Taylor – Ripley, West Virginia

Building business wealth while making our power grid more resilient.

Taylor – Ripley, WV
System size: 12.7 kW

Why did you decide to go solar?

I decided to go solar to save on long term costs of operating my business and to benefit the environment. Now is a great time to go solar since the cost has come down and the tax credit is still available. Using solar energy to offset your usage also supports the grid in their transition to renewables. By reducing the amount of energy that needs produced the utility can move towards energy storage and management.

Did anything surprise you about going solar?

It was surprising how easy it was to deal with the utility. I had heard some real horror stories but it really didn’t take too long. It was just over a week between the final electrical inspection and the permission to operate. However, that week did feel like a long time due to the excitement.

Do you have any data about your solar system performance? What electricity savings have you seen since going solar?

The first month the system had generated 1636.99kWhs. The system was sized to generate 130% of my usage in order to support future electrical usage and the charging of electric vehicles. My annual usage is 10,800 and this system will generate at least 14,859kWhs annually. The minimum monthly customer service charge is $12 with AEP in WV so I can expect to pay that unless I add to my usage.

What advice would you give to someone considering going solar?

As with any large purchase, talk to different installers to compare quotes. Get to know what you are currently paying for a unit (kilowatt hour) of electricity so you can accurately calculate if going solar makes sense to you.

Anything else you’d like to add?

Go solar now so you can begin reaping the benefits of the sun’s energy.
Joining SUN and taking advantage of the information they offer can help you make the right decision.