Solar Operations

Know Your AOBCs: Alternative On-Bill Credits In Massachusetts SMART Solar Program

Massachusetts has been a solar leader in virtual net metering credits – the ability to generate excess electricity with one account, and send that monetary value to another account to offset electricity usage there. Tens of thousands of solar projects across the Commonwealth use net metering to receive fair compensation for the excess solar energy they generate. With the state having effectively phased out net metering for new large solar projects, a new mechanism under the Massachusetts SMART Solar Program will allow solar projects to send the monetary value of excess production to other electric accounts. This value is called an Alternative On-Bill Credit, or AOBC. While an Alternative On-Bill Credit Generation Unit (solar project) receives the incentive payments from the SMART program, AOBCs can be sent to other accounts and credited on those accounts’ electric bills.

What are AOBCs worth? The value of an AOBC is based on the electric utility’s Basic Service rate. This is also known as the ‘supplier’ or ‘generation’ rate. Typically, in Massachusetts, this value has fluctuated from $0.08 per kWh to $0.14 per kWh. Therefore, if you generate 100 kWh of Alternative On-Bill Credits that is worth somewhere between $8 and $14 worth of credits that can be sent to other accounts, depending on the current Basic Service rate. Those AOBCs can be sent to other accounts within the state, provided that the recipient accounts are in a service territory of the same electric utility.

While AOBCs provide much of the same functionality of net metering credits and have many of the same requirements when allocating credits, there are multiple additional new aspects and nuances to managing AOBCs. Suntility’s expert management and consulting services are helping clients navigate and optimize this new incentive structure and regulatory framework. Massachusetts solar market has always been dynamic. Suntility’s industry insights and technical assistance are a trusted resource for solar owners and those engaged in solar energy deals. Let Suntility help you manage, and know, your AOBCs.

Suntility is your trusted partner in success. Suntility provides renewable energy maintenance services, utility credit services, owner’s agent services and consulting solutions to optimize facility reliability, performance and value.

To learn more contact us at 508-538-4Sun

By Michael on January 17, 2019

Don’t Let Your Net Metering Allocations Get Lost In The Utility Shuffle, Work With Suntility

Did you know that Eversource alone has over 1,730 accounts that allocate net metering credits?

Don’t let your net metering allocations get lost in the utility shuffle, work with Suntility.

Suntility’s Net Metering Credit Services are the solution to ensure that your utility credits are flowing smoothly and are being consistently and appropriately applied. This is critical to the economic viability of your solar array. For the largest solar installations, this annual value can easily reach into the hundreds of thousands of dollars and one or multiple months of errors by the utility can be extremely costly and have a seriously detrimental effect on financial returns. With Suntility’s detailed net metering credit monitoring, validation, reporting, and issue resolution, errors identified trigger immediate Suntility action and resolution. From a decade’s worth of experience in the New England renewable energy markets, Suntility has an extensive track record of recognizing issues quickly and achieving the best outcome for clients.

Suntility currently provides these essential solar asset management services to solar projects in Massachusetts and Vermont, covering the utility territories of Eversource, National Grid and Green Mountain Power.

Suntility’s clients include:

municipalities;
commercial real estate owners;
Fortune 500 energy companies;
financial institutions;
small businesses and more.

Suntility’s expertise in managing complex utility billing processes and tracking thousands of net metering transactions helps you know with confidence that you’re receiving the credits you deserve and that those credits are delivering the proper value.

Furthermore, maintaining a balance of the flow and use of net metering credits among the various allocation accounts can be an on-going challenge for facility owners and off-takers. Improper or outdated allocations can result in stranded credits or significant delays in the use of credits. Regularly re-balancing allocation ratios of net metering credits is an important element of maximizing the value of your net metering facility and is a key part of this Suntility service and Suntility’s value add. To learn more contact us today or go to https://www.suntilityelectric.com/net-metering-credit-services/

Suntility is your trusted partner in success. Suntility provides renewable energy maintenance services, utility credit services, owner’s agent services and consulting solutions to optimize facility reliability, performance and value.

Contact us at 508-538-4-Sun

By Michael on July 18, 2018

Suntility’s Key To Providing The Best Solar Management Services: Thinking Like An Owner

Serving solar owners and renewable energy clients every day takes unique dedication and expertise. Our mission at Suntility is to help our clients make the most of their clean energy and that starts with thinking of the project as if it were our own. That is because managing a solar project over the lifetime of the project requires numerous cost-benefit decisions to maximize project investment. Those decisions include appropriately and regularly analyzing the performance of a clean energy project, quickly identifying any operational or revenue deficiencies, and economically resolving those deficiencies. These are all essential components to successful operations and maintenance, as well as successful management of the revenue streams and cost savings.

Putting ourselves in the shoes of our clients and helping them maximize the investments they’ve made in their projects is paramount to their success and likewise Suntility’s success. Solar is like any other investment. It has an inevitable amount of servicing and attention required to ensure it is performing properly and so that the owner of that asset is in the strongest position possible at the best value.

