Steps to Take Before Installing Solar

1. Figure out how much electricity you use and other important factors that can help determine what size system makes sense for you. Be sure to call TCEC if you need help.
2. Approximate how much you can save with solar and how much your system will cost using the Solar Savings Calculator.
3. Understand the complete financial implications of owning solar. There is an upfront cost to install a system and annual maintenance costs. Make sure the vendor you purchase from supports future maintenance.
4. Get multiple quotes from solar vendors and financing providers before you make any decisions.

TCEC’s Distributed Generation Program Process

Please follow these steps:

1. The member must fill out and sign the Interconnection Agreement.
2. Return agreement and proposed schematics to TCEC.
3. The TCEC Engineering Department will review documents for site approval.
4. Once approval is given, TCEC will contact the solar company.
5. Closer to installation, TCEC will meet with the installers for an inspection upon completion.
6. After inspection, a new Co-generation meter will be installed at the location (if approved), and a $250 charge will be incurred.
7. Once the meter has been exchanged, Permission to Operate will be given to the solar Company.

Frequently Asked Questions

Empowering you Home

Solar power is clean and green energy from the sun. It’s a prominent topic in the electrical cooperative industry.

• Our experience ensures a straightforward, potent, and efficient solar consideration.
• We aim to provide you with essential information for informed solar investment decisions.
• Together, we’ll assess your overall energy needs to find the best home options.

Contact Tri-County Electric Cooperative (TCEC) at (580) 652-2418 early in your decision-making process for more details.

Solar for the Home

While rooftop solar certainly works for many people, it’s not the answer for all. A lot goes into the decision to invest in solar and many of these factors are specific to your unique situation.

We want to help you to learn more about:

• How residential solar systems operate
• Your electricity use
• Reliable contractors and avoiding scams
• Relevant TCEC policies
• Accurate rates

This will help you to fully understand the true costs, the operational reality of this form of energy, and actual energy savings.

PV System Overview

Residential solar systems have 4 key features:

• Solar panels
• An inverter
• A metering system
• Utility grid

Solar Panels

• Photovoltaic (PV) Solar Panels convert sunlight into direct current (DC) electricity.
• They can be installed on either rooftops or the ground.

Inverter

• An inverter converts the DC electricity into useable alternating current (AC) electricity to power your home.

Metering System

• A Metering System provided by the solar vendor tracks how much solar you produce and consume.

Utility Grid

• The Utility Grid provides power to the inverter and power to the home not produced by the solar panel.
• Keep in mind that solar panels will not be able to provide your home with electricity during a power outage unless you have a battery.

Maximize System Efficiency

• Multiple factors impact how much electricity your PV system will produce and will determine whether solar makes sense for you.
• Not all solar panels are manufactured the same way and different vendors use different panels.
• Higher-quality solar panels are often more efficient and more costly.

Factors Influencing Solar Panel Efficiency

There are multiple environmental factors that influence the efficiency of your solar panels. The largest factors are:

• Shade
• The pitch of your roof
• The angle of installation
• General climate

Installation Expert

Solar panels should be placed in a location that optimizes their efficiency.

• The vendor’s installation expert should identify the best location to install your PV system and estimate how much electricity it will produce.
• You can consult them to address any aesthetic concerns and tradeoffs.

Financing Options

Just like buying a car, there are multiple ways to finance a PV system. It is important to understand all available options and their tradeoffs before deciding.

Pay Up Front

• Outright ownership usually has the highest return on investment, but it involves paying for your system upfront.

Loans & Incentives

• Solar Loans have the same basic structure, terms, and conditions as other home improvement loans and are an option if you want to own the system but need to finance the upfront cost.
• These financing options qualify homeowners for financial incentives like the federal investment tax credit (ITC).
• Some vendors may offer 3rd party financing structures such as a Solar Lease or Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), but these options are usually more costly.

Avoid Shady Scams – Ask TCEC First

News stories like the Hidden Cameras Reveal Dark Side of Solar Power story are disappointing but not surprising. Some of our members report similar experiences.

• Please call TCEC early in the process if you are installing solar power at your home.
• Our team will work hard to make sure everything goes smoothly.

TCEC Policies & Agreement

If you’re considering installing solar at your home, be sure to review the following. Once you’ve made your decision, you’ll need to fill out the member-owned generation form and interconnection agreement.

Application for Operation of Member-Owned Generation

This application should be completed as soon as possible and returned to TCEC (the “Cooperative”) in order to begin processing the request.

Information: This application is used by the Cooperative to determine the required equipment configuration for the Member interface. Every effort should be made to supply as much information as possible.

