Installing solar panels can help reduce your electric bill, but without battery storage, they won't provide power 24/7. Under GCEC's current policy, you will still receive an electric bill, including a minimum charge of at least $40, plus any applicable fees like security light charges and taxes. While you can bank excess energy as kilowatt-hours (kWh) for future use, this won't typically eliminate your bill completely. The amount you save will depend on your system size and energy consumption habits

Solar panels need an inverter to convert direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC) for home use. Since the inverter is powered by the grid, the solar system won't function during an outage unless your home has a backup battery storage system.

Several factors influence the return on investment for solar panels, such as system size, cost, home energy consumption, and system efficiency. Given current costs, it may take many years to see a return on your investment.

Yes. Solar systems can also be mounted on the ground.

If you’re interested in other forms of renewable energy like wind power, contact us at (903) 482-7100 or email us at interconnect@gcec.net.

Net metering is an electricity billing arrangement that ensures each kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity generated by your solar panels takes a kWh off your electric bill, at the full retail rate, whether you use it or send it to the grid.

Here is how solar energy usage is recorded and billed on our end. To learn more about billing, click here.

1. Net Meter Readings:

• 1st-NET Billable Usage: This is the net energy usage that is billable.
• 2nd-Generation Usage: This represents the excess energy or metered energy generated by your solar panels.
• 3rd-Consumption Usage: This shows the total energy consumed by your household.

2. Banked Usage:

• If you have banked usage, it will be listed under “current charges.” The bill details include the total generation kWh you have accumulated after being billed and what is left after to be used towards next month’s billing.

3. Billing Details:

• If you over-generate, you will receive a minimal billing of $40.00.
• If you do not over-generate, in addition to the $40.00 base fee you will be billed based on the net usage.

Your solar array app measures total generation from the modules on the back side of your solar panels. However, the actual generation recorded on your bill may differ due to several reasons:

• Energy Consumption by Household Devices: Devices such as toasters, ovens, and washers consume energy directly from the solar panels before it reaches our meter. This reduces the total generation number.
• Net Generation: The generation recorded is the net remaining amount from the panels after subtracting the energy consumed by household devices.
• Utility Company Measurement: We only have access to your meter, so we can only see the excess energy that you back feed to the grid and the energy you draw from the grid. The power generated by your panels that are directly used in your house never passes through the meter, so we can’t see it. “Generation” on your bill is just the excess energy sent to the grid over the month.

To learn more about billing, click here.

While we don't offer direct incentives or rebates, GCEC supports solar energy through net metering. Any excess solar production beyond your usage is banked in your account for future use. As a not-for-profit cooperative, we prioritize keeping costs low for all members, so we do not offer rebates for electric vehicles, as those funds would have to come from electric service rates.