With more and more people interested in generating their own electricity, the Omaha Public Power District recently updated information on customer-owned generation.

Over the past 15 months OPPD has streamlined its online user portal and made it easier for people to get information about generating their own power with solar panels or other generation equipment.

“There’s a quick-start guide,” said Kirk Estee, customer alternative energy solutions manager.

Estee said OPPD has a video that helps interested customers avoid having to read long documents and navigate a maze of links to find critical information. “We went to great lengths to be respectful of people’s time and try to make it quick and easy to understand,” Estee said.

In addition, OPPD also offers a solar calculator so customers can quickly determine how much it would cost to switch to solar power — both the cost of installing solar panels and the estimated savings generating your own electricity can provide.

 Novice users can generate an average cost based on their monthly energy bill. Meanwhile, more advanced users can tinker with settings to create a more exact estimate of their potential costs and savings.

Estee says more people are choosing to generate their own energy for a variety of reasons, not only to save money on their monthly energy bill.

“Some people like it because they’re tinkers or they’re interested in new technology, like, ‘I want to do this because I want to experience it. I think it’d be super cool,’” Estee said. “Some people do it for the investment tax credit.”

There is a credit available that allows you to deduct 26% of the cost of installing solar panels from your federal taxes.

OPPD currently does not have any partnerships with contractors, but there is a plan to have a training and certification class for installers, electricians, electrical inspectors and engineers. In the meantime, Estee directs potential energy generators to Nebraskans for Solar for a directory of companies that specialize in installation of solar panels.

Ultimately, if a customer chooses the renewable energy route, OPPD wants to make the process as easy and painless as possible.

“They need to have a process that is transparent and easy to follow and that we provide information so that customers don’t feel like they’re ever beating their head against the wall,” Estee said.

Find more from OPPD at oppd.com/residential/residential-rates/customer-owned-generation. Find more from Nebraskans for Solar at nebraskansforsolar.org.