Ridgway Office Photovoltaic Solar System

(On-line since May of 2005.)

The design of the new installation is reflected in the diagram below:

Grid-Intertied Solar-Electric System

Also known as on-grid, grid-tied, or utility-interactive (UI), grid-intertied solar-electric systems generate solar electricity and route it to the electric utility grid, offsetting a home’s or business’s electrical consumption and, in some instances, even turning the electric meter backwards. Living with a grid-connected solar-electric system is no different than living with grid power, except that some or all of the electricity you use comes from the sun.

In many states, the utility credits a homeowner’s account for excess solar electricity produced. This amount can then be applied to other months when the system produces less or in months when electrical consumption is greater. This arrangement is called net metering or net billing. The specific terms of net metering laws and regulations vary from state to state and utility to utility. Consult your local electricity provider or state regulatory agency for their guidelines.

San Miguel Power would like to recognize the consortium included representatives from all of the existing photovoltaic companies in our service territory who were in business at the time this project was proposed.

The companies and people involved include:
Alternative Power Enterprises, Inc.; Veritas Solar; Great Solar Works; Mountain Power; and in Memory of Glen Harcourt of Steeprock Jointery.

For a real-time output and other statistics of Ridgway’s photovoltaic system, follow this link: http://www.smpa.com/GreenPower.htm
Click here to view a history of total Kwh produced.