We have compiled a list of the most Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding the SunnyOak Community Solar Garden.
Community Solar Garden FAQs
You must sign a Solar Subscription Agreement and make a one-time payment for a subscription unit(s) in the amount of $700 per unit. Financing will be available at Oakdale Credit Union (OCU) for qualifying members. Contact OCU at 608-372-3939 for more information.
A subscription unit is the equivalent of one solar panel of electricity producing capacity. Oakdale Electric Cooperative's community solar garden will be comprised of 792 solar panels.
Yes. The subscribing member must have an account in good standing with Oakdale Electric Cooperative.
Yes. Residential members are limited to a number of subscription units projected to annually generate up to 75% of their previous year's electricity usage. Commercial or Industrial members are limited to a number of subscription units projected to annually generate up to 50% of their previous year's electricity usage.
Each unit is expected to generate approximately 475 kWh annually, but that is not guaranteed. Energy production will vary based on total sunshine and time of year.
Payment will be solely in the form of a credit against your electric bill. Any kilowatt hour output for the unit will be credited at the residential retail rate. For example: if your energy bill shows you are paying 11.40 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) and your unit produces 40 kWh, your bill will be credited $0.114 X 40 = $4.56.
You will receive the energy output of that unit for the remainder of the 25-year-project term that began in June of 2017.
No. As a member you are not purchasing the solar panels for ownership. You are purchasing the subscription units of the output of the solar garden for the life of the project.
Subscribers will have 4 options if they relocate:
- Sell the subscription unit(s) back to Oakdale Electric Cooperative.
- Keep the subscription unit(s) with the existing home if the new member wants to purchase it.
- Sell (or give) the subscription unit(s) to another qualified member that is already served by Oakdale Electric Cooperative.
- Transfer the subscription unit(s) to another one of your Oakdale Electric Cooperative accounts.
The subscribing member cannot file and collect the federal tax credit for the cost of each production unit in the solar array(s) purchased. The project retains the tax credit and that is calculated into the price for the energy.