Solar Heating and Hot Water Systems Using Electric Backup: A Case Study of the Utility and Homeowner Economics

摘要

Utility costs of providing backup electricity for residential solar heating and hot water (HHW) systems are estimated using a utility capacity expansion model and utility financial computation techniques. These costs are compared to the cost of providing electricity for electric-only systems and to the average of all electricity generated to provide information useful for designing rates. From the estimates of utility costs, homeowner expenditures for HHW are computed for various HHW system options. This paper updates results for a case study of one actual utility. (ERA citation 05:002793)