I have an existing enphase system on my roof. I net meter with the POCO 1:1. We use more power now than we used to. I'd like to maybe DIY add solar capacity to it.
The existing panels are above the living part of my roof. I was thinking of maybe trying to add panels myself on top of my garage's roof. Garage is connected to house. There is no ceiling in the garage so you can see the trusses and OSB (so you easily visually spot any leaks). The power company is Rocky Mountain Power. I believe the terms of my Net Metering Agreement are that I can add to the system up to 10kw of capacity and remain grandfathered into the 1:1 net metering rate. I've got 6.2kw (although I never generate that full amount), so that'd leave me at least 3.8kw.
existing system details:
6.2KW
21 Suniva 295 Watt all-black with Enphase S280 Inverters
What kind of red tape and permitting am I going to need? Do you have to have a building permit if you are installing solar panels on your own garage? Do I need a new agreement from the power company (or is the existing net metering agreement good as long as I stay under 10kw)?
I assume because the garage is connected to the house I have to do rapid shutdown and all those NEC requirements but that's why I was thinking I could maybe tie into the existing enphase rapid shutdown ability. I see in the enphase hub box on the side of the house next to the power meter there are 3 breakers for three PV circuits and only 2 are being used. so I was thinking I could maybe add the new array as that 3rd circuit.
or,
The option 2 that I've thought of is to just install an offgrid inverter like a MPP or a EG4 and put some loads from my garage (and maybe a couple new mini split heat pumps) behind it. Does that let me skip out on any of the red tape and permits (and extra $$$) I'd need to add to the grid interactive setup? Can you do that and add the panels under-the-radar if it's for an offgrid-only setup, or are they usually pretty hardcore about enforcing that too? I don't get why I can install my own shingles on my roof without permits but I couldn't install my own solar panels (with no net metering) on my roof.
My main goal is cost savings and getting back to the point to where I am fully offsetting my electricity consumption by the time they zero the credits in spring.
The existing panels are above the living part of my roof. I was thinking of maybe trying to add panels myself on top of my garage's roof. Garage is connected to house. There is no ceiling in the garage so you can see the trusses and OSB (so you easily visually spot any leaks). The power company is Rocky Mountain Power. I believe the terms of my Net Metering Agreement are that I can add to the system up to 10kw of capacity and remain grandfathered into the 1:1 net metering rate. I've got 6.2kw (although I never generate that full amount), so that'd leave me at least 3.8kw.
existing system details:
6.2KW
21 Suniva 295 Watt all-black with Enphase S280 Inverters
What kind of red tape and permitting am I going to need? Do you have to have a building permit if you are installing solar panels on your own garage? Do I need a new agreement from the power company (or is the existing net metering agreement good as long as I stay under 10kw)?
I assume because the garage is connected to the house I have to do rapid shutdown and all those NEC requirements but that's why I was thinking I could maybe tie into the existing enphase rapid shutdown ability. I see in the enphase hub box on the side of the house next to the power meter there are 3 breakers for three PV circuits and only 2 are being used. so I was thinking I could maybe add the new array as that 3rd circuit.
or,
The option 2 that I've thought of is to just install an offgrid inverter like a MPP or a EG4 and put some loads from my garage (and maybe a couple new mini split heat pumps) behind it. Does that let me skip out on any of the red tape and permits (and extra $$$) I'd need to add to the grid interactive setup? Can you do that and add the panels under-the-radar if it's for an offgrid-only setup, or are they usually pretty hardcore about enforcing that too? I don't get why I can install my own shingles on my roof without permits but I couldn't install my own solar panels (with no net metering) on my roof.
My main goal is cost savings and getting back to the point to where I am fully offsetting my electricity consumption by the time they zero the credits in spring.