Solar

[spikedaddy99]

Who has gone solar at home? I have a quote on my desk for $52,000ish for a solar system that will "pay itself off" in 7 years. The solar guy said it's usually 9-10, but since our electricity seems to be more expensive than other areas, we will get it back quicker. Plus, 26% tax rebate if we do it this year. M

 

[Pirate Lady]

Nope for me but there a hell a lot in my development that have it. I avg tween $90 and $120 depending on time of year so I don’t see the point for me. And a 10 year ROI, at my age is not wise.

 

[Pirate Lady]

But you’re in the great white wilderness where heat runs from September to June so I can’t say.

 

[b_arrington]

We did. Put in a 9.2kW system about 5 years ago.

And am just about done increasing that by another 6.2kW to pay for my pool circulation and heater operation.

Electricity on Long Island is expensive.

 

[JHornsby3]

I have a friend that put it in his place. After the 3 months of issues with the system, he has had great luck with it. He said it was saving him about half of his bill through the winter. After the first almost full month of sun, PGE sent him a check. He was told 5 year turn around on investment. But with his new pellet stove and the panels, he was thinking more like 2 years. He dropped about $60k for his full system.

 

[Skybolt]

I can't imagine that anyone recouping 10K a year or more from any electric company. That would be free electric plus $500 a month checks on average. Just round numbers to do the math, but that just doesn't make any sense, one that they would allow that and two that they would give checks out every month or what ever it comes out to actually be. I get how the system works, but it isn't that.

My cousin put solar on his house, paid ~30K and only cut his bill in half. And that barley covered the monthly expense of having it installed. Not to mention the panels only last about 10-12yrs and then need replacing. Granted his was done around 10yrs ago and he is now in the replacement stage. He says he would do it again even though they didn't pay off as much as he would have liked. He is located on Long Island, NY, one of the most expensive electric bills going.

Not saying anyone is telling tall tales. I just see solar as an 80's pyramid scheme even though a good friend is one of the largest distributors of solar.

 

[bajturner]

I think it depends on the contracts available with the utility company. There was one here available a while ago that we were able to take advantage of...not sure what there is now, actually.

10kW solar generator that is tied to grid. No net metering. Here's the payments from the last time I looked:

2020
Mar: $98
Apr: $805
May: $1109
Jun: $1340
Jul: $1130
Aug: $1173
Sep: $1107
Oct: $901
Nov: $616
Dec: $420

2021
Jan: $235
Feb: $132

I think the payments are all delayed one month.

Typically in the $9-10K per year range. We've had it about 8 years. Cost ~$40K to install ourselves on a rental property.

Wish there was more sun here year-round!

 

[The Bill Collector]

We had 36 305 watt panels installed 2 years ago... $29k fed's kicked back 30% in tax credits and the state of Washington is kicking in $1500 per year for 8 years. $9k + 12k = $21k so our $8k out of pocket will be recouped in under 8 years and we live in Seattle... Hahaha

 

[tdschafer]

We did. Put in a 9.2kW system about 5 years ago.

And am just about done increasing that by another 6.2kW to pay for my pool circulation and heater operation.

Electricity on Long Island is expensive.

Who did you use? Every estimate I got was not cost effective.

 

[Chris-380]

panels are guaranteed to produce at least 80%after 20 (or is it 25) years, so they last well beyond 10-12 years.

The key is the state and fed tax incentives. In my state, between the fed and state incentives you get over 60% within a year of your system going on line. Between rebates and credits on your tax filings. Then you sell the REC’s and make more. So depending on your state, it can pay back pretty fast. It’s been a while since we were installing solar arrays, but the payback was 13 years, they added a lot more incentives, I am hearing the market is 7-10 years depending on the utility company/coop they have

I can't imagine that anyone recouping 10K a year or more from any electric company. That would be free electric plus $500 a month checks on average. Just round numbers to do the math, but that just doesn't make any sense, one that they would allow that and two that they would give checks out every month or what ever it comes out to actually be. I get how the system works, but it isn't that.

My cousin put solar on his house, paid ~30K and only cut his bill in half. And that barley covered the monthly expense of having it installed. Not to mention the panels only last about 10-12yrs and then need replacing. Granted his was done around 10yrs ago and he is now in the replacement stage. He says he would do it again even though they didn't pay off as much as he would have liked. He is located on Long Island, NY, one of the most expensive electric bills going.

Not saying anyone is telling tall tales. I just see solar as an 80's pyramid scheme even though a good friend is one of the largest distributors of solar.

 

[Skybolt]

panels are guaranteed to produce at least 80%after 20 (or is it 25) years, so they last well beyond 10-12 years.