Application for Member Owned Generation

Member Information(Required)

First Name Last Name

Mailing Address(Required)

Address City State AlabamaAlaskaAmerican SamoaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaGuamHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaNorthern Mariana IslandsOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaPuerto RicoRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahU.S. Virgin IslandsVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyomingArmed Forces AmericasArmed Forces EuropeArmed Forces Pacific ZIP Code

Phone Number(Required)

Type of Generator(Required)

-Select One-PhotovoltaicWindBiomass

Estimated Load Information

Total RRF Tariffed Capacity:(Required)

(kW)

Total Load behind the Meter:(Required)

(kW)

Description of Proposed Installation(Required)

Give a general description of the proposed installation.

Generator Data

Number of units behind the retail meter:(Required)

(kW)

Assigned Unit number, if multiple units are installed:(Required)

(kW)

Nameplate Data(Required)

Attach a readable photo of nameplate data, similar to the example shown here.

Max. file size: 300 MB.

Consent(Required)

The Member agrees to provide TCEC with any additional information required to complete the connection.

The Member shall operate all equipment within the guidelines set forth by TCEC.

I hereby verify the information to be true and complete and agree to the terms and conditions. I understand that by typing my full name and pressing the Submit button, this form submission will be stamped with today’s date and authorized by me as if I had signed my signature.

Applicant Electronic Signature

(Full Name)

Comments

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

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• Application for Operation of Member-Owned Generation - (PDF)
• Solicitud para Operación de Generación Distribuida Propiedad del Miembro (PDF) - Spanish language version

Distributed Generation Program Specifics

The following information is excerpted from the Electric Service Tariffs.

Distributed-Generation Program

Availability

Distributed Generation service is available to all members of TCEC meeting the following eligibility requirements:

1. The member Distributed Generation Facility must be powered by wind, solar or biomass;
2. The member Distributed Generation Facility must have a tariffed capacity that does not exceed the Cooperative’s service capacity to the member. The size of the Distributed Generation shall be no less than 1 kW and no greater than 300 kW;
3. The Distributed Generation Facility must be owned by a member of TCEC;
4. The Distributed Generation Facility must be connected on the member’s side of the TCEC retail meter (no direct connection to the TCEC distribution facilities is permitted);
5. The member must operate the Distributed Generation Facility in a manner that the TCEC system is not adversely impacted with respect to reliability, quality of service, ability to serve other members, impact on distribution facilities and safety of the public.
6. The member shall be responsible for the costs of protective equipment or other facilities required by TCEC to serve the Member’s load with the Distributed Generation Facility and shall be paid in advance of construction; and
7. 7. The member shall be required to execute the Agreement for Interconnection and Parallel Operation for Distributed Generation. (Attached as Appendix A.)

Members with a Distributed Generation Facility connected prior to June 1, 2017 shall continue to be served under the existing agreement until June 1, 2029 or until service is terminated or transferred to new ownership, at which time, the provisions of this Distributed Generation Program will become applicable.

Metering

Metering installed for the service provided under this tariff shall be capable of registering and accumulating the kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity flowing in both directions in a billing period.

Monthly Billing

The electric energy generated by the member’s Distributed Generation Facility may be used to offset the member’s energy requirements at the time of generation.

The energy (kWh) supplied by the Cooperative to the member during the billing period, shall be billed by the Cooperative in accordance with the tariffs and charges under the member’s Standard Tariff Schedule.

The energy (kWh) generated by the member’s Distributed Generation Facility and delivered back to the Cooperative shall be credited to the member during the billing period at the Cooperative’s Avoided Cost. The Cooperative’s Avoided Cost shall be defined as the monthly locational marginal price of energy for the regional location provided by TCEC’s wholesale power provider.

Power Cost Adjustment – PCA-1

The tariffs (except Tariffs 45, 46, 47, 48, and any special agreements) shall be increased or decreased by the amount, in cents or fraction thereof, by which the average cost of power per kilowatt-hour (kWh) purchased was paid to wholesale power suppliers during the previous month exceeds or is less than 5.2594 cents per kWh. The power cost adjustment (PCA) shall be calculated in accordance with the following formula:

Formula		PCA = A x (1/ (1 - B)) + C
Where:
PCA	=	Power cost adjustment to be made per kilowatt-hour (kWh) billed.
A	=	The amount (in cents, or fraction thereof) by which the average cost of wholesale power per kWh purchased (excluding accounts on Industrial Power Service tariffs and any special contracts) paid to wholesale power suppliers during the previous month preceding the end of the billing period for which kilowatt-hour (kWh) usage billed exceeds or is less than 5.2594 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh).
B	=	The twelve (12) month average percentage of power losses expressed decimally (excluding accounts on Industrial Power Service tariffs and any special contracts) ending with the previous month.
C	=	An amount in cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) sold, or fraction thereof, which reflects the periodic over or under recovery of power cost adjustment revenue from previous periods that TCEC is entitled to recover under this section of the Tariffs.

Circumstances beyond the control of TCEC may arise that prevent the calculation of the adjustment for the cost of purchased power before the first billing of the month. In those instances, TCEC shall use the adjustment from the prior month’s cost of purchased power for all of the current month’s billings. A calculation shall be made the following month to the adjustment for the cost of purchased power to correct the previous month’s billings.

