CAI-NJ Jan. 2019 (w)

will not solve all our energy needs as it does not perform so well at night when the sun is down. Similarly, most solar systems automatically shut off when there is a grid outage for safety reasons (we wouldn’t want a linesman getting shocked while trying to restore power), but more and more systems installed today include batteries and special inverters that are able to dis- connect from the grid in the event of an outage and create a “microgrid” for some or all of the circuits in a home, building or even a community. It is important to recognize that our util- ity grid and certain regulations have been instrumental in the growth and development of solar energy. In particular, through a regulatory system called “net metering,” any excess energy that is produced by a PV system (located on a community member’s home, for example) but not currently used, can be fed back through the electric meter to the elec- tric grid. This process is seamless and automatic and happens without you, or any of your appliances, noticing. Often, a home with solar will produce excess power during the day and export it to the grid, and when the solar panels stop producing energy, your home uses ‘traditional’ grid power. Now, in reality, the exact mechanisms, policies, and pro- cedures are a bit more complicated than the scope of this article.

Talk to us about your community association needs. We can help.

Popular Association Banking exclusively serves the community association industry. We offer: 1 • Financing for building repairs & capital improvements. • Competitive fixed rates with terms up to 15 years. • Excess FDIC insurance coverage limits, available with ICS® and CDARS®. 2

Contact our Mid-Atlantic Relationship Officer today! David Shahrabani, V.P. 917.656.1156 Toll-free: 800.233.7164 DShahrabani@popular.com

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1. Subject to credit approval. 2. ICS ® and CDARS ® are registered service marks of Promontory Interfinancial Network, LLC. Copyright © 2018 Popular Bank. Member FDIC.

Energy Storage and Reliability

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