0 Commercial & Industrial
1 Cut the cord on rising energy costs Looking for a way to reduce your operating expenses and increase profits? Install a solar energy system and generate your own clean, renewable energy. Every day, more and more businesses are choosing to install solar energy systems. Why? The primary reason is to save money by reducing operating expenses. With incentives, rebates, and tax credits, solar delivers attractive rates of return and a predictable stream of cash flow. Lock in a cost for electricity today, providing a hedge against escalating energy costs in the future. When you invest in a solar energy system, you are effectively prepaying a set price for electricity for the next 25 or more years. Solar modules provide energy for decades. With industry standard warranties of 25 years for energy production, the industry expects modules to produce power for 40+ years. Multiple financing and ownership options can be tailored to fit your needs. Leasing is one option that can help your company achieve energy savings with little to no upfront expense. Installing solar demonstrates a corporate commitment to sustainability that creates great public relations. Customers are demanding goods and services from socially responsible companies. Shareholders and potential investors regard sustainability as a key component to a company s economic viability. With solar, your company can meet the demands of the marketplace, achieve sustainability goals, and reduce expenses all at the same time. Solar is sustainability that pays for itself and more.
2 Take Advantage of Tax Credits & Accelerated Depreciation 30% Federal Investment Tax Credit The Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) provides a 30% credit of the system cost. There is no maximum cap and excess credit can be carried forward for a period of up to 20 years. Act quickly! The credit will be reduced to 10% at the beginning of 2017. 25% South Carolina Solar Tax Credit The State of South Carolina provides a 25% tax credit of the solar energy system cost. The maximum annual incentive is capped at $3,500, or 50% of your business tax liability, whichever is less. Credit in excess of $3,500 can be carried forward for up to 10 years for a maximum total credit of $35,000. The credit is slated to expire on July 1, 2019. Accelerated Depreciation Qualifying solar energy equipment is eligible for a cost recovery period of five years under the Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS).
3 Utility Incentives and Rebates Net Energy Metering Net Energy Metering (NEM) is a special billing arrangement offered by utility companies that provide customers with the ability to offset some or all of their energy costs with solar. For example, a solar energy system may generate more electricity than your business needs during daylight hours. When this happens, the excess electricity is automatically pushed through your electric meter and back into the utility grid, spinning your meter backwards, generating credits to your account. The value of credits is at the full retail rate that the utility charges your business to purchase power from the grid. At other times, your business electric demand may be greater than what the solar energy system is producing, and power is consumed from the grid, spinning your meter forward. Under NEM, the electricity that your solar energy system generates reduces the net amount of electricity that your business consumes and provides the opportunity for solar to offset 100% of your electricity demand. South Carolina Electric Gas, Duke Energy, and many utility co- operatives offer NEM. South Carolina Electric & Gas Bill Credit Agreement (BCA) is a performance- based incentive also known as buy all/sell all. Under this program, your business would buy all of the electricity it needs from SCE&G and then sell all of the electricity generated by your solar energy system back to SCE&G. Under BCA, the power that your business sells to SCE&G is credited against the power that you purchase from SCE&G. BCA guarantees businesses a fixed bill credit amount for every kilowatt hour (kwh) of electricity the solar energy system produces. The amount of the bill credit, or the rate SCE&G will pay to purchase power, is based on the size of the solar energy system and whether or not your organization is a tax- exempt entity. Solar Energy System Size Rate Less than 20 kw $0.20/kWh 20 kw to 100 kw $0.18/kWh 100 kw to 1,000 kw $0.14/kWh Tax- Exempt Entity $0.22/kWh The rates are guaranteed and offered for a term of 10- years, after which, your business can convert to the NEM program. Duke Energy Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress now offer a cash rebate of $1 per installed watt. Depending on the cost to install your system, the rebate could equate to as much as a 50% discount. Act quickly! The cash value of the rebate will be gradually reduced as more and more solar energy systems are interconnected to the utility s distribution network and the program eventually will be discontinued when Duke has met its renewable energy goals. Contact HSGS to learn more about your utility provider s solar energy programs
4 Financing Options to Fit Your Needs Cash Purchase With no financing expenses and no monthly payments to make, an outright cash purchase of a solar energy system will provide the highest return on investment for your business. Take advantage of accelerated depreciation (MACRS), the 30% Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC), and the 25% State of South Carolina Solar Energy Tax Credit. that could be used for other investments. However, in this arrangement, the leasing company owns the system and your business will not be able to harvest the benefits of federal/state tax credits and accelerated depreciation. Cost Savings with a Solar Lease Solar Loan Many different types of financial institutions are offering loans for the purchase of solar energy systems, including local and national banks, credit unions, and specialty finance companies. Solar loans have the same basic structure, terms, and conditions as many other commercial loans with the added benefit of being able to save money on your utility bills, while the loan is being repaid. When choosing to finance the purchase with a loan, your business will be able to take advantage of federal/state tax credits and accelerated depreciation. $ Electric Bill Before Solar Cost Savings Lease Payment Electric Bill After Solar Lease Agreement Looking for a way to reduce your energy costs with limited to no upfront expense? Consider a solar operating lease. With fixed payments and typical terms of 15, 20, or 25 years, operating leases are treated as off balance sheet items for accounting purposes and payments can be deducted as an operating expense. This option preserves lines of credit and doesn t tie up capital Leasing Versus Owning Lease Own Up- Front Cost Little to None Total Install Cost Tax Incentives No Yes Utility Incentives Yes Yes Operation & Maintenance Included? Yes No Total Savings Good Best
5 VETERANS LEADING THE WAY IN AMERICA S ENERGY SECURITY HSGS specializes in the design, installation, and maintenance of solar photovoltaic energy systems. Serving the government, commercial/industrial, and utility marketplaces, we are a full service provider capable of delivering total solutions from inception through completed installation and ongoing maintenance services. HSGS is a trusted partner that leverages federal government contracting experience in the execution of solar energy projects across the continental United States as well as overseas. Our in- house team of experts includes licensed Professional Engineers (PE), North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP), and Master Electricians. HSGS provides: Feasibility Studies Financial Analysis Design & Engineering Equipment Specification Veteran Owned Business Colonel (Retired) Dave McNeil founded HSGS following thirty years of Army service Financing Solutions System Installation Operation & Maintenance Services
HSGS Commercial & Industrial 6 HSGS Commercial & Industrial Scale Past Performance 937 kw Ground Mounted System Army National Guard Fort Allen, Puerto Rico 742 kw Canopy System U.S. Marine Corps Camp Lejeune, NC 500 kw Ground Mounted System Tucson Airport Tucson, AZ 127 kw Roof Ballasted System NASA Huntsville, AL 204 kw Roof Ballasted System Army National Guard Lakehurst, NJ 50 kw Roof Mounted System Fogel Services Ladson, SC
3297 Pacific Street North Charleston, SC 29418 843.718.1866 www.hsgs.solar info@hsgs.solar