New solar system install: sooner vs later

[foolhardy]

I will soon build a house along with which I will install an on-grid PV system located in the yard (not on roof). I'm debating in my head building and installing the system at the same time as the house and I would love some expert input.

OPTION 1: Building during new home construction:
PROS
- If inspection (or special meter) is required to implement solar setup then (I think) it would be easier and cheaper to do it now
- possibly could roll into home mortgage (I don't know that this is possible)

OPTION 2: Waiting until a couple of months of living in the house
PROS
- get to evaluate existing power bill for better informed power requirements
CONS
- If inspection (or special meter) is required then it will cost more to replace existing meter with new "feed-back" meter
- less likely to be able to roll into mortgage, I would think (no?)

This brings up the question: Do I require a special meter or an inspection to feed power back to the grid?
- If not, then can I just have my electrician father-in-law wire my system into the main power box himself?

Thank you so much for your input.
Adam

[J.P.M.]

I will soon build a house along with which I will install an on-grid PV system located in the yard (not on roof). I'm debating in my head building and installing the system at the same time as the house and I would love some expert input.

OPTION 1: Building during new home construction:
PROS
- If inspection (or special meter) is required to implement solar setup then it would be easier and cheaper to do it now
- possibly could roll into home mortgage (I don't know that this is possible)

OPTION 2: Waiting until a couple of months of living in the house
PROS
- get to evaluate existing power bill for better informed power requirements
CONS
- If inspection (or special meter) is required then it will cost more to replace existing meter with new "feed-back" meter
- less likely to be able to roll into mortgage, I would think (no?)

This brings up the question: Do I require a special meter to feed power back to the grid?
- If not, then can I just have my electrician father-in-law wire my system into the main power box himself?

Thank you so much for your input.
Adam

I'd check with the utility for starters. Since solar sounds like when rather than if it will happen for you, one possible way to go might be some of option one and some of option two. Find out what the utility has for metering requirements, hardware and administrative wise which are probably not too difficult to meet or are at least known and make those part of the new home design. Then, wait, or not as you choose, until you decide the time is right for your situation for the solar hardware, panels, inverter(s), site work, etc. In the meantime, accumulate consumption and use pattern data. I'd still take a SWAG at preliminary design for solar sizing and layout and start cultivating a vendor or two familiar with ground mounts. Finally, fed. tax credits expire 2016 and there may be other (additional ?) solar/conservation tax advantages/consequences for new builds that may influence timing of the solar build, but I am not savvy on tax matters and I am not a CPA.

[peakbagger]

The metering is utility specific, if you go to sell SRECs you may need an extra meter, but you may not. The rating of your main panel is important, you can only backfeed 20% of the bus bar rating so if you want to build a big system you may want to set up for a line sized tap between the panel and the meter or at least go with a 200 amp panel, possibly with 250 amp busbar. Consider building the foundations for the pole mounts and running the conduit while the excavator is on site as the cost is quite low for the extra work compared to bring a excavator back on site. Oversize the conduit, not worth saving pennies when you bury stuff.