Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives

Iowa’s electric cooperatives support Iowa Energy Center’s new solar guide for consumers

March 16, 2016

Iowa consumers who are interested in investing in their own solar generation now have an informative new resource from the Iowa Energy Center. On Monday, the Iowa Energy Center published the Home Series: Solar PV Energy Guide, a 32-page booklet which covers every aspect of the decision-making process for those who are considering their own solar panels. Several organizations were included in the development of the solar guide, including the Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives, Alliant Energy, MidAmerican Energy, the Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities, the Office of Consumer Advocate, and the Iowa Utilities Board.

The not-for-profit electric cooperatives of Iowa, which power the lives of 650,000 people, plan to help distribute the booklet to their member-owners, which is available now in PDF form and will soon be available in printed booklets at co-op offices. “The new solar guide stresses that those who are interested in a solar investment should talk to their electric utility at the beginning of the process,” says Chuck Soderberg, IAEC executive vice president. “This is critical so that you can gain an understanding of rate structures, compensation for excess generation, interconnection requirements, and other vital facets of consumer-owned generation.”

The guide is organized into the following important sections: Getting Started (Doing Your Homework), Conducting a Site Assessment, Designing the Solar PV Array, Calculating the System ROI, and Constructing the Solar PV. In addition, a helpful glossary is included in the publication. Whether someone is exploring a turnkey system, a do-it-yourself approach, or a combination of both, the information is presented in a series of steps and important considerations in order to arrive at the best decision for their situation. The guide can be downloaded in PDF form from the Iowa Energy Center website and on the IAEC website

About IAEC
The Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives represents the interests of not-for-profit electric cooperatives, including 35 distribution co-ops and 7 generation & transmission co-ops. Owned by the members they serve, Iowa’s electric cooperatives power the lives of 650,000 Iowans throughout all 99 counties and are committed to delivering power that is safe, reliable, affordable and environmentally responsible. Rural electric cooperatives have been working to improve quality of life through energy education, community support, and rural economic development for over 75 years. Formed in 1942, IAEC provides many vital functions for its members including legislative representation, regulatory oversight, training and education services, safety programs, 
and communications support. Learn more at www.iowarec.org.

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For More Information:

Erin Campbell
IAEC communications manager
515-727-8945 office
ecampbell@iowarec.org

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