memills
New Member
?? I presume that they will? In which case I would need the additional solar panels to be approved and permitted?
Or, can I fly under the radar?
Or, can I fly under the radar?
My current solar system is grid-tied with net metering with the elec company. Will they be able to tell if I add additional solar panels?
- Thread starter memills
- Start date
robbob2112
Doing more research, mosty harmless
To do it right you need to permit and get it all approved. This would probably kick you over to NEM 3 depending on your current contract and what you have.
That said if you add a new panels so you are just buying a bit less power they probably won't notice. If you add enough panels that you go from buying at all times to selling at all times they will notice.
So it depends is your answer
That said if you add a new panels so you are just buying a bit less power they probably won't notice. If you add enough panels that you go from buying at all times to selling at all times they will notice.
So it depends is your answer
Here is the situation. If you are the original owner and designer of the system and are still receiving a large electrical bill because the system was undersized, you may be able to go through channels to have your system enlarged to an appropriate size and keep NEM 1 or NEM 2 if you are not on NEM 3.
Otherwise, enlargement is limited to 10% more watts by faceplate of the panel. So an 8 kW system could have two 400 watt panels added.
If you need a lot more power, say like 20 kW a day or more, I would just install a new second system using a hybrid inverter, set up a sub panel and route some of the circuits to that sub panel and put in place a good battery back up. You could install a transfer switch to the panel if the inverter fails or use a generator. You may possibly be be able to grid tie, but not sell back too. Getting new equipment gets you the tax break to and you can tailor this second system to your needs. And it needs to be permitted, but nothing to involve the utility company about.
Otherwise, enlargement is limited to 10% more watts by faceplate of the panel. So an 8 kW system could have two 400 watt panels added.
If you need a lot more power, say like 20 kW a day or more, I would just install a new second system using a hybrid inverter, set up a sub panel and route some of the circuits to that sub panel and put in place a good battery back up. You could install a transfer switch to the panel if the inverter fails or use a generator. You may possibly be be able to grid tie, but not sell back too. Getting new equipment gets you the tax break to and you can tailor this second system to your needs. And it needs to be permitted, but nothing to involve the utility company about.
SkyBlue
New Member
Check your net metering agreement to see what you currently are approved for. As Glandpuck wrote, you are allowed to add 10 percent more Watts or 1 kW (whichever is greater) than your net metering agreement specifies. PG&E approved my system at 4 kW, even though I only have 3.1 kW in panels, so I could add nearly 1.9 kW more and stay on NEM 2. And yes, you are supposed to get permitted and inspected and notify your power company if you install additional panels.
Similar threads
