Solar Energy (Phoenix, Peoria, Surprise: 2014, loans, house)

[wase4711]

Originally Posted by MalteseJane

If you have to be "approved" by the bank to take over the lease, the lease was NOT prepaid.
Prepaying the lease is not more costly. You are not paying 20 years interest.
We paid 15,500$ prepaid lease. 33 panels. 8.25kW - it covers us a 100%. No monthly payment. We pay APS only between 10 and 11$ a month for taxes, account charge, metering, billing...

If you find a house where the lease has been prepaid, you have nothing to lose. If you want to know their monthly payment to APS, make them show you their APS bill for the year. Our house is 1960 square feet. A bigger house will need a bigger system. We based our system to how much electricity we used in the prior years. As I said, some people buy systems who cover them only 50%.

Yeah, it sounds like a prepaid lease is the best arrangement for me..
Since I am "older", I am not sure I will be in this house more than 10 years or so, so a long term lease arrangement wouldnt make much sense for me..
thanks to everyone for all this great input!

[wase4711]

hey, quick solar question...

We are interested in buying a house with a "grandfathered" solar lease arrangement; if you produce more energy than you use, you get money back from APS..the house has had this system for 6 years now..

Obviously, if you don't produce enough, then you pay the difference..

My question is, does the new owner of the house,(ME) also get grandfathered in, or, will they pull that arrangement on my, and make it so they are not beneficial to me?

Thanks!

[MalteseJane]

Originally Posted by wase4711

hey, quick solar question...

We are interested in buying a house with a "grandfathered" solar lease arrangement; if you produce more energy than you use, you get money back from APS..the house has had this system for 6 years now..

Obviously, if you don't produce enough, then you pay the difference..

My question is, does the new owner of the house,(ME) also get grandfathered in, or, will they pull that arrangement on my, and make it so they are not beneficial to me?

Thanks!

Even if you are "grandfathered" in, the money you get back from APS at the end of the year is not much. Last December we received a credit of 43.71$ for the electricity we did not use. We had 1510 kwh in surplus. They used to pay more when we installed the system.

[wase4711]

I understand that, and I dont really care how much I get back; however, the monthly lease on the panels is 120 per month; I assume, that, a normal electric bill for a 2200 SF house in Peoria has got to be 300 or so per month, so, if we pay 120 per month, and we use 300 per month, then the savings are 180 per month, which, is a strong incentive for us to buy this house; of course, we like everything else about it, but, saving 150-200 per month in energy costs makes the house even more attractive!

[lewdog_5]

Originally Posted by wase4711

I understand that, and I dont really care how much I get back; however, the monthly lease on the panels is 120 per month; I assume, that, a normal electric bill for a 2200 SF house in Peoria has got to be 300 or so per month, so, if we pay 120 per month, and we use 300 per month, then the savings are 180 per month, which, is a strong incentive for us to buy this house; of course, we like everything else about it, but, saving 150-200 per month in energy costs makes the house even more attractive!

You need to determine exactly how much energy that system produces and have a rough estimate of the houses's energy usage. I would guess with the cost of the lease payment being $120 that you ARE NOT producing enough solar energy to cover your energy costs 100%. Sounds like a peak shaver type unit to me that will likely cover 60% of your costs (again, just guessing). You will likely still be paying APS something every month. The savings on a leased system would never be hundreds of dollars per month....ever.

[AZ Manager]

Originally Posted by wase4711

I understand that, and I dont really care how much I get back; however, the monthly lease on the panels is 120 per month; I assume, that, a normal electric bill for a 2200 SF house in Peoria has got to be 300 or so per month, so, if we pay 120 per month, and we use 300 per month, then the savings are 180 per month, which, is a strong incentive for us to buy this house; of course, we like everything else about it, but, saving 150-200 per month in energy costs makes the house even more attractive!

Your math doesn't add up but to answer your question the home is grandfathered not the person. Savings and costs are much more about the home and your use and the size of the solar system. Don't expect to just save $150-$200 a month.

[wase4711]

according to their real estate agent, they average about 20 dollars per month that they pay APS; their largest electric bill EVER was 100 dollars, and that was the last time it was 118 outside, and they had the inside set to 74...

Is this possible? they have very large panels on the entire south side and west side of the roof, so its not a small collection system..

they have had this setup for 5 1/2 years, if that means anything

thanks!

[lewdog_5]

Originally Posted by wase4711

according to their real estate agent, they average about 20 dollars per month that they pay APS; their largest electric bill EVER was 100 dollars, and that was the last time it was 118 outside, and they had the inside set to 74...

Is this possible? they have very large panels on the entire south side and west side of the roof, so its not a small collection system..

they have had this setup for 5 1/2 years, if that means anything

thanks!

It would better help if they told you the size of the solar system they have on the house and the average kWh used in electricity per month.

Many times agents and homeowners themselves will over-estimate what the solar is really doing for them, especially when they are trying to sell.

I would not take them at their word but that's your call.

Even in the months I do not use ANY electricity from APS (100% solar covered), I still pay close to $30 in fees/taxes alone. I have a hard time believing their average bill is $20 per month.

[HX_Guy]

Lewdog is sounds like you're on the Time Advantage plan, which has extra taxes and fees compared to someone on the Standard plan with solar.

I have a full offset system and my APS bills are right around $22/month year round.

[AzScorpion12]

Originally Posted by lewdog_5

It would better help if they told you the size of the solar system they have on the house and the average kWh used in electricity per month.

Many times agents and homeowners themselves will over-estimate what the solar is really doing for them, especially when they are trying to sell.

I would not take them at their word but that's your call.

Even in the months I do not use ANY electricity from APS (100% solar covered), I still pay close to $30 in fees/taxes alone. I have a hard time believing their average bill is $20 per month.

I switched from the time advantage plan to the standard plan shortly after I had my system installed last year. If you have a 100% offset there's really no benefit to being on a time advantage plan. My monthly bill was like yours around $30.00/month and is now around $19.00/month. HX is correct there are extra fees in the time advantage plan.