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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 Puget Sound Energy 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 Puget Sound Energy Inc does offer?
Category : Financial Incentive
Website : https://www.pse.com/rebates/multifamily-retrofit
Applicable Sectors : Multifamily Residential
Incentive Amount : Electric Incentives Line Voltage Thermostat: $50 per thermostat Line Voltage Connected Smart Thermostat: $75 per Thermostat ENERGY STAR® certified Smart Thermostat: $75 per thermostat Common area lighting (nonresident controlled): up to 70% of project cost In-unit TLED retrofit: $30 per lamp In-unit occupancy sensor with TLED upgrade: $25 per sensor In-unit fixture replacement: $80 per fixture Attic/Floor/Wall insulation: $0.50-$1.50 per sq. ft. Attic/Crawlspace/Underfloor sealing: $1.00 per sq. ft., up to 100% of costs Entry door weather stripping with air sealing: $75 per unit Recessed light fixture cover: $40 per unit ENERGY STAR® certified ventilation fan: $50 per unit Single Pane Windows: $20-$30 per sq. ft. Double Pane Windows: $3-$15 per sq. ft. Ductless Heat Pump: $800 per unit Packaged Terminal Heat Pump: $2,400 per unit Heat Pump: $1,500 per unit ENERGY STAR® Certified Front-loading Clothes Washer: $75 per unit ENERGY STAR® certified clothes dryer: $50 per unit Custom upgrades: $0.45 per kWH, up to 70% of total project cost Natural Gas Incentives ENERGY STAR qualified Smart Thermostat: $75 per thermostat Entry door weather stripping with air sealing: $75 per unit Recessed light fixture cover: $40 per unit Attic/Crawlspace/Underfloor sealing: $1.00 per sq. ft., up to 100% of costs Attic/Floor/Wall insulation: $0.50-$1.50 per sq. ft. Single Pane Windows: $20-$30 per sq. ft. Double Pane Windows: $3-$15 per sq. ft. ENERGY STAR® or AHRI Certified Boiler: $700 per unit ENERGY STAR® or AHRI Certified Furnace: $700 per unit Integrated Space and Water Heater: $800 per system ENERGY STAR® Certified Storage Tank Water Heater: $50 per unit ENERGY STAR® Certified Storage Tankless Water Heater: $250 per unit Custom upgrades: $7 per therm, up to 70% of project cost FREE In-Unit Direct-Install Replacement Measures: - TLED Replacement - Advanced Power Strip - Shower valve thermostatically controlled - Bathtub spout thermostatically controlled
Implementing Sector : Utility
Category : Financial Incentive
Website : https://www.pse.com/rebates/business-incentives
Applicable Sectors : Commercial, Industrial, Nonprofit, Schools, Federal Government, Institutional
Incentive Amount : Commercial Kitchen Deep Fat Fryers: Up to $4,000 Connectionless Steamers: Up to $3,500 Griddles: Up to $3,600 Hot Food Holding Cabinets: Up to $500 Convection Ovens: Up to $3,000 Combination Ovens: Up to $10,500 Rack Ovens: Up to $6,000 Deck Ovens: Up to $4,800 Conveyor Ovens: Up to $3,300 Ice Machines: Up to $750 Commercial Dishwashers: Up to $8,775 Commercial Refrigerators: Up to $850 Commercial Freezers: Up to $750 AHRI Certified® packaged terminal heat pump (PTHP): Up to $1,000 per unit Commercial/Industrial Customized Retrofit Projects Custom Projects: $0.45/kWh for electric savings $7.00/therm for gas savings up to 70% of project costs Commercial HVAC Advanced Rooftop Unit Control (ARC): varies by tonnage, up to $4,500 per unit Connected Thermostat: $200 per unit AHRI Certified® ductless heat pump: $500 per ton Major HVAC controls upgrade: Varies, see website Occupancy based thermostat controls: Up to $200 per unit Packaged Terminal Heat Pump: Up to $650 per unit Variable refrigerant flow (VRF): $3.00 per square foot (qualifications apply, see website) Commercial Lighting New LED fixtures: $0.25 per kWh LED fixtures with automatic controls: $0.10 in additional per kWh Interior LLLC fixtures: $75 per fixture bonus Advanced Exterior Lighting Control (AELC): $75 per fixture bonus Lighting components, CFL-LED lamps, HID-LED lamps: $0.17 per kWh TLED lamps: up to $4 each Commercial Horticultural Lighting Retrofit: Up to $0.20/kWh annually, up to 70% of installation cost New Construction: Up to $0.20/kWh annually, up to 100% of cost Small Business AHRI Certified® ductless heat pump: $1,000 per ton Energy Assessment for 150 room facility or less: Electric – $Free Natural Gas – $Free
Implementing Sector : Utility
Category : Financial Incentive
Website : https://www.pse.com/en/business-incentives/commercial-new-construction-programs/commercial-new-construction-incentives
Applicable Sectors : Commercial, Industrial, Local Government, Nonprofit, State Government, Federal Government
