Solar Net Metering and Alternative Energy

Net Metering

Net metering is an electricity billing mechanism that allows consumers who generate some or all of their own electricity to use that electricity anytime, instead of when it is generated. Many of Kenergy’s substations are becoming saturated with solar energy production and reaching their capacity limit.  Therefore, an application must be filed prior to interconnection with Kenergy. This capacity is allocated on a first come, first served basis and the acceptance of an application does not grant one a net meter account status. The rules and regulations for interconnection and application are linked below.

Click here to download ->Application for interconnection

Solar

Kenergy’s wholesale power provider, Big Rivers Electric Corporation, has recently implemented a Solar Education Center that is designed to bring hands-on solar power information to western Kentucky. Their goal is to provide local cooperative members, schools, and the public with better insight on how solar energy works in our region and a detailed breakdown of the technology’s costs. Members will be able to view real-time data.

There are seven educational arrays in the Big Rivers system, and they are the result of planning and cooperation between Big Rivers and its three Member-Owner cooperatives: Kenergy Corp, Meade County Rural Electric Cooperative Corporation, and Jackson Purchase Energy Corporation.

These arrays give our members the opportunity to view solar technology up close, learning about its construction, production, and costs. Located in McCracken, Marshall, Livingston, Henderson, Daviess, Meade, and Breckinridge Counties, the seven arrays generate a combined 165,000 kWh each year. That’s enough energy to power 12 homes.

The button below will take you to the Solar Education Center.

Geothermal

A geothermal system is an electrically powered system that taps the natural energy stored in the earth to heat your home or business in winter and cool it in summer.

Geothermal systems contain three components: the geothermal unit, the liquid heat-exchange medium (the closed-loop pipe system) and the air-delivery system (the ductwork).

The Geothermal Unit

The geothermal system simply moves heat energy from one place to another.

In winter, liquid circulating through a loop of buried pipe absorbs heat from the earth and carries it to the geothermal unit, which extracts the heat, compresses it to a higher temperature and distributes it throughout the house.

In summer, the unit works in reverse, extracting heat from the house and transferring it back to the circulating liquid in the underground system, where it is dissipated into the cooler earth.

Because the unit transfers heat rather than manufactures it, a geothermal system typically delivers three times more heating and cooling energy than it consumes.

In addition, the geothermal system also may be used to heat water for household use saving you up to 50 percent on your water heating bill.

The actual unit is placed inside your home, basement, garage or crawl space, where the surrounding temperature is above 45 degrees at all times. Because geothermal systems are housed indoors, the lifespan of the compressor and major components are greatly expanded. Most units last 20 years or more … and you won’t have the noise or service problems you have with an outdoor unit.