Generating your own electricity to offset the amount you need to purchase from your power company is also called Distributed Generation (DG). This refers to electricity-generating equipment located at your home, owned and operated by you. The power generation may, or may not, be operated in parallel (connected to) Southern Rivers Energy (SRE).

Member-owned generation can take many forms, from small solar installations and emergency home generators to larger, parallel power systems. Members inquiring about distributed generation generally fall into four basic categories:

• Small power production facilities (solar, wind, waste).
• Backup power that can be synchronized with the utility upon restoration from utility outages.
• Generation for self-service of customer’s own load through parallel operation with the utility and peak shaving of demand.
• Generation that is for exporting (landfill gas, large wind farms, etc.).
• DG systems can be powered by solar, wind, landfill gas, diesel-fueled engines, natural gas-fueled micro-turbines, etc. SRE does not have a special rate for DG systems but rather bills the member for the amount of energy supplied by SRE over and above what is produced by the member's DG system. This is called "net metering." When the energy generated by the member's DG system exceeds the amount supplied by SRE, it will be purchased by SRE at its overall avoided cost. Overall avoided cost will be calculated by dividing the prior year's total power purchase cost (excluding demand and transmission costs) by the prior year's total kWhs purchased. If you are interested in installing your own small-generation units at your home or business, the document below will walk you through what SRE requires before you start.

Distributed Generation Guidelines Manual and Application

Southern Rivers Energy is committed to helping our members find affordable, reliable, and safe energy options. We make solar simple, helping you evaluate the risks and benefits of solar and find a solution that is right for you. 

THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE JUMPING INTO ROOFTOP SOLAR
Contact Southern Rivers Energy BEFORE you purchase a solar array at 877-358-1383. SRE does not work with or endorse any solar company directly but we will help you determine if rooftop solar makes sense for your home and if so, we can advise you on choosing the appropriate size. 

Our Rooftop Solar Assessment Tool is designed to give you a look at the cost of solar, the appropriate size for your home, and, whether it even makes sense based on how much sun your roof gets during the day.

Avoid Solar Scams

One scam we see from time to time is connected to rooftop solar. Homeowners with rooftop solar may receive a sales call offering an accessory, upgrade, or extended warranty to their solar array. The calls could be from scam artists claiming to represent a solar company, promising to replace faulty or broken parts or improve efficiency. Call Southern Rivers Energy or the company that installed the solar array if you think there may be a problem.

Use Trusted Sources

If you’re considering solar for your home, make sure you are working with a reputable company. Because this is still an emerging industry with evolving technology, a lot of pop-up companies in the market have surfaced, looking to make a quick buck. Representatives of rooftop solar companies may have more sales experience than knowledge of the energy industry, and their primary goal could be making a sale and moving on to the next prospect. In this ever-changing environment, it’s important to remember you have a trusted energy advisor–your local electric cooperative. We are a community-focused organization that works to efficiently deliver affordable, reliable, and safe energy to our members. Remember, we’re just one call or click away, so please reach out with any questions about your electric service or bills–we’re here to help. Have more questions? Call us or shoot us an email! 877-358-1383 or kevin@srivers.net.

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