The key is the state and fed tax incentives. In my state, between the fed and state incentives you get over 60% within a year of your system going on line. Between rebates and credits on your tax filings. Then you sell the REC’s and make more. So depending on your state, it can pay back pretty fast. It’s been a while since we were installing solar arrays, but the payback was 13 years, they added a lot more incentives, I am hearing the market is 7-10 years depending on the utility company/coop they have

My friend that sells/installs these nation wide says the same thing, he swears by them. But I can only go by what I have actually seen with a couple of people. Like I said, I don't think anyone is telling tall tales. Getting a return in 7-10 years makes more sense to me.

 

[andy k]

I think it depends on the contracts available with the utility company. There was one here available a while ago that we were able to take advantage of...not sure what there is now, actually.

10kW solar generator that is tied to grid. No net metering. Here's the payments from the last time I looked:

2020
Mar: $98
Apr: $805
May: $1109
Jun: $1340
Jul: $1130
Aug: $1173
Sep: $1107
Oct: $901
Nov: $616
Dec: $420

2021
Jan: $235
Feb: $132

I think the payments are all delayed one month.

Typically in the $9-10K per year range. We've had it about 8 years. Cost ~$40K to install ourselves on a rental property.

Wish there was more sun here year-round!

WOW that is crazy.

Our most expensive month in August with the AC at 70' was just a little of $250. And that includes Water and Electric.

 

[Pirate Lady]

WOW that is crazy.

Our most expensive month in August with the AC at 70' was just a little of $250. And that includes Water and Electric.

Unreal! You June bill is my yearly cost, can’t even imagine.

 

[ZZ13]

We installed about 5 years ago. 34 panels. Around 10kw. Install cost was $30,000. Between federal and state we got 55% of that back as tax credits. Our provider does net metering so they buy the kw from us at the same price we pay for it from them. Our electric bills average about $70 per month (we use more than we supply to them). Our electric company recently got bought by a bigger company, Dominion. They are sponsoring legislation in South Carolina to effectively stop all the financial benefits of solar. Ain’t capitalism great.

 

[b_arrington]

Who did you use? Every estimate I got was not cost effective.

Used an independent guy. He has a partnership with that did an addition to our house. The 6.2kw system he just put in was $18,600. I’ll get back 26% Fed plus some state and PSEG. Not sure of that is any lower because I already had other panels and infrastructure.

Lmk if you want his info, I’ll PM you.

 

[JHornsby3]

Our standard monthly bill is around $500. If we use the AC it goes up. If we use the furnace at anything above 67* during the winter day and 60* winter nights, the bill goes up. Portland General Electric is not cheap. They are governed by the Bonneville Power Administration. BOA provides the power through our Oregon Washington and Idaho. PGE gives great bennies to those that are willing to provide power that they don't have to buy from BPA. But the smaller companies that buy power from PGE can be very picky. McMinnville Power is one that has made folks take panels and wind generators down. Or they will limit the number of days you can use the power you generate. I think our main power suckers are the major appliances. We have gone through the entire place with LED lights and limit the amount of daytime TV and computer use. We also keep everything unplugged to stop the idle power consumption. Now when we lived in New Mexico, the power was only $0.08 a Kwh. Our bill was only about $20-$50.

 

[Skybolt]

Here in MD (Annapolis area) we pay 300-350 a month. Not much different (~$50 cheaper) then when in Stony Brook LI (PSEG). Believe it or not water/sewer is astronomical compared to electric, never would have thought that when we moved.

 

[Blueone]

Some of you guys are justifying the investment on government subsidies ....which is your money again. The solar business model doesn’t work. In Indiana we pay $200/month with all LED, gas heat and gas water heater...6k sqft. ....we would be looking at a 20 year pay back without subsidies... the panels would all be dead by then. At work I looked at windmill electric.... with government subsidies it never paid back... this is a pipe dream at best...all the power to you...pun intended.

but think about it...the panels are made with pennies on the dollar and the manufacturers are subsidized...wind is more expensive but the manufacturers are still subsidized with our money....then the consumers are subsidized...so with wind and solar who are the real winners?.... can government democrats profit from oil?

 

[Blueone]

Who do you think paid for the existing power plants?

What has been the return on investment?.... depending on what power plants you are talking about...the ROI has been incredible with old technology...solar and wind has an incredibly short life span in comparison

 

[New Horizon]

Question for those of you who went solar: Are you adding in the additional cost you are going to have when you need to replace your roof shingles and those panels have to be taken off and put back on? My neighbor paid 11,000 to have them taken off and put back on when he replaced his roof. That did not include the cost of the shingles. Just asking.