% of costs
Implementing Sector : State
Category : Financial Incentive
Website : https://www.nationalgridus.com/Upstate-NY-Business/Default
Applicable Sectors : Commercial, Industrial, Federal Government
Incentive Amount : Steam Trap Steam Trap Survey: 50% of cost Steam Traps: $300/unit (limit 250) or $3.00 per therm and up to 85% of project costs Custom Projects: $2.00 per therm, up to 70% of project costs High Efficiency Natural Gas Heating Equipment Furnaces: $250 - $500 Infrared or Condensing Unit Heaters: $475 Steam boilers: $575 Hydronic boilers: $700 -$3500 Condensing Boilers: $1,500 - $12,000 Indirect Water Heaters: $125 - $375 Tankless Water Heater: $500 - $625 Condensing Stand Alone Water Heater: $800 Integrated Water Heater/Non-Condensing Boiler: Up to $1,000 Pipe Insulation: $2.00/sq.ft. Wifi Thermostats: $100/unit Boiler Reset Single Stage Controls: $150/unit Boiler Reset Multi-State Controls: $250/unit Kitchen Equipment Combination Oven: $1,200 - $2,500 Convection Oven: $1,250 Conveyor Oven: $1,000 Fryer: $1,000 Griddle: $350 Rack Oven: $2,000 - $3,000 Steamer: $2,500 Dishwasher: $50 – $900 Conveyor Broiler: $1,000 - $2,750 Infrared Charbroiler: $1,000 Infrared Salamander Broiler: $250 Kitchen Demand Controlled Ventilation: $450 No-Cost Energy Audit for Grocers: See program website for details. Energy Management Systems: See program website for details. No-Cost Water Saving Products: See program website for details.
Implementing Sector : Utility
Category : Financial Incentive
Website : https://www.nationalgridus.com/Upstate-NY-Home/Default
Applicable Sectors : Residential, Installers/Contractors, Multifamily Residential, Low Income Residential
Incentive Amount : Heating Partial load heating ASHP: $500 incentive/outdoor condenser unit Full load heating ASHP: $1,000/10,000 BTUH Ground Source Heat Pump: $1,500/10,000 BTUH Custom Incentive: $80 / MMBTU Heat Pump Water Heater: $700/unit Dedicated domestic hot water (DHW) Water-to-Water Heat Pump (WWHP): $900 / unit
Implementing Sector : Utility
Category : Financial Incentive
Website : https://www.nationalgridus.com/Upstate-NY-Business/Default
Applicable Sectors : Commercial, Industrial, Local Government, Nonprofit, Schools, State Government, Federal Government, Multifamily Residential, Institutional
Incentive Amount : Custom Program Custom Large Business Energy Program: 50% of the project cost Lighting: $0.15 - $0.45/W saved Food Service Equipment Oven: $750 - $2,000 Fryer: $750 Griddle: $500 Steamer: $2,000 Freezer: $100 - $250 Refrigerator: $100 - $250 Hot Food Holding Cabinet: $200 - $800 Ice Machine: $100 - $800 Dishwasher: $50 - $900 Kitchen Demand Control Ventilation: $450 Others Compressed Air: $100 - $250/HP Storage: $2.75/gallon Dryer: $2.40 - $4 per CFM cycling and VSD Zero-loss condensate drain: $120 each Air nozzles: $20 each Hotel Occupancy Sensors: $75/sensor Vending/Refrigeration: $30- $75 Chiller Tune-up: $5/ton Energy Management Systems: See site for information. Heat Pumps Air-Source Heat Pump: $500/unit, $1,000/10,000 BTUH (Partial vs. Full Load) Ground-Source Heat Pump: $1,500/10,000 BTUH Custom space heating: $80/MMBTU annual savings Heat pump water heater: $700/unit Commercial HPWH: $80/MMBTU annual savings See program for additional incentives.
Implementing Sector : Utility
Installing and connecting your solar system
When you install a solar system in Niagara Mohawk Power Corp. territory, these are steps you can expect to go through:
Once you’ve hired a contractor, you will need to communicate with Niagara Mohawk Power Corp. 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 Niagara Mohawk Power Corp. customers?
The short and sweet answer is a resounding YES. Going solar is definitely worth it for Niagara Mohawk Power Corp. 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 Niagara Mohawk Power Corp.? 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.
