Selecting a contractor is one of the most important steps installing solar power at your home. BWL does not currently support or endorse any solar contractors or third-party installers of solar systems. Below are some tips that we recommend to all customers who are in the process of selecting a contractor:

1. Seek a bid from at least three different contractors to compare prices. 
2. Request that the contractor perform solar modeling for the amount of sunlight the roof will receive.
3. Avoid purchasing solar from door-to-door sales representatives, companies offering $0-out-of-pocket offers. 
4. Do not purchase solar from contractors who make promises around you “no longer paying for a BWL electric bill”. 
5. Ask for customer references for previous projects that the contractor has completed.
6. Use third party resources like Michigan Saves, to find reputable local contractors.
   • https://michigansaves.org/find-a-contractor/
7. For more detailed information visit the following link:
   • How to Select a Contractor

The initial cost of the solar system is incredibly important in determining the return-on-investment for your purchase. Below are some key details that customers should know about general cost information for solar systems.

1. Arrays are priced in $ per Watt installed. Typically, BWL expects customers to pay around $3.00 per watt of solar installed. 
2. price per watt = dollars spent on array/number of watts installed
3. For example: The average array size in BWL’s service territory is 6 Kilowatts. Using the $3.00 per watt estimate, we would expect a customer to pay around $18,000 for an array of that size.
4. You should not take into account tax credits or expected rebates when calculating your cost-per-watt.
5. Beware of zero money down solar financing agreements, as these agreements often come with high interest rates. In these cases, customers often end up paying for both an electric bill as well monthly financing for the solar array. 
6. Make sure to check BWL’s solar outflow rate when looking at the estimated payback periods by the contractor to make sure they represent the savings accurately.

BWL offers its customers a solar rebate for installing solar at their home or business. The rebate is based on the amount of kW of solar installed. The rebate is $500 per kW up to a maximum of $2,000 (4kW)

Please click the following link to download the Solar Rebate Application: Solar Rebate Application.

Mandatory Documents Needed for Application

Rebate application document list:

1. The Signed Rebate Application form.
2. A copy of the invoice for the solar system or some other proof of purchase.
3. A copy of forms showing date of installation, and specification sheets that clearly state the efficiency rating of the unit(s).
4. Please allow up to four weeks for the rebate check to be delivered. 

BWL will purchase excess solar energy produced by customers who are enrolled in the Distributed Generation Program. Below is a chart that shows how the rate is calculated. 

Average Cost of Energy: This value was calculated based on the peak average cost of energy between 2021-2023 when customer’s solar panels are most likely to be generating electricity and exporting to the grid.

Capacity Credit Average: This value is calculated by importing the per-kWh value for a capacity credit from the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) for 2021-2023

Renewable Energy Credit Value: This value comes from enrolling in BWL’s voluntary green price program.