Our services have been tailored specifically to the needs of clean energy projects. That means striking the proper balance between proactive management and light touch servicing. Because of that our clients enjoy stronger operational and financial performance, and not to mention, the peace of mind that comes with knowing that we’re on top of things. To learn more about how we can work with you to optimize your clean energy facility reach out to us for a free consultation.

Suntility is your trusted partner in success. Suntility provides renewable energy maintenance services, net metering credit services, owner’s agent services and consulting solutions to optimize facility reliability, performance and value.

To learn more contact us at 508-538-4Sun

By Michael on May 16, 2018

New England Solar Owners Welcome Spring

After four nor’easters and two historic high tide events in Boston, solar owners across the region gladly welcome the prime solar production months ahead. The fierce winter weather brought power outages to millions across the Northeast and multiple massive restoration efforts by local utility crews and utility contractors. Suntility helped its utility-scale clients quickly and safely come back online, helped commercial clients with resetting site communications for SREC reporting, and aided residential monitoring clients in identifying and resolving any post storm production issues. This past winter Suntility has been there for our solar clients in good weather and in bad. Suntility’s focus on superior clean energy performance and value is unwavering regardless of season.

To learn more contact us at 508-538-4Sun

By Michael on March 24, 2018

Suntility’s Active Remote Monitoring Services

Here at Suntility we monitor your solar installation so you don’t have to, and more importantly, we monitor your solar installation to help ensure that you’re achieving your solar production goals. After all, clean energy value starts with proper system operation. Losing a few weeks or months of solar production can easily cost you thousands of dollars of revenue and savings.

Even though many solar installations have no moving parts, issues can and will come up in the course of solar ownership. For solar a number of issues need to be monitored including: grid disruptions; system disconnections; inverter malfunctions; communication issues; and other potential issues. This means that making the most of your solar investment is significantly aided by the assistance of dedicated, expert solar professionals. Suntility’s skill and efficiency with solar helps take the uncertainty, and complexity out of managing your system.

Photo: Suntility can perform detailed analytics on your solar production, down to 5 minute intervals, with comparable systems in your immediate area – even in the same neighborhood, like these pictured

Clients of our Suntility Active Remote Monitoring Services receive:

– dedicated active remote monitoring of their solar installation 365 days a year;

– detailed comparative analysis to ensure major production losses are avoided;

– alerts regarding issues that are causing major production losses or outages; &

– Suntility’s superior client support.

Clients receive this all for one low annual price. These essential services aid in ensuring that your array is performing optimally and that you’re receiving the utmost standard in client support that every solar owner deserves.

To learn more about Suntility’s comprehensive administration, detection and tracking for your Massachusetts residential, commercial or utility-scale solar installation contact us at 508-538-4-Sun.

By Michael on October 17, 2017

When The Summer Heat Is On, Suntility’s Services Only Become More Important

When the summer heat is on, solar is more important than ever, and so are Suntility’s services. Grid electricity prices spike when demand for electricity spikes. During the summer, when air conditioners respond to the heat and humidity, power demand can easily climb 50% above normal levels. Fortunately, at the same time, solar power kicks on and helps relieve the power grid of the extra electricity demand at the peak of the day when the weather is also typically the hottest. This helps save consumers money, prevents blackouts, and keeps the dirtiest and least-efficient power plants (oil and coal) from turning on.

Suntility’s role, in ensuring the reliability of solar projects across the region, is critical to the success of our client’s solar projects in not only realizing their production targets, but also in providing power to the grid when the grid needs clean energy the most. Suntility’s monitoring, operations and maintenance solutions are essential services for solar owners in achieving their goals. In the summer, with more sunlight, heat and with greater demands on our power grid, Suntility’s dedicated focus to keeping the solar power flowing helps even more.

To learn more contact us at 508-538-4Sun

Additional articles you may be interested in, include:

Solar Monitoring – Peace of Mind & Better Results For Your Solar Installation

The Value of Solar Operations & Maintenance (O&M)

By Michael on June 20, 2017

Electric Vehicles & Solar, A Powerful Combination

A Suntility plug-in hybrid electric vehicle for solar operations and maintenance.

As solar rapidly becomes more common, electric vehicles are becoming more common as well. The electric vehicle (EV) and hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) market grew 70% from 2014 to 2015 globally with 550,000 electric and hybrid cars sold worldwide in 2015 alone according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). 100,000 of those were in the U.S., second only to China with 200,000 vehicles (IEA). The market locally in Massachusetts grew by 37% in 2016 for the vehicles (Forbes).

Tax credits, rebates, lower costs of ownership, safety, and driving experience are all major benefits that prospective electric car buyers are factoring in when considering purchasing a new vehicle, especially as electric vehicle options continue to expand.

Electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles also play an important role in reducing imports of petroleum. According to the Department of Energy (DOE), in 2014, the United States imported about 27% of the petroleum it consumed, and transportation was responsible for nearly three-quarters of total U.S. petroleum consumption. Switching to electric vehicles therefore reduces the need for foreign oil.

