Photovoltaic (PV or Solar) Installations FAQs

• Can GP&L recommend photovoltaic (PV or solar) system installation companies?

  No. GP&L does not make recommendations or endorsements. An internet search can provide you names of contractors in the area.

• What are GP&L’s requirements for installing a PV system?

  GP&L’s Solar Generation Installation Requirements document provides the requirements for customers interested in installing a PV system. 

• Why does GP&L have a 10 kilowatt (kW) maximum limit on PV installations?

  The size of the solar arrays is limited to 10 kW or less so that numerous PV installations can safely be accommodated into GP&L’s electric distribution system.

• After the PV system is installed, when will the meter be changed out?

  After the application is submitted, it is forwarded to GP&L’s Distribution Department for final review. An employee from Distribution will contact the customer to set up a function test. Once the PV system is approved, the application is considered complete, and a bi-directional meter will be installed by a meter technician. Please submit all required documentation as soon as possible to avoid delays in the system review process.

• How many kWh does my PV system produce each month? / What is net metering?

  GP&L’s bi-directional meters are not designed to record the total kWh of electricity generated by a customer’s PV system. Instead, the bi-directional meter records 1) any excess solar kwh produced by the PV system and delivered to GP&L’s system, and 2) any kWh delivered from the GP&L system to the home or business. Each month, these cumulative power flow meter readings are netted out for billing purposes.

• What is the buy back for excess electricity produced by my PV system?

  The bi-directional meter installed on approved PV systems provides net metering. The buy back for each excess kWh produced is $0.0819 per kWh.

• Why do I receive a utility bill that includes electricity charges?

  The amount of energy created by the PV system can vary based on the system’s wattage rating and the amount of sunlight absorbed by the solar panels. At times, customers may use more electricity than what their PV system produces. Any extra electricity needed to supply a home or business comes from the GP&L electric system.

• How does a PV system generate electricity?

  A PV system absorbs and converts sunlight into electricity. Electrons freed by the interaction of the sunlight with the semiconductor materials in the PV cells are captured in a direct electric current. An inverter converts that electric charge to an alternating electric current that can be used to power homes and businesses

• What conditions are necessary for a PV system?

  The solar array must have a reasonable amount of non-shaded, unobstructed space during key sun hours of the day. A southern exposure is ideal, but east- and west-facing roofs can capture about 80% of the power of a south-facing roof.

• What happens at night?

  If a battery backup is installed with your PV system, the battery can provide power at night if it was stored during the day. Otherwise, the home or business will use power provided by GP&L’s electric system.

• What happens on cloudy days?

  Because the bulk of electricity production on a PV system takes place under sunny conditions, production will diminish as less light reaches the system on a cloudy day.

• What happens during a GP&L power outage?

  Solar systems connected to the GP&L electric system will immediately shut down to protect the linemen who work on the outage.

• How long will solar panels last?

  Almost all panels are guaranteed for 25 or 30 years. Solar installers or contractors can provide details on the panels they are offering.

• Should I install battery backup with the new PV system or add it later?

  Installing a PV system with some battery backup makes it easier to add more later. If a system does not have battery backup initially, a different type of inverter will need to be purchased and installed before battery backup can be added.