Solar Panels on poss. unpermitted structure question

[jwstewar]

You are also assuming the power your panels make will not decline or fade over time. Your also assuming the company is going to stay in business long enough to honor any warranty. And your also assuming that they won't try to find excuses to get out of paying for warranty work.

All too many unknowns for such a long time to recoup.

If/when solar or another viable form of alternative energy get down to a 7-10 payback....I be very interested in dropping some coin. Until then...I'll be happy paying the electric company

True, there are some unknowns and assumptions. The company is a sister company to a roofing company that has been in business since the late 80s, so it has been around for awhile.

There is a guarantee that if any one panel drops below 80% production, it will be replaced free of charge. I've not found anything bad about this particular company, an A+ BBB rating.

 

[Wood_Butcher_Dav]

If/when solar or another viable form of alternative energy get down to a 7-10 payback....I be very interested in dropping some coin. Until then...I'll be happy paying the electric company[/QUOTE]

If my current usage remains the same with the state and fed rebates my payback is 3 1/2 to 4 years.

Dave

 

[deezler]

My 5.6 kW array with inverter and fancy racking ($16k total) was projected at a 7-8 year payback. I took a 0-down, 4% loan over 10 years - so after that my power is basically free. There are few better investments available in this country than a simple PV array on an efficient house design.

Edit to clarify. 16k system cost was before 30% tax credit, and my installer also threw in a Generac 6500 watt gas genny with a transfer switch kit, installed. Candian-Solar panels and SolarEdge inverter are both warrantied for 25 years. Our 5.6kW array gets our small, super-insulated, passive-solar, all-electric home design to near net-zero here in cloudy Michigan; I may add two more panels to get there fully.

 

[orezok]

I am looking at adding solar at my property. Just my opinion, but I think solar is a benefit to the electric company, As areas grow, the existing infrastructure is pushed to the limit. If local generation (ie solar) is not added, the electric company has to add generation and distribution upgrades at a tremendous current cost vs maintaining legacy systems. Local solar zeros those costs out for the electric company.

The 10 acre property adjacent to me was sold recently and one of my contacts told me that SCE quoted them $86K to bring power to the property. Mind now that primary power runs down the street between our properties and the total extension to the property consists of 2 poles and about 250 feet of wire and transformer, The power company, SCE is at a maximum distribution point with their legacy system and is making it difficult for property owners to build.

 

[CobyRupert]

I am looking at adding solar at my property. Just my opinion, but I think solar is a benefit to the electric company, As areas grow, the existing infrastructure is pushed to the limit. If local generation (ie solar) is not added, the electric company has to add generation and distribution upgrades at a tremendous current cost vs maintaining legacy systems. Local solar zeros those costs out for the electric company.

I think that is true when the sun is shining. They still have to build a system with more capacity, but it's worse for them because this bigger system runs less utilized when the sun is out.

The 10 acre property adjacent to me was sold recently and one of my contacts told me that SCE quoted them $86K to bring power to the property. Mind now that primary power runs down the street between our properties and the total extension to the property consists of 2 poles and about 250 feet of wire and transformer, The power company, SCE is at a maximum distribution point with their legacy system and is making it difficult for property owners to build.

Same for National Grid (Natty Greed) here. Between the hoops they make people jump over & through, & their installation costs, they drive a lot of business expansion away.

A lot of utilities, when their line hits capacity limit want to charge the next guy who "breaks the camel's back" to upgrade or install. Yet the existing users, and everyone who follows gets the benefits for cheap. They're suppose to not do that, but no way in he** can you say they don't.

 

[techman]

I installed 9.6 kw the end of 2011 and paid off my $10K investment in 6.5 years. My system total was $ 30K but federal and state incentives covered $ 20K. As of this month I am $ 5K in savings (above my investment). We have net metering in PA. I average about $ 120/mo in electric savings plus an additional $ 35 average per month for carbon credits (SREC Trade). Panels have never been cleaned since we have enough rain and no strongly adhering dirt or pollen. In the 8.5 years I have had no maintenance issues or cost.

paul

 

[deezler]

I installed 9.6 kw the end of 2011 and paid off my $10K investment in 6.5 years. My system total was $ 30K but federal and state incentives covered $ 20K. As of this month I am $ 5K in savings (above my investment). We have net metering in PA. I average about $ 120/mo in electric savings plus an additional $ 35 average per month for carbon credits (SREC Trade). Panels have never been cleaned since we have enough rain and no strongly adhering dirt or pollen. In the 8.5 years I have had no maintenance issues or cost.

paul

Wow! Hard to argue with that, thats a slam dunk right there. How did you get a full 2/3 of your system cost covered? Fed is 30%. PA gave you another 35% rebate/credit ?

 

[techman]

I don't remember all of the details, but I got the federal 30% and PA was an amount based on the installed power. There was also a power company subsidy as well. All together was about $ 20K.

paul

 

[Wood_Butcher_Dav]

That is why I got my 9.2 kw system, the IL state SREC program is a hard thing to figure out but worth about 11k on my 27k total cost. I heard the federal program is going down 1% each year til 2025 and is then gone. The state program is also filling up its allocation monies. I have a local electrician and electrical supplier house that does the solar installs and the paper work for the IL Sines Program. I think there was a $300 set up fee for the program.

Here is my analogy on when is the best time to install solar? Same as planting a tree 5 years ago.

Dave

 

[LD1]

As with anything, where you live has a big impact. Who your electric company is....how they meter, what they charge, what state incentives are, etc.

Some of you seem to have found the golden egg.

Unfortunately, there is no way to attain a $0 bill where I live with my power company unless off-grid. EVERYONE pays at least $42 just for being hooked.

Until prices either come down, or electric goes way up, or there are some new rebate programs.....I just ain't a buyer