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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 Sierra Pacific Power 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 Sierra Pacific Power Co does offer?
Category : Financial Incentive
Website : https://www.nvenergy.com/save-with-powershift
Applicable Sectors : Residential, Low Income Residential
Incentive Amount : Heating and Cooling Smart Thermostat: Free Central A/C: $340 - $3,060 Air Source Heat Pump: $510 - $3,400 Ductless Heat Pump: $1,360 - $2,720 Heat Pump Water Heater: $400 A/C Tune-Up: $200 - $300 Lighting and Controls Screw-in LED Lighting: $2.00 per light bulb OCC Sensor: $10.00/unit Smart Switch: $10.00/unit Smart Plug/Switch: $10.00/unit Engine Block Heater Controls: $150.00/unit Water and Cooling Low Flow Showerhead: $15.00/unit Water Heater Blankets: $25.00/unit Evaporative Cooler: $150/unit Weatherization Weather Stripping: $0.25/linear foot Ducting Sealing + Insulation: $400 Duct Sealing: $200 Wall Insulation: $0.25/sq. ft Attic Insulation: $0.25/sq. ft Floor Insulation: $0.25/sq. ft Energy Assessment: Free
Implementing Sector : Utility
Category : Financial Incentive
Website : https://www.nvenergy.com/cleanenergy/renewable-energy-incentives/solar-heating
Applicable Sectors : Residential
Incentive Amount : Residential: Up to $3,000 Small Business: Up to $7,500 School: Up to $30,000 Public/Nonprofit: Up to $30,000
Implementing Sector : Utility
Category : Financial Incentive
Website : https://www.nvenergy.com/save-with-powershift/business-energy-services
Applicable Sectors : Commercial, Construction, Industrial, Local Government, Nonprofit, State Government, Federal Government, Installers/Contractors, Agricultural, Institutional
Incentive Amount : Retrofit Incentives Full list of incentives availalbe here Lighting: Varies Occupancy Sensors: $4-$30 Daylighting Sensors: $0.10/W Controlled Commercial Cooking Equipment: Varies by equipment type Ventilation Control: $300-$350/HP Vending Machine Controls: $90/unit Snack Machine Controls: $15/unit Floating Head Pressure Controls: $35/HP Freezers: $60 - $200 Refrigerators: $50 - $125 Ice Machines: $50 - $500 Transformer and UPS: Varies VSD Pool Pump: $150/HP Escalator Motor Controls: $20/HP VSD Air Compressor Replacement: $45/HP Compressed Air Engineered Nozzles: $10/unit Battery Chargers: $225/unit Demand Control Ventilation: $90/HP (parking garage), $50/1,000 sq. ft. (interior spaces) Irrigation Equipment: $2.00-$3.50/unit Air Conditioners/Heat Pumps: $8-$50/ton Programmable Thermostat: $25/unit Window Film: $0.70/sq. ft. VSD on HVAC Fans and Pumps: $50/HP Air Side Economizers: $25/ton Custom: $0.05/kWh New Construction Incentives Tier 1: $0-$100,000 = 100% Tier 2: $100,001-$500,000 = 50% Tier 3: $500,001-$1,000,000 = 20% Tier 4: $1,000,001+ = 10%
Implementing Sector : Utility
Category : Financial Incentive
Website : https://www.nvenergy.com/save-with-powershift/business-energy-services
Applicable Sectors : Commercial, Construction, Industrial, Local Government, Nonprofit, State Government, Federal Government, Installers/Contractors, Agricultural, Institutional
Incentive Amount : Retrofit Incentives Full list of incentives availalbe here Lighting: Varies Occupancy Sensors: $4-$30 Daylighting Sensors: $0.10/W Controlled Commercial Cooking Equipment: Varies by equipment type Ventilation Control: $300-$350/HP Vending Machine Controls: $90/unit Snack Machine Controls: $15/unit Floating Head Pressure Controls: $35/HP Freezers: $60 - $200 Refrigerators: $50 - $125 Ice Machines: $50 - $500 Transformer and UPS: Varies VSD Pool Pump: $150/HP Escalator Motor Controls: $20/HP VSD Air Compressor Replacement: $45/HP Compressed Air Engineered Nozzles: $10/unit Battery Chargers: $225/unit Demand Control Ventilation: $90/HP (parking garage), $50/1,000 sq. ft. (interior spaces) Irrigation Equipment: $2.00-$3.50/unit Air Conditioners/Heat Pumps: $8-$50/ton Programmable Thermostat: $25/unit Window Film: $0.70/sq. ft. VSD on HVAC Fans and Pumps: $50/HP Air Side Economizers: $25/ton Custom: $0.05/kWh New Construction Incentives Tier 1: $0-$100,000 = 100% Tier 2: $100,001-$500,000 = 50% Tier 3: $500,001-$1,000,000 = 20% Tier 4: $1,000,001+ = 10%
Implementing Sector : Utility
Category : Financial Incentive
Website : https://www.nvenergy.com/business/saveenergy/incentives/schools.cfm
Applicable Sectors : Schools
Incentive Amount : Incentives are $0.05 per first-year kWh savings for all projects and cannot exceed project costs. Pre-notification is required for all projects. Funds are available January through December or until exhausted.
Implementing Sector : Utility
Installing and connecting your solar system
When you install a solar system in Sierra Pacific Power Co territory, these are steps you can expect to go through:
Once you’ve hired a contractor, you will need to communicate with Sierra Pacific Power 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 Sierra Pacific Power Co customers?
The short and sweet answer is a resounding YES. Going solar is definitely worth it for Sierra Pacific Power 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 Sierra Pacific Power 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.
