Factors That Affect the Cost-Effectiveness
of a Photovoltaic System
Depending on your specific need and location, there are a number of factors that affect cost effectiveness, including:
- System Size - Because of economies of scale, large systems cost less per watt than small systems.
- Installation Complexity - More complex installations, including mounting systems on racks, working around obstructions or on tile roofs can be more expensive.
- System Production - Installing your system at the optimal orientation and tilt will maximize system production. The more energy your system produces overtime, the lower the cost per kilowatt hour.
- Operation and Maintenance - Compared to other distributed energy technologies, operation and maintenance costs of photovoltaic systems are relatively low. Costs may include occasional cleaning of photovoltaic modules, regular visual inspections and possible repair or replacement of the inverter and/or components after a number of years.
- Financial Incentives – Federal tax credits and other incentives may be available to help lower the effective costs of investments in photovoltaic systems.
Note: The photovoltaic rebate program begins April 1, 2008. Cobb EMC reserves the right to modify or cancel the program at any time without prior notification. Rebate is limited to 10 kW per household.
**This is an estimated installed cost and is for illustrative purposes only. The actual installed cost of your photovoltaic system will vary and will depend on your specific structure, the angle, orientation and size of your system, the need for any additional supporting structures, the quality of your system components and the quality of the installation.
***This is an estimated amount of photovoltaic produced electricity and is for illustrative purposes only. The actual amount of electricity your photovoltaic system produces will vary and will depend on your specific geographic location, the angle, orientation and size of your system, natural variations in the weather and climate, the quality of your system components and the quality of the installation.
****This is an estimate of savings and is for illustrative purposes only. Your actual savings will vary and will depend on the amount of electricity actually produced by your photovoltaic system and the average cost per kWH normally charged by your co-operative for this amount of photovoltaic-generated electricity had it been supplied by the cooperative.
*****Member who receives a rebate will also receive a 1099 statement for the rebate from Cobb EMC at the end of the year.
*+Consult with your tax advisor about the applicability of receiving a Federal Tax Credit.