Is Solar “FREE” In Pennsylvania?
When pitching to people that you can become energy independent at no out of pocket cost, it is often tempting to say it’s “free”. And, if I’m being honest, most are even skeptical when you tell them “no out of pocket cost”. And in their defense, they have every right to question a stranger at their door making such promises. It’s as if I can see (on their face) the voice inside their head say, “This guy isn’t telling the truth. Where’s his catch?” There is no catch, and the headline is true depending on your interpretation of the word “free”.
The whole concept of “free” is up for debate in this situation. To me, I often like to consider the Net Metering Program in PA to be that way, but it all depends on each individuals definition of free. Does free mean that I’m “not paying anything at all to do this?”, or does your interpretation fall into something like, “I’m getting EVERYTHING you’re offering for no money what-so-ever.”
I consider it free under the former. Think about this: You’re already paying an electric bill. That’s a cost you’ve associated with your home since you bought it. It’s a bill that everyone associates with owning a home. It’s a bill that will always NEED to be paid (this is a blog for another day). It’s a normal part of your life and finances. If I can provide you with a product and service that can reduce this bill, where you don’t have to pay anything extra for this to occur, I consider the headline of this article to be TRUE! Sometimes I even think to myself, “it’s more than free!” Homeowners can pay less for electricity than they are now, while also getting bill security and stability, after not paying anything at all to make this happen in the first place!
The latter comes from those who immediately think that since I’m offering a product and service, that everything under this scope is then free. Aka, since I would’ve said “free solar”, and solar is associated with an electric bill, that I can provide them with panels, customer service, monitoring, AND electricity for FREE. This is just simply not the case. I’d like to make it clear that I’m not dismissing their argument. It’s a legit argument that has a point. In the end, the term “Is solar FREE in PA?” is both true and not true at the same time, depending on with whom your talking.
The Net Metering Program in PA sits in a happy little spot in the solar world. You should be thankful that Pennsylvania offers this program, as not all states do. If your home meets the qualifications, the cost/benefit structure of the program can provide you with energy independence where you are not paying ANYTHING to make this happen. Neither does Solarity profit from you by providing this, as current government mandates and PUC fines pay us to do this. All of this is setup and you simply receive a new bill at a lower rate compared to the current rising rates of (insert your PUC utility company here). This bill is in almost all cases an immediate savings on electricity (why else would you do it). If not, it will be VERY soon. With the volatility of electricity rates in PA, all you have to do is find some charts that show your rate changes over the past few years and imagine what you could be saving had you done this program a few years prior. There are many reasons for the giant spikes and volatility in electric rates, which is a deep dive for another blog. Net Metering (also called “Power Purchase Agreements”) participants see lots in savings only a few short years into their program, where it continues to grow year after year (think IRA where there’s compounded interest—but instead its compounded SAVINGS).
Of course, specifics are tough to get into since every home’s sun exposure, roof layout, and energy needs are different. I always encourage homeowners to reach out to me and see if they can qualify for this program. Most people in NO BRAINER houses (homes that would see SUPER SAVINGS on their bill, where it’s a “no brainer decision” to accept this program) do not even realize they live in such a house. And others, who may realize they live in such a house, do not fully understand the amount of savings on offer in this program and are simply amazed. And finally, for some of you, this program may not be beneficial. In this case, you can still see tremendous savings and benefits from other options for solar. But how would you know unless you speak to a professional?
Consider reaching out to your local solar professional (me) and discussing your potential options for saving money. At the least, you are now informed more about renewable energy offerings for your home and family. This is a good time to note that this program will not be available for forever. The time is approaching where waitlists for solar panels are appearing.
Lastly, it’s always a good time to remind you that—so as long as you own a home—you will be under the mercy of utility companies and their rising rates. You take your energy bill to. the. grave! So, stop accepting their terms and take control of your electric bill!
-Noah Koppenhaver | Solar Professional