By:
On:
In: Education
With: 0 Comments

I just received my FPL Solar Rebate check for the solar photovoltaic system I installed at my home. Needless to say, I’m a happy man today. FPL has a highly competitive rebate program that grants funds to about 300 lucky residential customers per year. The maximum rebate amount is currently $20,000 for a 10 kilowatt rated solar energy system, covering about half of the typical cost. The Federal government kicks in another 30%. The bad news is, the rebate funds are exhausted for 2014. The good news – plummeting PV prices have made photovoltaic systems reasonable investments without utility rebates!

By:
On:
In: News, Projects
With: 1 Comment

It has been extremely exhausting, but I finally completed installing a 10kW photovoltaic (solar electric) system at my home in Fort Myers, FL today. The final interconnection was done by my electrician and we fired up the system. To my delight, even with dense cloud cover, my meter started spinning backward! I see this happen many times each year, but now I know the feeling of producing my own energy. I now understand why customers are so antsy and anxious about their installation schedules. It’s EXCITING to be your own power plant! I now understand why people want it, and more importantly, why they wantRead More →

By:
On:
In: Fafco Solar, Opinion
With: 0 Comments

FPL made an important and appreciated change to their solar rebate program for this round of funding. They said they would take applications after the funds were exhausted to put applicants on a standby list, as many customers do not go through with installations. I was surprised to see that the standby list was limited, and applications were eventually rejected. That really does not make sense, unless FPL does not really want to know how many people want rebates but cannot get one. Wouldn’t it make sense to take all applications in the order received? That way we could gauge demand and adjust the rebateRead More →

By:
On:
In: Education, Fafco Solar, Financial, News
With: 0 Comments

FPL will open up the next round of solar rebate applications on October 16, 2012 at 8:30 am. Rebate applicants will need a licensed solar contractor to install their system, and are advised to contact me urgently to get an evaluation, conditional contract, and in the queue for a rebate application submission. The total funding for this round of rebates is $9 million. FPL took one of FlaSEIA’s recommendations and is allowing applications to go through once the available funds are exhausted. If successful applicants do not pursue an installation, the next applicant will be offered a rebate approval. That’s a step in the rightRead More →

By:
On:
In: Education, Opinion
With: 0 Comments

As if FPL’s solar rebate program didn’t run out of funds fast enough the last time around, Tampa Electric’s Solar Photovoltaic allotment of rebates evaporated in one minute – less time than FPL applicants found themselves having to secure a lucrative rebate. TECO’s solar rebate program, which released funds this morning at 10 am, was expected to run out of funds on the first day like the FPL program, but this is a record time for rebates to be snatched up. This is NOT a “first-come, first served” application process like the utility companies would have you believe. It is basically a lottery, but aRead More →

By:
On:
In: News, Opinion
With: 0 Comments

After an already depressed market in the first quarter of 2012, Florida’s solar electric installations fell to 18th among states in the second quarter of 2012 according to the Solar Energy Industries Association’s quarterly report. After rising to 14th among states in Q1 of this year, Florida regressed below it’s 2011 ranking of 17th among states. This follows a large spike in national solar electric installations with Florida installations remaining stagnant. To blame, in my opinion, is: Continued disruption caused by the FPL rebate program The lack of a cohesive policy in the state regarding renewable energy Lack of availability of financing and reasonable long-termRead More →

By:
On:
In: News, Opinion
With: 0 Comments

The Florida Solar Energy Industries Association (FlaSEIA) is voicing the solar industry’s dissatisfaction with the FPL Solar Rebate program. While touted as successful by Florida’s largest utility and a spectacular windfall for a few lucky rebate recipients, the solar rebate program has been disastrous for Florida utility ratepayers, solar energy contractors, and solar suppliers. Solar Southwest Florida is in receipt of a series of letters between FlaSEIA’s former President, Bill Gallagher, and Florida Power & Light’s Manager of New Product Development, Oscar Gans. The letters detail results from the latest distribution of 2012 rebate funds, FlaSEIA’s position on the rebate program, and FPL’s response. ThereRead More →

By:
On:
In: News
With: 3 Comments

Last Thursday FPL took applications for the remaining 2012 solar rebate funds. As expected, funding ran out quickly… as in under two minutes! My employer had quite a few rebate applicants lined up for solar electric systems. I decided before the rebate website went live that I wouldn’t post the results or my reaction in a knee-jerk manner. While I was angry and disappointed, I wasn’t surprised. Now that the dust has settled, I can respond effectively. We did secure rebates for some of our customers, but any process that rewards rebate applicants for being able to type fast is just silly. I have criticizedRead More →

By:
On:
In: News
With: 2 Comments

FPL has announced that the remaining 2012 solar rebate funding will be released on May 3, 2012 for solar photovoltaic (electric) and solar water heating systems. If you want any chance of getting in on the best solar rebate in Florida history, you need to act NOW. Call your favorite solar contractor and they will walk you through the application process. Because the rebates are highly competitive and the amount available will be very limited, it is likely that the funding will run out in the first 10 minutes. The online application process requires advance planning and detailed information about the system you intend toRead More →

By:
On:
In: News, Opinion
With: 1 Comment

The Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA) reported that Florida dropped from #8 in 2010 to #17 in 2011 for the amount of solar electricity capacity installed. In addition, total installations decreased by 60% from 35 megawatts to 14 megawatts. Why the big decrease? It’s my contention that the FPL rebate program is stifling the market. That’s right – a rebate intended to encourage solar energy installation had the opposite effect! The interesting thing is that solar prices have never been lower, even without a rebate involved. The perception about solar needing rebates to be successful is an outdated notion. Getting this message out is onRead More →

By:
On:
In: Education, Opinion
With: 5 Comments

For those of you who don’t know, the largest utility in Southwest Florida, FPL, is giving away money – lots of money! If you ever had an interest in solar panels, NOW is the time to act. There is money available for solar electric systems and solar water heating systems, and combined with record low prices on solar panels, this is an amazing opportunity. The program is a huge success, but I want to talk about how FPL can improve the Solar Rebate Program, especially the rebate for solar electric panels. FPL is offering $2 per watt of installed system rating with a residential limitRead More →

By:
On:
In: Education
With: 0 Comments

A couple of years ago we had a thriving Florida state incentive program that paid $4 per watt to buyers of solar electric systems in the form of a rebate. At the time, that covered between 40% and 50% of the cost to install solar electric for your home or business. Two things happened with the rebate program: the incentive was shut down due to lack of funding/desire by legislators to spend taxpayer money, and the existing rebate applicants were hung out to dry, many collecting only 52 cents on the dollar. That was the end of state rebates for Florida property owners. So whyRead More →