Plug-in solar savings on City of Biggs
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The short answer: on City of Biggs's C1 (inside city) rate of 27.45¢/kWh,[source] the example kit (800 W, $1,000) saves about $217 a year and pays for itself in about 4.6 years, assuming typical placement and that you use most of its power at home.
What the example kit saves on City of Biggs
| Where the panels go | Saves a year | Pays back in |
|---|---|---|
| Excellent: south-facing, tilted, no shade | $287 | 3.5 years |
| Typical: well-placed | $217 | 4.6 years |
| Shaded or vertical balcony | $158 | 6.3 years |
Power you send back to the grid is valued at $0, so a kit sized to what you use during the day saves the most. Run your own numbers, including how savings add up over the years.
Where this rate comes from
Biggs' C1 residential rate for homes inside the city, effective July 1, 2024 (the newest the city publishes): $0.2037 for the first 400 kWh and $0.2745 above that. We use the upper tier. The $8.32 monthly connection charge is excluded.[source]
Discounts
CARE and FERA are CPUC programs for investor-owned utilities, so they don't apply here. City, district and co-op utilities run their own discount programs, which we haven't verified.
SB 868 and City of Biggs
SB 868 covers local publicly owned utilities such as City of Biggs, as well as investor-owned utilities. City of Biggs may ask you to register a qualifying kit through a simple online form, but can't charge fees related to it.[source] Read SB 868 explained and run through the checks before you buy.
Estimates only. Not electrical, legal or financial advice.
Frequently asked questions
- How much could a plug-in solar kit save on City of Biggs?
- About $217 a year for an example 800 W kit with typical placement, at City of Biggs's C1 (inside city) rate of 27.45¢/kWh, paying back in about 4.6 years. Your result depends on your usage and where the panels go.
- Does SB 868 apply to City of Biggs customers?
- Yes. The law covers both investor-owned and local publicly owned electric utilities. City of Biggs may ask you to register a qualifying kit online, but can't charge fees related to it.