| Yes, batteries are part of the solar system and should be included in your homeowners insurance coverage. |
| Each battery comes with its own warranty, degradation rate, and expected lifespan. Enphase batteries, for example, offer a 15-year warranty. |
| We recommend the Enphase system. The Enphase micro inverter system has no single point of failure. Unlike a system with a central inverter, where a failure halts all solar production. Enphase uses one microinverter per module, so if a microinverter fails, the rest of the system continues producing solar energy. |
| Adding a generator to a PV system or a PV and battery setup (microgrid) is typically possible. However, a site visit is required to assess your current system and determine compatibility. |
| The duration of backup power varies based on several factors, including the household's energy usage and the available battery capacity. During an outage, solar panels can supply energy during daylight hours, while the battery provides power in the evening or when solar production is low. |
| Yes, if you set the battery to self-consumption mode (such as with Enphase systems), the batteries will take over when the solar panels cannot meet the home’s energy needs. The batteries will continue to provide power until they reach the state of charge you've designated. |
| Yes, there are battery backup solutions available for most solar systems. We'll need to evaluate your current setup to determine which batteries are compatible. |
| No, you are more than welcome to join the program and pay cash for your system. |
You are eligible to participate if you are a homeowner, landlord, or commercial property owner and you meet the following criteria:
No credit score is required since the Energy Saver Program Charge is tied to the property and not the member. No minimum annual income required. Renters are eligible for monitoring services only, with approval from the landlord. Landlords are eligible for all missions and are billed directly. Commercial members must meet the same criteria as residential members plus have 24 months of electric billing history with BEC. |
Each home or business has unique energy needs, and the system design is customized based on electricity consumption. We evaluate every site to determine the proper system size. Bandera Electric Cooperative offers on-bill financing for qualified members.