Why Solar Now – Clearville Solar

The Pennsylvania Rate Crisis

If your electric bills have skyrocketed recently, you're not alone. West Penn Power customers have seen electricity rates jump 113% since 2020 - from just 5.1¢ per kWh to 10.95¢ per kWh today.

                        What's Driving These Increases?
                        PJM Capacity Market Changes: The regional grid operator (PJM) dramatically increased capacity charges to ensure grid reliability
Data Center Demand: Massive data center construction in the PJM territory is driving unprecedented electricity demand
No End in Sight: Industry experts predict continued rate increases as demand continues to outpace supply

                    

When you add distribution charges, the total cost is approximately $0.172 per kWh - and climbing. For the average Bedford County household using 1,000 kWh per month, that's $172 in electricity costs every single month.

Your Options

Keep Paying the Utility

Rates keep rising year after year
No control over your costs
Paying for someone else's power plant
$172/month today... $200+/month soon?

Own Your Power with Solar

Lock in predictable costs for 25+ years
Take control of your energy future
Your own power plant, your property
Fixed monthly payment or paid off completely

West Penn Power Net Metering: It Just Works

Pennsylvania has some of the best net metering policies in the country, and West Penn Power makes it simple.

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1:1 kWh Banking

Every kilowatt-hour your solar panels produce gets credited at the full retail rate (~$0.172/kWh). Your meter literally runs backwards when you're producing more than you're using.

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Annual True-Up in May

Your credits bank throughout the year. In May, West Penn Power settles your account. Any excess production is purchased at a lower wholesale rate, which is why we size systems to match your annual consumption.

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Summer Production, Winter Use

Produce excess power during long summer days, bank those credits, and use them during winter months when production is lower. It all balances out over the year.

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No Discrimination

Your solar kWh is worth exactly the same as the utility's kWh. Full retail credit means you're saving the complete $0.172/kWh - not some reduced "buy-back" rate like some states.

Real-World Example

Scenario: You use 12,000 kWh per year. Your 10 kW solar system produces 12,000 kWh per year.

Summer months: You produce 1,500 kWh, use 800 kWh. Your 700 kWh surplus banks as credits.
Winter months: You produce 600 kWh, use 1,100 kWh. Your banked credits cover the 500 kWh difference.
Your electric bill: Just the monthly connection charge (~$15-20/month). No usage charges.
Your savings: $2,064 per year (12,000 kWh × $0.172/kWh)

Extra Income from Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs)

Pennsylvania's solar program pays you extra for every kWh you produce - on top of your electricity savings.

What Are SRECs?

Pennsylvania requires utilities to purchase a certain percentage of their electricity from solar sources. When your system produces 1,000 kWh of solar electricity, you earn 1 SREC that you can sell to utilities who need them to meet their requirements.

Current SREC Prices

SRECs currently trade for approximately $24-35 per 1,000 kWh, which translates to an additional $0.024-0.035 per kWh on top of your electricity savings.

Annual SREC Income for a 10 kW System

Annual production:	12,000 kWh
SREC value (conservative):	$0.025/kWh
Additional annual income:	$300

This is passive income on top of your $2,064 in electricity savings, bringing your total annual benefit to $2,364.

How It Works

We help you register your system with the PA SREC program
Your production is automatically tracked and verified
SRECs are deposited into your account quarterly
You sell them on the open market or use a broker (we can recommend options)

Important: Federal Tax Credit Has Expired

The 30% Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) expired December 31, 2025

For years, homeowners could claim a 30% federal tax credit on their solar installation costs. Unfortunately, this incentive is no longer available for new installations.

Solar Still Makes Financial Sense

While the tax credit expiration is disappointing, the underlying economics of solar in Bedford County remain compelling:

With Old 30% Tax Credit

10 kW system cost: $20,000
30% tax credit: -$6,000
Net cost: $14,000
Annual savings: $2,364
Payback: 5.9 years

Without Tax Credit (Today)

10 kW system cost: $20,000
Tax credit: $0
Net cost: $20,000
Annual savings: $2,364
Payback: 8.5 years

                Why 8.5 Years Is Still Excellent
                25-year warranty: After payback, you have 16+ years of free electricity
Rising rates: These calculations assume rates stay flat. If rates increase (likely), your payback is even faster
Property value: Solar installations typically add value to your home
Energy security: Protection from future rate shocks and grid instability
Environmental benefit: 12,000 kWh/year of clean energy = 8.4 tons of CO₂ avoided annually

            

The 25-Year View: Massive Savings

Solar panels are warrantied for 25 years, but often produce for 30-40 years. Let's look at the real long-term economics.

10 kW System: 25-Year Financial Projection

Year	Annual Savings	Cumulative Savings	Notes
1-5	$2,364/year	$11,820	Building toward payback
6-8	$2,364/year	$18,912	Approaching break-even
9	$2,364	$21,276	System paid off!
10-25	$2,364+/year*	$59,100+	Pure profit for 16+ years

*Assumes flat electricity rates. If rates increase 3% annually (conservative), your Year 25 cumulative savings would exceed $80,000.

Bottom Line

Investment: $20,000 one-time cost

25-Year Return: $59,100+ in savings (minimum)

ROI: 295% over 25 years, or about 11.8% annually

Try finding a savings account or investment that guarantees 11.8% annual returns with zero risk.

Special Considerations for Farms & Agricultural Operations

If you're operating a farm or agricultural business in Bedford County, solar makes even more sense.

USDA REAP Grants

The USDA Rural Energy for America Program provides grants covering up to 25% of solar installation costs for agricultural producers. This partially offsets the expired federal tax credit.

Higher Electricity Usage

Farms typically use more electricity than residential properties (irrigation, barn equipment, processing facilities). Larger solar systems mean proportionally larger savings.

Tax Benefits

Solar installations qualify for accelerated depreciation (MACRS) for businesses, providing significant tax deductions beyond the savings on your electric bill.

Ground Mount Options

Farms often have ideal open land for ground-mounted solar arrays, which can be easier and less expensive to install than rooftop systems.

Why Solar Makes Sense in Bedford County