SolarPLUS Basics

Curious whether solar and battery storage is right for you? Not sure where to begin? Here are some helpful pieces of information to get you started.  

To be eligible for The GU Residential SolarPlus Pilot Program, you must:  

  • Be a current or future electric customer of Groton Utilities 
  • Live in a 1-2 family property  
  • Have not already received an incentive under the GU Residential Solar Pilot Program  
  • Be installing a system sized ≤ 12 kW  
  • Systems with battery storage are eligible.

House-Poll-Battery

What ownership options are available?

Solar companies typically offer a few different ownership options: direct ownership, lease, or Purchase Power Agreement (PPA). A PPA consists of the solar company owning the array and selling you the electricity it produces. GU customers must own or finance the system; third party electricity sales to municipal utility customers (such as a PPA) are not allowed per CT state law. 

How do I know what size system I need?  

The system should be sized to roughly match the electricity consumption of the home where it is being installed. GU restricts that the system capacity be no greater than 100% of the customer's kilowatt hour energy usage. The average residential solar system size in Connecticut is 9.472 kilowatts (kW-DC). This size system has the capacity to produce about 13,500 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year. 

How do I know if my roof is right for rooftop solar? 

The roof's structural and surface condition should be evaluated prior to installation to ensure repairs and/or replacement will not be needed in the near future. Roof orientation, tilt, and shading are also important considerations that impact a system's operating efficiency as well as a customer's eligibility for rebates.  

  • Roof orientation: south facing is best
  • Roof tilt: a 30-45 degree angle is best (this is typical of most New England homes) 
  • Shading: ideally, a system should have no shade for a minimum of six hours per day (to qualify for the Solar Rebate Program, shading must be less than 30%)

Solar Panels Installation

 

How much money will I save? 


Your potential savings depends on a number of factors: 

  • Roof size.
  • Exposure to the sun (and therefore how much energy your system produces) 
  • How much energy your home consumes 
  • The rates you would have paid if your electricity came from your utility 
  • Incentives 
  • Tax credits
For an estimate specific to your home, you should work closely with your installer to understand how much energy your solar PV system should produce each year and how much it may save you on an annual basis. 

 

Are there any financing options are available? 

In addition to the GU SolarPlus Rebate Pilot Program some customers may be eligible for State and Federal incentives.  There may be additional incentives offered through the CT Green Bank and through various Federal agencies.     

 

What happens to the excess electricity that my system produces?  

On clear days during the middle of the day when the sun is at its peak, your system is likely to produce more electricity than your home will use. In this scenario, you will be credited the monthly fuel charge per kilowatt-hour for excess electricity fed into GU's distribution system.

Typical Fees

Your installer will build these fees into their proposal to you.

  • Application fees
    • Distributed Generation Application Fee - $100
  • Meter fees
    • 120/240v Single Phase - $230
    • 120/208v Single Phase (Network) - $282