Technically correct - I saw this in an amendment to the rule that was not adopted. They can only 'recommend' this amount of liability insurance for Tier 1 systems. My mistake.
How Can a Tier 1 System Make Financial Sense?
- Thread starter markpj23
- Start date
The insurance is to protect you should the system malfunction and somehow create a hazard to linemen. You purchase your insurance through a private carrier, not the utility. I've heard figures of around $15 / month for a $1M policy. Each client is different though..
Agreed - or at least I hope so. My estimated production used the 75% 'rule of thumb' and due to shading, roof shape / position, I used only 4 hours of sunlight per day. Neighbors have some really tall trees that are nice for everything except solar production....
n2aws
Solar Addict
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- Oct 24, 2022
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I'm also in florida.
I also have a "tier 1" system, Schnieder XW Pro.
In FL, if you go above 10kw, you must have $1m in liability insurance to have a net metering agreement with FPL or duke. When shopping around a few months ago, this is about $15/month.
If you decide not to have a net metering agreement, that insurance requirement goes away. That said, if you aren't planning on batteries (or at least, not at first) then.. NEM makes a lot of sense.
If you are talking a 5 year payback, I would say it still makes sense. a solid and reliable system will give you 25+ years of power. so "20 years" of free power, starting at the 5 year mark.
If your concern is about 5 years payback, and still having to pay an electric bill, consider the $15/month insuarance for the tier2 option. But honestly, being in florida myself.. I'd strongly suggest a battery system. going 20+ days without power is NO FUN.
9 days with no power after IAN, (But I had solar+batteries, so my critical loads continued to work)
23 days with no power after charlie, aside from what time I ran a generator... and fuel was SCARCE the first week or so.
To be fair, Charlie was so long because when the power poles fell over, it ripped the weatherhead out of my house, and I had to wait for an electrician to fix it and replace my main panel that was destroyed. most of my neighbors were something like 15 days.
One last thing to consider. You are saying 5 years payback. But does that include the cost of energy going up? Judging from our economy the last few years, it's only a matter of time if yours hasn't gone up already.
I also have a "tier 1" system, Schnieder XW Pro.
In FL, if you go above 10kw, you must have $1m in liability insurance to have a net metering agreement with FPL or duke. When shopping around a few months ago, this is about $15/month.
If you decide not to have a net metering agreement, that insurance requirement goes away. That said, if you aren't planning on batteries (or at least, not at first) then.. NEM makes a lot of sense.
If you are talking a 5 year payback, I would say it still makes sense. a solid and reliable system will give you 25+ years of power. so "20 years" of free power, starting at the 5 year mark.
If your concern is about 5 years payback, and still having to pay an electric bill, consider the $15/month insuarance for the tier2 option. But honestly, being in florida myself.. I'd strongly suggest a battery system. going 20+ days without power is NO FUN.
9 days with no power after IAN, (But I had solar+batteries, so my critical loads continued to work)
23 days with no power after charlie, aside from what time I ran a generator... and fuel was SCARCE the first week or so.
To be fair, Charlie was so long because when the power poles fell over, it ripped the weatherhead out of my house, and I had to wait for an electrician to fix it and replace my main panel that was destroyed. most of my neighbors were something like 15 days.
One last thing to consider. You are saying 5 years payback. But does that include the cost of energy going up? Judging from our economy the last few years, it's only a matter of time if yours hasn't gone up already.
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