Are you tired of rising thermostats and electricity expenses living in Arizona? You must keep your spirits high to beat the heat! But we can help you lower electric expenses with solar energy. The Arizona Public Service (APS) in Arizona is offering cost benefits to consumers using solar energy with their regular electricity connection. Let's see whether solar is worth it with APS in Arizona!
The sunny state of Arizona has plenty of sunshine throughout the year; why not put it to some work? Solar has a high potential to eliminate your electricity costs, you only need to make the right investment. We'll help you explore different options to unlock the solar potential. Try not to miss out on any section.
Interconnection of Solar With APS
Arizona Public Service (APS) allows consumers to interconnect their solar system with the state grid. The process is simple and beneficial for users to save on electricity costs. All you need is to hire a registered solar installer to handle the process. After successful interconnection, you can enjoy multiple benefits from APS and reduce your electric expenses.
Here’s a step-by-step process for interconnection of solar with APS:
Step 1: Put up an Application
The first step is to put up an application of interconnection with necessary documentation i.e., a Site Plan, an Electrical Three Line Diagram, and an Authorization form.
Step 2: Get an Approval
You will receive the approval for interconnection after 1-2 weeks of application. However, if you’re asked for revisions the time for approval will extend.
Step 3: Necessary Documentation
After receiving approval your solar installer will be asked to send final documentation as per the code to initiate further process.
Step 4: Inspection and Meter Installation
Once documentation is completed and approval is given, the APS team will visit your house for the inspection and installation of a special interconnection meter.
Step 5: Good to Go Call
Finally, the APS will send you an email or post letter to start operating the system. The complete process will take about 4-5 weeks.
Benefits of Using Solar with APS in Arizona
Investing in solar has multiple benefits for APS customers. Once your solar system interconnection with APS is completed, you will be eligible to receive the benefits. The benefits range from net billing to tax incentives. Although you will have to make a huge upfront payment to install a solar system, it will pay for itself over time.
APS Net Billing
APS offers net billing to customers who have installed solar systems in their homes. Your system needs to be interconnected with APS for net billing. You will not be charged for grid supply when using solar energy. It also allows you to sell excess energy to APS at a special price. With net billing, you not only save electricity expenses when using solar energy but also earn by selling unused energy.
Unlike net metering, with net billing, you sell back excess energy to the power provider at a different per kWh rate than you buy it. The difference in rates is quite significant but it allows you to save on electric expenses rather than wasting generated energy. Take it as the difference in retail and wholesale prices of groceries. Since APS doesn't offer a net metering option, you can only sign up for net billing.
Resource Comparison Proxy Export Rate
The Resource Comparison Proxy Export Rate (RCP) is set to buy electricity from solar users interconnected with APS. Currently, the RCP rate is $0.07619 per kWh for household consumers in Arizona. However, the actual per kWh rate that APS charges customers is about $0.15 per kWh. The difference is quite high which makes it difficult to cover your energy costs by selling excess energy to APS.
The RCP rate changes for peak hours but it doesn't match the retail price of electricity. Although the RCP rate reduces solar savings, it helps to get something out of excess energy rather than wasting it. The plan you subscribe to can have different RCP rates, you can check with the power provider or log in to the official website to get more information about RCP rates.
Time of Use rates
APS has a Time of Use and Time of Use with Demand Charge plans which can be extremely beneficial for solar users. As you may know, electric rates are higher during peak hours (4 pm-7 pm) and lower during off-peak hours (rest of the day). You can use solar energy during peak hours to avoid high electricity costs. It'll significantly reduce your electric expenses. Here are the different electric rates offered in both plans:
|
Plan |
Time of Use |
Time of Use with Demand Charge |
|
On-peak rates (4 PM - 7 PM) |
$0.34 per kWh |
$0.06 |
|
Off-peak rates (all other times) |
$0.12 per kWh |
$0.14 |
|
Monthly demand charge |
$0 |
$19.59 per kW* |
The Time of Use with Demand Charge is a slightly different plan. When you subscribe to this plan, you will have to pay an additional monthly demand charge depending on the total power consumption of your house. For instance, if your house consumes 1 kW of grid supply the demand charge will be 19.59 dollars for the month end. To benefit from lower rates you will have to rely more on solar power and avoid increasing the demand charge.