How clean really are these cars? Electric vehicles, while they do have some greenhouse gas emissions associated with their use and manufacture, are significantly cleaner than conventional gasoline engines. For example, based on a 2015 study performed by the Union of Concerned Scientists, battery-electric vehicles have half the life cycle global warming emissions of gasoline vehicles.

Charging infrastructure is a key element to further adoption. Charging stations have been rapidly expanding domestically and internationally, with over 40,000 in the U.S. and an estimated 1.45 million globally according to DOE figures. Many major transportation corridors and public locations host charging stations that are either free or have a nominal fee.

With electric car sales expanding quickly in the U.S., many countries are seeing electric vehicles as a much more significant percentage share of their domestic car sales. For example, Netherlands and Norway have seen electric vehicle sales as a percentage of total sales, well above 7.5% of total sales with the Netherlands percentage of EV sales around 10% and Norway around 25% (IEA). These markets illustrate the burgeoning potential of these vehicles and the commercial opportunities for electric vehicle manufacturers.

U.S., China, and Japan, despite large and growing electric vehicle sales, are only in the early stages of EV technology capturing greater market share. Innovative and established car makers alike are racing to provide the electric vehicles that consumers are demanding and our economies and environment need.

By Michael on March 23, 2017

With Solar On The Rise, Keep Your System Ahead Of The Game With Suntility

Solar Owners Need Smart Management Solutions – Suntility’s expert maintenance and net-metering credit services may just be the missing piece of the puzzle in your solar investment. Don’t believe us? Studies show that both commercial and utility-scale solar installations alike that have Suntility’s experienced monitoring services backing them, perform on average 6.5% better than those that don’t. That’s a big advantage!

Solar power is a clean, reliable, energy source but like any facility there can be operational challenges. Equipment malfunctions, grid outages, inverter issues, component failures, and communication errors are common issues that can be quickly resolved if identified. Suntility is trained to catch these issues before they cause a serious loss in revenue. Skillful solar monitoring means more revenue for solar owners. Enroll in Suntility’s services, and we’ll treat your system as if it were our own.

By Michael on December 2, 2016

Suntility Managed Solar Is Better Performing Solar

Famous management expert and author Peter Drucker said “You can’t manage what you can’t measure.” Too many commercial solar owners, and those in renewable energy arrangements, aren’t doing either. The cost of ineffective, or absent, management of these systems can easily add up and total in the thousands, tens of thousands, and in some cases hundreds of thousands of dollars a year in lost revenue and savings.

While solar is highly reliable and durable relative to so many other technologies, it isn’t flawless. Equipment can malfunction and will degrade, there can be interruptions from weather and animals/pests, equipment resets will often be required, inverters may require preventative maintenance or repair, communication devices can fail and grid/site disruptions can also derail solar performance. These are just some of the factors that can negatively impact solar results and ultimately financial returns.

Suntility is dedicated to helping system owners face their most challenging issues and is driving solid outperformance. In a recent study of commercial and utility-scale systems in Massachusetts, solar installations monitored by Suntility professionals performed 6.5% better than those without Suntility’s dedicated monitoring services. Think of what that could mean financially for your system.

Furthermore the revenue streams that these systems produce are also subject to additional administrative processes that are manual and where errors are commonly found including: the allocation of net metering credits by the utilities; as well as with the brokerage of SRECs. Having an industry leading team overseeing these aspects of your project is a must and just as important as the actual solar production itself.

Suntility’s solar management solutions provide the oversight and insights to help ensure that clients are receiving as much value as possible from their clean energy. To learn more about our services check out these links:

– Solar Maintenance Services

– Solar Net Metering Credit Services

– Solar Consulting Services

– Solar Owner’s Agent Services

To learn more contact us at 508-566-6322

By Michael on September 1, 2016

Solar Doesn’t Take Weekends Or Holidays Off, Your Monitoring Shouldn’t Either

Who is monitoring your commercial or utility-scale solar array when everyone has gone home?

Owning a solar facility is unlike many other businesses, they don’t recognize holidays, or even weekends for that matter. Therefore managing a solar facility requires a different approach. If you are the owner of a solar project, it is imperative to have dedicated expert solar professionals in place monitoring your system 365 days a year. Unrecognized problems can easily cost you tens of thousands of dollars before you know it.

Any number of issues can affect the savings and revenue from your system including:

– grid outages;

– inverter issues;

– component failures;

– communication malfunctions and more.

If any one of these issues continues for any longer than a few days with a commercial system (or a few hours with a utility-scale system), the losses very quickly add up. You need the insights and reliability of a dedicated team to be able to quickly identify problems and coordinate a response. That is why system owners across the region have turned to Suntility and our active remote monitoring services. These services are the veritable stitch in time that saves nine.

Learn how Suntility’s professional solar services can help you and your existing solar array achieve success. Contact us today at 508-538-4-Sun.

By Michael on July 1, 2016

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