Seriously considering solar? Tricounty Rural Electric's Solar 101 website can help you make informed decisions when it comes to home solar projects.

Ask us now - to avoid surprises later!

1. Tricounty’s member or property owner must contact Tricounty in advance. We do not sell renewable systems, but we can point you in the correct direction. It's important to note that renewable systems involve a significant initial investment and vary greatly depending on the system you choose and your home's setup. The first step is always to conduct an energy audit to make sure your home is as energy efficient as possible. You want to reduce your usage first to make sure you can install the smallest system possible to meet your generation needs, without oversizing and overpaying. This will reduce the size requirements of the solar equipment. Energy efficiency upgrades, such as adding insulation or changing out lightbulbs to LEDs, have a much faster payback than installing solar equipment.
2. Tricounty provides our member with the cooperative’s policies and technical guidelines that must be followed. 
3. Both an application for a distributed resource and an agreement for interconnection and parallel operation of a net metered qualifying facility must be executed by the member in advance.
4. Tricounty will explain the Ohio kWh tax responsibilities, liability insurance requirements, and Tricounty’s net billing rates to the member.
5. The contractor provides Tricounty with the system specifications and one-line diagrams of the system.
6. Tricounty reviews the submitted documents and determines if a system study will be required.
7. Tricounty will approve or disapprove the installation to be interconnected to our system.
8. If approved, and when the project is completed, Tricounty will do a final inspection to ensure main disconnects are installed and accessible to Tricounty and verify Tricounty is listed as an additional insured on the member’s liability insurance policy before interconnection is allowed.
9. Upon satisfactory inspection, Tricounty will change out the meter to a bidirectional meter and convert the member’s account to a net metered account with the appropriate rates and facility charges. 

While installation can be expensive, tax credits can help you reduce the cost of your wind or solar system.

The purchase of a small solar energy system is eligible for a 30 percent federal tax credit through 2019. The tax credit decreases to 26 percent in 2020, then to 22 percent in 2021, and expires on Dec. 31, 2021. If you opt for a solar equipment lease, consider that you will not be eligible for this tax benefit, since you will not own the solar energy system. However, you will want to explore whether you get all or part of this tax benefit applied to your base rate. You can search for additional state, local, or utility incentives on the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE).

For more information or to get started, please call 419-256-7900.

Recent attempts by solar companies to con our members:
Read the full article from Ohio Cooperative Living to know when a deal sounds "too good to be true"

10 Steps to Take Before Installing Solar

Questions to Ask a Solar Contractor

Solar FAQs

Solar Owners Options 2019

How do solar panels work?

Did you know a part of your power is generated from anaerobic digesters at livestock farms, gas generation from landfills, solar arrays, and hydro and wind power? We are committed to safe, reliable, affordable, and economically sustainable power production that is also environmentally responsible.

Ohio’s co-ops take a balanced approach to renewable energy. While we continue to support and utilize affordable coal-fired generation for the bulk of our power, Buckeye Power and its member cooperatives have made significant investments in renewable energy on behalf of Ohio co-op families.

Click here to view Tricounty's renewable energy mix.

Tricounty Rural Electric Cooperative has a community solar array. It’s part of the Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives' OurSolar program, which features 2.1 mW of solar arrays throughout Ohio.

We know members wanted solar, but didn't necessary want the high costs and heavy maintenance associated with owning their own arrays. The answer? OurSolar - the best of both worlds.

Click here for more information on OurSolar and to view live production data.