South View Solar Farm FAQ
What is a community solar farm?
A community solar farm is a collection of solar panels that produce electricity for a group of individuals or businesses. Each member receives a pro-rata share of the electricity produced by the solar farm in order to displace electricity produced by other non-renewable sources.
How big is a solar farm?
Jo-Carroll Energy’s solar farm is approximately 100-kW.
How much electricity will it produce?
The average electrical output is approximately 170,000 kWh per year.
What are subscriber benefits?
A member who invested in the project purchased the capacity credits and is entitled to a portion of the kWh credits each month based on actual output. The credits are dispersed as bill credits on the member’s monthly bill.
How long does a subscriber receive energy credits from the farm?
The term of the agreement is 20 years from the in-service date of the solar farm, based on the expected useful life of the array. Should the array continue to efficiently produce energy after 20 years, subscribers will be eligible to continue receiving energy credits.
What happens to a subscriber's share of the electricity if they move?
A subscriber can transfer ownership to their new location within the Jo-Carroll Energy Service Territory, transfer the capacity credits to another Jo-Carroll member’s electric account or Jo-Carroll Energy will purchase their credits back at a discounted rate.
Who maintains the solar farm?
Jo-Carroll Energy maintains the solar farm.
Where was the solar farm built?
The project was constructed at the Jo-Carroll Energy headquarters in Elizabeth.
What is the calculated pay-back for a subscriber's investment?
The project was designed to provide payback in 20 years.
Does this make rates go up (non-subscriber)?
The solar farm will not cause a rate increase for members who do not wish to participate. The project was designed so there would be no cross subsidization of rates.