Skip to main content
Home
Account Login
One-Time Payment
Start / Stop Service
Outage Center
Menu
  • Home
  • About GCEA
    • About Us
    • Contact GCEA
    • Publications
    • Bylaws & Articles of Incorporation
    • Meet our Staff
    • Careers
    • Board of Directors
    • Board Meetings, Agendas & Minutes
    • Annual Meeting Report & Elections
  • Account Services
    • Payment & Billing Options
    • Operation Round-Up®
    • Capital Credits
    • Start / Stop Service
      • Start Service
      • Transfer Service
      • Stop Existing Service
    • Rates
  • Energy Efficiency
    • Rebates
      • Appliance Rebates
      • Commercial LED Lighting
      • EV Charging Rebates
    • Energy Evaluations
    • Peak Demand Information
    • Heaters
  • Electric Vehicles
    • Electric Vehicles
    • EV Test Drive Program
    • EV Charging Stations
    • EV News
    • EV Rebates
    • Charge at Home Program
  • Renewable Energy
    • Green the Grid
      • Green Power Program History
    • Net Metering
    • Doyleville Wind Turbine
    • Taylor Hydro Project
    • Community Solar Garden
    • Rooftop Solar
  • Community
    • Energy Assistance
    • Scholarship Program
    • Student Opportunities
    • Lineworker School
  • Outages & Safety
    • Outage Center
    • Call Before You Dig
    • Electrical Safety Demonstration
    • Electrical Inspections
    • Wildfire Mitigation
    • Wiring Guidelines
  • Trending News

Rooftop Solar

Interested in solar? Let’s talk!

Gunnison County Electric Association (GCEA) is committed to helping our members find affordable, reliable and safe energy options. We make solar simple, helping you evaluate the risks and benefits of rooftop solar and finding a solution that is right for you.

Q: Is rooftop solar a good option for me?

A: Maybe. 

Whether and how much you will benefit from a residential solar array depends on …

  • how much you pay for electricity 
  • how much electricity you use
  • your roof
  • federal, state and local incentives for solar development
  • your solar installer

At GCEA, we can help answer many of these questions.

Q: Is my house suitable for a rooftop solar array?

A: Maybe. 

  • Does your roof face south or west and is it shaded?
  • Will you need to replace your roof sometime during the life of the panels?  If so, you should replace your roof first.
  • Have you explored all of your energy efficiency options? (It doesn’t make sense to purchase more solar than you need!) We can help you reduce your energy use and right-size your array.
  • Does your community have restrictions?

Q: Can I still get the benefits of solar if I don’t live in a house or if my house isn’t suitable?

A: Yes!

At GCEA, we have developed a community solar project to make the benefits of solar available to anyone who wants to participate. Benefits include:

  • Available to all (See Cooperative Principle No. 1 – voluntary and open membership!)
  • Optimal siting for maximum efficiency
  • Co-op assumes all responsibility and liability for the system
  • For additional information, please click here for Community Solar Garden

Q: Will solar panels provide electricity in the event of an outage?

A: No.

Without a battery and a smart inverter, most solar arrays do not provide power during outages.

Q: What should I know before I sign a contract? 

A: If you are purchasing a rooftop solar array, be sure to ask…

  • What is the total installed (turnkey) cost of the system?
  • What is the payback period? What are the assumptions underlying that estimate?
  • Will I need to finance the array?
  • Who gets the tax credits (the “renewable energy credit”)?
  • Will I receive “free” electricity once panels are paid for?
  • Does the company offer warranties on panels AND inverters?
  • What are the details of the service contract?

A: If you are leasing panels in a rooftop array, be sure to ask …

  • What is the upfront cost of the system?
  • Are there other customers in the vicinity with comparable systems? How much electricity are their systems producing?
  • Who gets the tax benefit (the “renewable energy credit”)
  • Can the lease be transferred if I sell the house?
  • Does the lease company have the right to run a credit check?

Q: As a consumer, how can I protect myself and my investment? 

A: Do your research.

When you make the decision to invest in residential solar, you are making a significant financial investment.  Be sure to do your research on the company.

  • Are the installers North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Electric trained and certified?
  • When was your company established and how much solar has it installed to date?
  • Can your company provide a list of the projects and references for them?
  • Are you accredited with the Better Business Bureau? If so, what is your rating?

Have more questions? Call us or shoot us an email!
970-641-3520 or 1-800-726-3520 or GCEA@GCEA.coop
 

Back to Top

Call Us: 970-641-3520 or 1-800-726-3523 


Hours:

Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Office Locations:

Gunnison

37250 West Highway 50
PO Box 180
Gunnison, CO 81230-0180
Phone: 970-641-3520
Fax: 970-641-5302

Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte

Crested Butte Bank Building - Upstairs
116 6th Street, Suite 202
Crested Butte, CO 81224
Phone: 970-349-5385
Fax: 970-349-2708

Quick Links

  • Board / Employee Login
  • Contact GCEA

We dare you to follow us

Report an Outage

©2021 Gunnison County Electric Association, Inc. All Rights Reserved

  • Home
  • About GCEA
    • About Us
    • Contact GCEA
    • Publications
    • Bylaws & Articles of Incorporation
    • Meet our Staff
    • Careers
    • Board of Directors
    • Board Meetings, Agendas & Minutes
    • Annual Meeting Report & Elections
  • Account Services
    • Payment & Billing Options
    • Operation Round-Up®
    • Capital Credits
    • Start / Stop Service
      • Start Service
      • Transfer Service
      • Stop Existing Service
    • Rates
  • Energy Efficiency
    • Rebates
      • Appliance Rebates
      • Commercial LED Lighting
      • EV Charging Rebates
    • Energy Evaluations
    • Peak Demand Information
    • Heaters
  • Electric Vehicles
    • Electric Vehicles
    • EV Test Drive Program
    • EV Charging Stations
    • EV News
    • EV Rebates
    • Charge at Home Program
  • Renewable Energy
    • Green the Grid
      • Green Power Program History
    • Net Metering
    • Doyleville Wind Turbine
    • Taylor Hydro Project
    • Community Solar Garden
    • Rooftop Solar
  • Community
    • Energy Assistance
    • Scholarship Program
    • Student Opportunities
    • Lineworker School
  • Outages & Safety
    • Outage Center
    • Call Before You Dig
    • Electrical Safety Demonstration
    • Electrical Inspections
    • Wildfire Mitigation
    • Wiring Guidelines
  • Trending News