San Marcos Record, San Marcos, TX

Local News

Related Photos

  • A solar panel installer works on the home of Todd Derkacz and Betsy Robertson.

    Going solar
February 22, 2012

San Marcos residents find using sun’s rays can pay in lots of ways

San Marcos — The city of San Marcos issued its first solar rebate to San Marcos electric customers Todd Derkacz and Betsy Robertson under a rebate system approved last October.

The San Marcos City Council established the distributed generation rebate program to encourage residents to install alternative energy systems such as solar photovoltaic and wind generators.

The program also sets in place a system through which residents can sell back any excess power they produce.

Derkacz and Robertson installed a four kilowatt rooftop solar system on their home on Progress Street.

Robertson is a former city council member and Derkacz retired as fire chief in 2004 after more than 27 years with the San Marcos Fire Department.     

“These residents already have a very efficient home, so it is the perfect location for alternative energy,” Jan Klein, conservation coordinator for the city, said.  “They are already producing excess energy and returning it to the city’s distribution system.”    

"We're proud to be the first family to benefit from the city of San Marcos' solar rebate program and really grateful to the city for offering it”  Robertson said.  “We get a kick watching our meter run backwards when the sun is shining."

The rebate for solar photovoltaic systems is $2.50 per watt up to $5,000, and the rebate for wind generators is $1 per watt up to $5,000.  The rebate cannot exceed 50 percent of the installed cost of the system.

The program is open to all city electric utility customers, and the system must be interconnected to the city electric distribution system. 

For more information, visit www.sanmarcostx.gov/departments/electric or call 393-8310.   

 

  

Text Only
Local News
House Ads
Video
Business Marquee
AP Video
Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium 50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes Raw Video: Fight Erupts in Ukrainian Parliament Texan Ranchers Remain Wary of Drought Raw Video: Soldiers Plant Flags at Arlington Police: Man Arrested in Etan Patz Disappearance NYC Protests: the Revolution Will Be Scripted Chicago U.S. Attorney Fitzgerald Resigns Neighbors of Etan Patz's Suspect: It's Shocking Gulf Fishermen Reel From Seafood Troubles Stuntman Makes Skydive Without Parachute in UK
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
Twitter Updates
Follow me on Twitter
Facebook
Seasonal Content