Incentive Amount : Custom approach: Up to $0.45/annual kWh and $7.00 per annual therm saved Lighting power density reduction: up to $0.25 per annual kWh savings Post-occupancy third-party building commissioning: up to $0.35/sq. ft. Prescriptive incentives/rebates: Contact a PSE representative for details
Implementing Sector : Utility
Category : Financial Incentive
Website : https://www.pse.com/rebates/new-construction-grants/multifamily-projects
Applicable Sectors : Construction, Multifamily Residential
Incentive Amount : Whole-Building Custom Approach: up to $0.45 per annual kWh savings and $7.00 per annual therm savings Whole-Building Custom Approach (Affordable Housing): up to $0.45 per annual kWh savings and $7.00 per annual therm savings Custom Approach: up to $0.45 per annual kWh and $7.00 per annual therm Prescriptive Incentives: Contact your PSE representative for details
Implementing Sector : Utility
Category : Financial Incentive
Website : https://www.pse.com/rebates
Applicable Sectors : Residential
Incentive Amount : Appliances ENERGY STAR certified front load clothes washer: $125 ENERGY STAR certified clothes dryer: $100 Heating Duct or Ductless Heat Pump Conversion: $2,400 Ducted cold-climate Heat Pump Conversion: $4,000 Forced Air Furnace to Air-Source Heat Pump Conversion: $1,500-$4,000 Electric resistance to ductless heat pump conversion: $800 Electric Heat Pump Water Heater: $500 ENERGY STAR® High-efficiency Natural Gas Boiler: $700 ENERGY STAR® Natural Gas Furnace: $700 Natural Gas Storage Water Heater: $50 Natural Gas Tankless Water Heater: $250 Natural Gas Integrated Space and Water Heat: $800 Weatherization Site Built Homes ENERGY STAR® whole house ventilation (electric only): $50 per unit Prescriptive air sealing (attic and/or floor): $0.10 per sq ft Attic insulation (R-11 to R-49): $0.50 per sq ft Wall insulation (R-0 to R-13): $0.75 per sq ft Floor insulation (R-11 to R-30): $0.25 per sq ft Prescriptive duct sealing and insulation (R-0 to R-11): up to $400 Duct sealing only: up to $300 Advanced duct sealing: up to $1,250 per home Weatherization Manufactured/Mobile Homes ENERGY STAR whole house ventilation (electric only): Up to $50/unit Prescriptive duct sealing: Up to $450 Floor insulation (R-0 to R-22) : $1.37 per sq ft Attic Insulation (R0 to R22) (Built 1976 or before): $1.30 per sq ft Attic Insulation (R0 to R30) (Built 1977 or after): $1.30 per sq ft Lighting T8 LED retrofit bulbs: up to $4 per bulb Patio style LED string lights: up to $3 per bulb LED Fixtures: up to $10 per fixture Miscellaneous Smart Thermostat: up to $150 Windows: up to $100/window up to $1,500 total Home Energy Assessment: Free ENERGY STAR® Manufactured Homes: Up to $2,000
Implementing Sector : Utility
Category : Financial Incentive
Website : https://www.pse.com/rebates/business-incentives/commercial-retrofit-grants
Applicable Sectors : Commercial, Industrial, Local Government, Nonprofit, State Government, Federal Government
Incentive Amount : Congeneration/Combined Heat: $0.45/kWh saved Custom Grants (non-lighting retrofits): Up to $0.45/kWh or $7/therm of annual energy savings Pay for Performance Year 1 Incentive: Up to 50% of the Base Incentive: Up to $0.45 per kWh saved or Up to $7 per therm saved Years 2 – 5 Incentives: Up to 25% of the remaining base incentives + annual performance incentive: $0.05 per kWh saved or $0.50 per therm saved Telecommunications Efficiency Program: $0.05 - $0.45 per kWh saved
Implementing Sector : Utility
Category : Regulatory Policy
Website : http://www.utc.wa.gov/regulatedIndustries/utilities/energy/Pages/netMetering.aspx
Applicable Sectors : Commercial, Industrial, Local Government, Nonprofit, Residential, Schools, State Government, Federal Government, Agricultural, Multifamily Residential, Low Income Residential, Institutional
Incentive Amount :
Implementing Sector : State
Net metering with Puget Sound Energy Inc
Category : Regulatory Policy
Website : http://www.utc.wa.gov/regulatedIndustries/utilities/energy/Pages/netMetering.aspx
Applicable Sectors : Commercial, Industrial, Local Government, Nonprofit, Residential, Schools, State Government, Federal Government, Agricultural, Multifamily Residential, Low Income Residential, Institutional
Incentive Amount :
Implementing Sector : State
Installing and connecting your solar system
When you install a solar system in Puget Sound Energy Inc territory, these are steps you can expect to go through:
Once you’ve hired a contractor, you will need to communicate with Puget Sound Energy 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 Puget Sound Energy Inc customers?
The short and sweet answer is a resounding YES. Going solar is definitely worth it for Puget Sound Energy 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 Puget Sound Energy 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.
