estimating yearly production

[J.P.M.]

It is bad practice to fudge numbers. It is even worse practice to say that you're thinking of fudging numbers on a public forum. We have been (pleasantly) surprised to find that some important people read this forum.

The idea of mentioning that your electric usage is planning to go up is a good solution, if true.

If you have any trees that shade the panels, they will certainly grow and increase shading with time. My rule of thumb is that average trees grow 1.5 feet per year, but it varies with climate and tree species.

I've read that used equipment is not eligible for the federal solar tax credit. The government does this to avoid double dipping, because they may have given a tax credit on the equipment when it was new. The tree-hugger in me loves the idea of recycling old equipment, but some times, it doesn't make financial sense.

IMO, and on the chance the OP is unaware of it, good mention about no tax credit for used equipment. Seems like we all missed that in the original post.

If I was the OP, and since they are the horse's mouth in this case, I'd still call the POCO and ask for clarification of PV size/output limits before I made a decision on how to deal with any such limits, particularly how they maybe impacted by future plans.

[RichardCullip]

If your POCO wants you to limit you solar output to just cover your past yearly use, you can always build a smaller system to fit into their requirements.

[Ampster]

There is a big difference between fudging numbers and the prospect of buying an EV. I don't know why he keeps saying he is going to buy an EV.
Maybe paralysis by analysis.

[bob-n]

It is bad practice to fudge numbers. It is even worse practice to say that you're thinking of fudging numbers on a public forum. We have been (pleasantly) surprised to find that some important people read this forum.

The idea of mentioning that your electric usage is planning to go up is a good solution, if true.

If you have any trees that shade the panels, they will certainly grow and increase shading with time. My rule of thumb is that average trees grow 1.5 feet per year, but it varies with climate and tree species.

I've read that used equipment is not eligible for the federal solar tax credit. The government does this to avoid double dipping, because they may have given a tax credit on the equipment when it was new. The tree-hugger in me loves the idea of recycling old equipment, but some times, it doesn't make financial sense.

[Ampster]

The simple solution is to tell them you are going to buy an EV. There is a guy on this forum who is very reasonable and he has been contemplating buying an EV as long as I have been on this forum.

[J.P.M.]

just received my level 1 application back from the local electrical company, with requests to correct some info. MY yearly estimated production (based on shading estimates and pvwatts) was more than my annual electric consumption, which is apparently a no-no. They want the estimated production to be lower. Should I just pick some arbitrary number to make it work, or raise the shading losses until the numbers work?
Also, they stated that my single line diagram is missing the DC system info. I'll add the diagram, if anyone has some criticism I'd appreciate it. FWIW, I'm doing this project scrounging old stock items, trying to keep it as low cost as possible.
SD

On the production estimate issue, if you're unsure of what they are asking, why not just call and ask them what they want or mean, or if there is a limit to system size for the purpose of limiting systme production ?

[badwithusernames]

here

[badwithusernames]

just received my level 1 application back from the local electrical company, with requests to correct some info. MY yearly estimated production (based on shading estimates and pvwatts) was more than my annual electric consumption, which is apparently a no-no. They want the estimated production to be lower. Should I just pick some arbitrary number to make it work, or raise the shading losses until the numbers work?
Also, they stated that my single line diagram is missing the DC system info. I'll add the diagram, if anyone has some criticism I'd appreciate it. FWIW, I'm doing this project scrounging old stock items, trying to keep it as low cost as possible.
SD