Power Cost Adjustment – PCA-2

PCA-2 will be the Wholesale Power Cost (including energy, demand, ancillary services, transmission service and any other costs) adjusted for the applicable losses to serve the load.

PCA-2 is only used on Tariffs, 47, 48 and 91, and any special agreements.

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• Distributed Generation Program - (PDF)
• Programa de generación distribuida - (PDF) - Spanish language version

Interconnection Agreement

This Agreement made and entered into 04/26/2024, by and between:

Tri-County Electric Cooperative, Inc., hereinafter called “TCEC,”

And

Member

First Last

hereinafter called “Member.”

Witnesseth:

1) Member desires to interconnect an electric power generator to Member’s electrical service via an indirect connection to TCEC’s distribution facilities.

2) TCEC does not allow a direct connection to its distribution facilities.

3) Each of the parties desire to operate the interconnection in a way that ensures the safety of the public, the parties and the employees and facilities of the parties.

In consideration of the mutual covenants of TCEC and Member (the parties), the parties agree as follows:

Section One: Tariffs

The section of the Tariffs of TCEC entitled “Distributed Generation” is incorporated as if copied and recited herein. The parties recognize that the Rules and Regulations of Service and Tariffs are subject to modification and change. This agreement shall be subject to such modification or change effective as of the date of the approval of such modification or change.

Section Two: Location

Member desires to indirectly connect to distribution facilities of TCEC at the following location:

Insert a description of the location and the Member account:

Location(Required)

Section Three: Term

This Agreement is ongoing with no expiration and can be terminated by either party upon 60 days written notice.

Section Four: Change of Law, Regulatory Requirements, Tariffs or Rules and Regulations of Service

The parties agree that in the event of a change of law, regulatory requirement, TCEC Rules and Regulations of Service or the Distributed Generation set out in TCEC’s Tariffs, they will negotiate in good faith to amend this Agreement to reflect the change(s).

TCEC shall have the right to terminate this agreement upon 10 days written notice to member in the event the parties fail to amend this agreement for a period of 30 days to reflect any applicable change of law, regulatory requirement, or the distributed generation of TCEC.

Section Five: Installation

Member’s electric power generation facility shall be installed in accordance with all applicable laws, codes, tariffs and rules and regulations. Member shall provide all reasonably requested information concerning Member’s facilities and take or refrain from taking actions as TCEC may request or as may be necessary or appropriate in order to achieve the purposes of this Agreement or to carry out the transaction contemplated hereby.

Section Six: Metering

Metering installed for the facility of Member shall be capable of registering and accumulating the kilowatthours (kWh) flowing from the Member to TCEC and from TCEC to Member for each billing period.

Section Seven: Maintenance Outages

Outages on TCEC’s system are occasionally required for maintenance purposes. TCEC will provide as much notice to Member as practically feasible under the circumstances requiring the maintenance. It is recognized that in some emergency situations, notice of the outage to Member may not be possible.

Member will not be entitled to compensation for the lack of availability of TCEC’s facilities.

Section Eight: Access

Member grants TCEC access to Member’s site for maintenance and operations. TCEC has the right, but not the obligation, to inspect Member’s facilities. TCEC shall have the right to disconnect/isolate Member in the event that it is TCEC’s determination that Member’s facilities pose a risk to the general public, the Member, employees of TCEC or the facilities of TCEC.

Section Nine: Authorization

Each party to this Agreement will obtain any required federal, state or local governmental authorization, approval, order, license, permit, franchise or consent, if any, and any registration, declaration or filing with any government authority in connection with this Agreement and the facilities covered herein.

Section Ten: Indemnification

Member shall defend, hold harmless and indemnify TCEC, its authorized agents, wholesale power providers, respective employees, officers and trustees from and against all claims, demands, losses or damages, costs or expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and other expenses incident thereto) on account of damage to any third-party property or injury including death, to any persons (including any employee of TCEC) that arises from implementation or operation of the distributed generation of Member.

Section Eleven: Limitation of Liability

Member releases TCEC, its authorized agents, wholesale power suppliers, and other Members from any liability, whether direct, indirect or consequential to the implementation or operation of the Member’s generating unit.

Section Twelve: Modification

This Agreement shall only be modified by a writing signed by all parties.

Section Thirteen: Assignability This Agreement is not assignable by either party hereto without the written consent of the other party.

Member Consent(Required)

I hereby verify the information to be true and complete and agree to the terms and conditions. I understand that by typing my full name and pressing the Submit button, this form submission will be stamped with today’s date and authorized by me as if I had signed my signature.

Member Electronic Signature(Required)

Name

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

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• Appendix A - Agreement for Interconnection and Parallel Operation of Distributed Generation (PDF)
• Apéndice A - Acuerdo de Interconexión y Operación Paralela de Generación Distribuida (PDF) - Spanish language version