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 Orange & Rockland Utils Inc 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 Orange & Rockland Utils Inc 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 : https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/All-Programs/NY-Sun
Applicable Sectors : Commercial, Industrial, Nonprofit, Residential, Low Income Residential
Incentive Amount :
Implementing Sector : State
Category : Financial Incentive
Website : https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/All-Programs/Residential-Financing-Options
Applicable Sectors : Residential, Multifamily Residential, Low Income Residential
Incentive Amount :
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.oru.com/en/save-money/rebates-incentives-credits/new-york-customers/incentives-for-residential-customers-ny
Applicable Sectors : Commercial, Residential, Federal Government, Low Income Residential
Incentive Amount : Appliances Air Purifier/Cleaner: $50 Room Air Conditioner: $15 Clothes Washer: $10 Dehumidifier: $25 Pool Pump: $150 Refrigerator: $25 Heat Pumps and Air Conditioners: See website Refrigerator/Freezer Recycling: $25 Lighting LED discounts through participating retailers
Implementing Sector : Utility
Category : Financial Incentive
Website : https://www.oru.com/en/save-money/rebates-incentives-credits/new-york-customers/incentives-for-business-customers-ny
Applicable Sectors : Residential, Low Income Residential
Incentive Amount : Water Heater – Tankless: $150 Furnace: $300 Hydronic Boiler: $375 Combination Furnace/Water Heater: $750 Steam Boiler: $125
Implementing Sector : Utility
Category : Financial Incentive
Website : https://www.oru.com/en/save-money/rebates-incentives-credits/new-york-customers/incentives-for-business-customers-ny/energy-efficiency-upgrades-installations
Applicable Sectors : Commercial, Industrial, Local Government, Nonprofit, Schools, State Government, Federal Government, Multifamily Residential, Institutional
Incentive Amount : Lighting Discounts for LED lighting from participating retailers HVAC Air Conditioners Air Cooled: $25/ton Air Conditioners Water Cooled: $25/ton Variable Speed Drives: $175 - $1,495 Custom Measures: 20 cents per kWh saved and capped at 25% of the total project cost with at least a one year payback
Implementing Sector : Utility
Installing and connecting your solar system
When you install a solar system in Orange & Rockland Utils Inc territory, these are steps you can expect to go through:
Once you’ve hired a contractor, you will need to communicate with Orange & Rockland Utils Inc 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 Orange & Rockland Utils Inc customers?
The short and sweet answer is a resounding YES. Going solar is definitely worth it for Orange & Rockland Utils Inc 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 Orange & Rockland Utils Inc? 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.
