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Has anyone installed solar power on their house? Have heard many bad results on savings vs cost. Looking to maybe install on my house in south central Pa. but am unsure due to some non satisfactory reports. Advertising is all over and promises massive savings but as we all know companies will say anything to sell their product,
I've tracked our electric usage for years. We flipped the switch last October/November. The power company had to set up a new 'start date' on the grid tied system so we wound up with one billing that encompassed almost two billing periods, but you can see the drop in usage.
I've tracked our electric usage for years. We flipped the switch last October/November. The power company had to set up a new 'start date' on the grid tied system so we wound up with one billing that encompassed almost two billing periods, but you can see the drop in usage.
Same with us. Early October we made the switch. I plan on creating a similar graph showing our total cost and usage savings. Our will be opposite of yours though with our biggest savings in the summer months.
Too the OP I think it really boils down to state by state and utility to utility. Those are the two biggest factors that determine 1. Usage need (high, low or moderate) and 2. Price (does your utility charge and average of 12 -16 cents per kWh or 30 cents per kWh?)
We are in a high usage and high price area so our break even is less than 6 years and going solar is a total no-brainer.
Same with us. Early October we made the switch. I plan on creating a similar graph showing our total cost and usage savings. Our will be opposite of yours though with our biggest savings in the summer months.
Too the OP I think it really boils down to state by state and utility to utility. Those are the two biggest factors that determine 1. Usage need (high, low or moderate) and 2. Price (does your utility charge and average of 12 -16 cents per kWh or 30 cents per kWh?)
We are in a high usage and high price area so our break even is less than 6 years and going solar is a total no-brainer.
Yeah our breakeven looks like 10 years which is still a no-brainer. Especially with the 30% tax credit and the state incentives we had. The state has a very low interest loan program for solar. We took full advantage of it- we financed all of it.
1) What is your average electrical cost? General rule it's worth putting it in once it's over $150 but that is not always the case.
2) How much is the cost to install it(do not lease the panels)
3) Does your electric company compensate you for excess power that your system produces , usually in the summer?
4) How long is your break even point?
5) What is the panel warranty?
6) How is your roof, will it soon need to be replaced? If so do it before considering panels otherwise how much to remove/install the panels once you do need to change the roof.
Yeah our breakeven looks like 10 years which is still a no-brainer. Especially with the 30% tax credit and the state incentives we had. The state has a very low interest loan program for solar. We took full advantage of it- we financed all of it.
We didn't have state incentives but did take advantage of the 30% tax credit. We installed last October. We just got our first annual True Up bill and it's negative $124. I know the kWh balance gets reset but I'm not 100% sure what happens to the -$124 balance. I'm waiting to see the next bill but I would assume that negative balance just gets carried over to the next bill. If that is the case, it could literally be 10 years till we have to pay a dime out to our utility other than the $10 monthly hook up charge.
I think with the proper know how and help it’s a do it yourself project but never on the roof
You could save a bundle but not by hiring solar hustlers
I think with the proper know how and help it’s a do it yourself project but never on the roof
You could save a bundle but not by hiring solar hustlers
We're very fortunate- there is a very trusted local solar company (and this is not a big city) that does projects of all sizes- residential, municipal buildings, commercial. His proposal was extremely detailed, we discussed solar panel efficiency vs. price and we came up with an awesome deal.
I would say a grid tied system is not exactly a DIY project either.
Build the biggest array your roof can accommodate that is my advice. My roof has only 1/2 covered and only able to generate about 75% of my usage. But it pays dividend now I work from home and the power I generate is being used rather than sent back to the Utility company.
I much rather use what I generate than get pennies on sending unused power back.
During peak usage summer I had AC and running all my work at home paying only $70/month mainly for all the fees, taxes, and surcharges and actual consumption was only around $20. Since I don't have any surpluses my winter months may actually cost more.
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