APS Employee Takes His Own Advice, Goes Solar

Peoria home generates its own power, thanks to Dependable Solar Products

(PEORIA, Ariz.) Karl Mehrhof, a 41-year APS employee, was wearing his APS shirt on a recent trip to the dentist. When the dental hygienist saw the utility company’s logo, she asked Karl if residential solar power was a good idea. Karl immediately answered “Yes,” then began wondering why he wasn’t going solar himself.

So this fall, the Peoria resident decided to add solar modules to his home and start reaping the benefits of Arizona’s abundant sunshine. Dependable Solar Products, Inc., installed a new 8.28 kW solar power system with 36 solar PV modules and a solar inverter. Mehrhof says he’s not only lowering his monthly electric bill, he’s changing his lifestyle as well.

“We’re definitely changing our habits and doing little things that will help the environment, but the decision to go solar was mostly financial,” said Mehrhof. “The timing was right to take advantage of the rebates and incentives from the federal government, the state and APS, because those incentives may not be around forever.”

Dependable Solar carefully installed the solar modules without damaging the Mehrhof’s tile roof. “Some companies strip off the tiles where the modules are to be installed and disrupt the look of the roof,” said Leah Bushman, consultant for Dependable Solar. “We remove the tiles, install the modules, then reinstall the tiles, returning the roof to its original appearance.”

Once installation was complete, APS used the home to train inspectors in what to look for when commissioning new solar power systems. The utility also installed a “bi-directional” meter that spins backwards when the system generates more power than the homeowners use. Mehrhof likes the idea of selling power back to his employer.

“Now that we have solar power, we spend a lot more time thinking, do we want to use these extra kilowatts or sell them back to APS?” said Mehrhof. “I intend to retire in a few years so having decreasing energy costs is important to my wife and me.”

Published on behalf of ETA Engineering, Inc.
ETA Engineering, Inc., and its affiliate Dependable Solar Products, Inc., offer engineering, consulting, design, project management and installation on a turnkey basis. ETA distributes and manufactures a full line of renewable energy products and has designed and installed photovoltaic lighting systems from small remote applications to large renewable power plants of all sizes. The company is also active in efforts toward village electrification in emerging countries. For more information, visit: www.etaengineering.com or www.dependablesolarproducts.com.

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