Tax Benefits
The state government promotes clean energy and offers tax incentives to solar buyers. You can get a solar tax credit of 25% when buying a solar system in Arizona. The tax credit is capped at 1000 dollars. However, you will also receive a 30% federal solar tax credit on the purchase of a solar system. The combined tax credit will be around 55% which saves you thousands of dollars in taxes.
Earlier, the government announced rebates and incentives for solar users but when the number of users rose, all such programs were terminated. Even if there are no rebates or incentives, you can reduce your electric expenses and overall living costs with solar energy. The sunny state of Arizona has plenty of sunshine to power Arizonian homes.
Is Solar Worth it with APS in Arizona?
The energy costs are rising, the Arizona weather has become hotter, and average household power consumption has doubled in the past few years. It's high time to shift to solar energy and save electricity costs. The APS has also initiated programs to help you maximize the benefits of using solar power. Solar is worth it with APS in Arizona, you should prepare a budget and make the investment in solar.
We can suggest some good solar generator kits from BLUETTI to get started with. The BLUETTI is a top-notch manufacturer of superior-quality solar generator kits with advanced features and reasonable prices. Their products stand out with the best performance and durability. Let's browse some top-selling solar generator kits that you can buy right away!
BLUETTI AC200MAX + 2*B230 + 3*PV200 Solar Generator Kit
The BLUETTI AC200MAX + 2*B230 + 3*PV200 Solar Generator Kit has a 6,144Wh capacity to power your house during peak hours. It comes with advanced LiFePO4 battery technology for energy storage. You can fast recharge the battery packs with a combined 1400W Max input from solar and grid supply. The system also has a multi-recharge facility for added convenience, you can use seven power sources to keep your house running.
The BLUETTI AC200MAX has hi-tech features for easy control and monitoring. You can connect the power station with a mobile phone via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi and use the smart BLUETTI app. The app has a user-interactive interface that shows charging status, battery levels, and consumption. The EPS feature is also enabled to provide an uninterruptible power supply. The overall kit is compact for indoor and outdoor use.
You'll receive three BLUETTI PV200 solar panels offering a 600W input to recharge the system. The solar panels are built using efficient A+ grade monocrystalline solar cells. The panel has an ETFE coating and an IP65 rating for protection against water and dust and to ensure weather resistance. The solar panels have a foldable design for easy storage, the kick-stand allows convenient setup, and lightweight making it easy to carry.
BLUETTI AC500 + B300/B300S Home Battery Backup
The BLUETTI AC500 + B300/B300S Home Battery Backup can be a game-changer when it comes to saving electricity costs. It has an expandable capacity of up to 18,432Wh to power your entire house on solar energy. The systems come with high-performance LiFePO4 battery packs that are known for their durability and longevity. You can directly plug in appliances via its 16 universal outlets.
The power station has a multi-recharge facility and supports dual fast recharging. It also has the EPS option to provide an uninterruptible power supply during sudden outages. You can control and monitor the system via the smart BLUETTI mobile application. The power station connects with your mobile phone through Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Moreover, you can combine the power station with BLUETTI PV350 solar panels to complete the solar generator kit. It can be your money saver and the key to energy independence.
Final Thoughts
Solar is worth it with APS in Arizona. It can help you reduce your electric bills and access cheap electricity from APS. The Time of Use and Net Billing are the two best benefits you can receive as a solar user. The government also supports consumers with tax incentives on the purchase of solar systems. Considering rising electric costs and changing weather patterns that trigger excess usage of energy, it's the right time to invest in solar.
