Solar Information

Is Solar right for me?

Home owners are choosing solar for many reasons, the top 3 reasons found in a recent survey are:

Trying to reduce the electric bill.
Helping the environment.
Increasing energy independence.

Whatever your reason, Columbia REA respects your decisions regarding a potential solar installation at your home and wants to share what we know. Also, as your utility, all Solar installations needs to be approved by us before they are turned on. You should talk with us before signing an installation contract.

We have helped hundreds of members install their systems and wish to share the experiences and information learned along the way.

95% of solar systems have been installed in the last 5 years. It’s a booming market with many options and with this type of growth there can be those who are trying to take advantage of consumers.

There is a lot to learn and we suggest taking a slow and measured approach, learning as you go and determining if it’s a good fit for you. Please feel free to reach out to us at anytime, and please use the resources here to help. solar@coulmbiarea.coop or (509) 526-4041.

Solar Consumer Protection Act

We have some great local contractors, but we have seen some issues from other contractors like many others in WA state. Recently the WA legislature has enacted the Solar Consumer Protection Act

This new law, enacted in June of 2024 was designed to protect Solar consumers. Too many consumers have have had negative experiences; to quote the House Bill report; “Often the word “free” is thrown around regarding the cost of solar energy panels. This is the most deceptive word. It is a bait and switch term that lures customers into a proposal that they cannot afford. Customers need to understand that they must front the expenses for a solar energy system, and solar energy systems may not eliminate their utility bills. Complaints have been received about high pressure salespersons who push customers into solar energy systems without guaranteeing an interconnection with the utility company. Then, the customer is unable to reach the installer afterwards. Some customers experience lies regarding how the solar energy panels work, how the tax credit is applied, and the contracts are misleading. Customers may not be provided a paper contract and are forced to sign immediately to move forward. The customer service is awful, installers are lacking business ethics, and they need to be held accountable.”

To help protect the consumer, the WA Solar Energy Industries Association has created a Consumer Checklist so that you can know your rights and to help guide you through the process. Please also see our Ruralite article about the subject here. There is another informative article here “Growing Rooftop Solar Scams Prompt Action From Government, Co-ops” as well.

Does it make financial sense?

We should have your historical information and have the tools to help with the financial information. Talking with many others with experience, including us makes sense before making a decision. Please call us and we can help walk through it. solar@coulmbiarea.coop or (509) 526-4041

Resources to help

If you are considering a Solar Contractor, the Solar Project Checklist is a great tool to help you make a decision.

The Columbia REA Net-Metering page can show you how the Net-Metering of solar energy electricity works, what incentives are available, and how we set up your location to receive electrical credits.

Columbia REA has several Solar systems that we own and operate, and have created a webpage that shows the live data and other information about solar systems. Members are welcome to come here and review our Solar systems and how they work, please call to make and appointment. solar@coulmbiarea.coop or (509) 526-4041 See how the Columbia REA Solar sites work with live data

Here are some recent Ruralite articles about home solar energy systems: “Buy Solar or fix my inefficient house?” and “Researching Renewables”

Solar WA has some consumer information and another good checklist for talking with contractors.

Click on choosing a solar contractor for some great information.

Ready?

Click this link If you have chosen a contractor and are ready to apply for a Net-Meter agreement.