Save the environment and yourself

MT. PLEASANT — As solar energy becomes more popular Henry County has seen installation successes and failures.

Residents and businesses have many reasons to choose to install solar panels.

Most solar energy consumers go into the investment with hopes of saving money, creating energy independence, and reducing their carbon footprints with potential to earn some money from over production with minimal maintenance.

General Manager of Mt. Pleasant Municipal Utilities Jack Hedgecock, however, warns consumers that the installation is not always as easy or lucrative as they may think.

Hedgecock has been in the utilities business for the last 40 years.

“There are companies out there scamming little old ladies,” Hedgecock says. “They install panels on their roofs but don’t hook them to anything. Then [the ladies] call us upset because they are still getting a bill.”

Hedgecock wants consumers to be well-informed.

“We aren’t making money from this,” Hedgecock said of buying overproduced energy from solar consumers.

He explains that there is a difference between retail and avoided cost prices for energy.

The city cannot pay more for solar energy than they are already paying, but they are willing to buy unused energy at avoided or wholesale cost.

“Electricity in Southeast Iowa is just not nearly as expensive as it is in other parts of the United States,” Hedgecock said of why people find that they do not make money from their installations.

According to Electric Choice, Iowa’s average electricity cost was 13.81 cents per kilowatt-hour while California’s average is 19.9 cents, Alaska’s is 22.54 cents and Massachusetts’ is 21.11 cents.

Because electricity costs less in our area the return on investment is significantly slower, but that does not mean solar is not useful.

Hedgecock says that he may consider installing a small set of solar panels for his own home in the future, but will size it to provide electricity for his home and not with the intent of overproduction for profit.

Solar panel installations require electricians.

Hedgecock says that electricians certified by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers are capable of helping consumers meet requirements.

According to Hedgecock, Total Connection Electric do a good job of making sure national electric and national electric safety codes are met in solar installation.

Total Connection Electric also has one of their own solar installations that powers their personal and commercial residence.

“They need permits and inspections,” Hedgecock said.

When power goes out in a city, according to Hedgecock, it is important for the city utilities to be aware of where additional electricity is coming from.

If workers are unaware that there is addition electricity coming into the grid they could be put at serious risk for injury because it could be easily thought that a line is cut from power, but an unknown solar panel installation is actually still kicking energy back into the grid.

When installed correctly solar panel installations will have cut off boxes that the city will be aware of to avoid these sorts of injuries.

Yes, solar panel installations can save consumers money on their electric bills in the long run, but there are negatives to take into consideration as well.

The initial average cost for a single home solar panel installation in Iowa is $14,160 according to Consumer Affairs.

With this high of an upfront cost it may be important to remember that these installations cannot move when residences are changed, they are weather dependent, and they are limited by the area in which they are placed.

Solar energy, however, has made its way to Mt. Pleasant.

Hope Haven, located in the old Momentous Golf building, has a small fixed ground mount commercial installation used to power their new building on North Lincoln Street.

Matt Schimmelpfennig, who owns the old Motorola Building, has one of the largest installations in Mt. Pleasant to provide energy to the office spaces he now rents in the building.

A smaller installation can also be located mounted on the top of Iris City Cleaners.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com