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Five Things You Didn’t Think Your Local Energy Company Would Tell You About Solar Energy

Over the past decade, local energy companies have become an essential resource for customers interested in solar. From streamlining the interconnection process between private solar generating systems and the energy grid, to supporting local community solar projects, to building new tools and resources for those getting started, we have become trusted advisors in helping you access solar energy.

At Delmarva Power, Atlantic City Electric and Pepco, we are connecting thousands of solar customers each year—and we’ve learned quite a bit along the way. Sometimes customers are surprised to learn about our perspective on solar energy and the services we provide to help them go solar. Here are a few things we want you to keep in mind when exploring your solar options.

  1. We want to help you access solar energy. With solar, you can produce your own electricity, reduce your electric bill, and shrink your carbon footprint—we want to help you access these benefits. We understand that customers increasingly expect us to provide new energy services and choices, that’s why we are constantly evaluating new technologies and have well established programs to help you access solar energy.
  2. We have tools to help you get started. When you’re ready for a private solar system, there are many factors to consider. To help customers, we have rolled out free tools and services to provide you with a personal estimate for your solar savings potential based on your rooftop characteristics, electricity use, current electricity rates, and available tax credits and rebates. These tools can also help you compare options side-by-side to understand how different scenarios may impact your wallet in the near- and long-term, so you can make the most informed choice possible.
  3. Build in time for interconnection. Connecting your system to the local energy grid is a critical step. Not only does it ensure that you will continue having a supply of electricity for your home, even when your solar panels are not generating power, it also allows you to take advantage of bill credits for the energy you don’t use and instead share on the local energy grid. However, this important step takes time, sometimes longer than a couple of months. So, be sure to build in time for interconnection after you have selected your system and contractor.
  4. You have choices. For many, owning or hosting a system just isn’t possible. Community solar is another option that gives you the ability to subscribe to energy from a local solar project, making it possible to access the benefits of solar without physically installing solar equipment at your home or business. Through a monthly subscription, you can purchase solar energy directly from a community solar project while your local energy company will continue to deliver energy to your home. Contact our Green Power Connection team to learn more about the status of community solar in your area.
  5. Climate change is real. We understand the urgency of reducing carbon emissions and we want to help usher in the clean energy future while doing our part to combat climate change and prepare for a world with more extreme weather and less predictability. Supporting customers who want to go solar by helping them connect to the local energy grid or find a community solar project are just a few ways we are supporting our national transition to a clean energy future.

Dana Small is director of Smart Grid and Technology for Pepco Holdings, which includes Atlantic City Electric, Delmarva Power, and Pepco. In this role, she oversees the company’s Green Power Connection team, which serves as a one-stop resource to guide customers through the process of connecting their generating system to the grid in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and the District of Columbia. Through Green Power Connection, Dana’s team has helped more than 65,000 customers go solar across the service area.