Since I haven't seen anyone that actually owns any panels, I will chime in. I just bought my system and here are my experiences. If you are only buying them for the purpose of saving/making money, then you will not see the numbers as many people pointed out, even after subsidies, it will take a decade or more to get your money back. You are better off investing that same amount if making money is your goal. If saving money is your goal, you are better off changing your habits and use less.
That said, I live in sunny southern California and my electric bill before was as high as ~400 in summer, and averages ~200 year round. Since I installed my panels, my winter months have dropped to ~20 dollars. To repay the loan I took to pay for the parts the rebate didn't cover, is 175 bucks. So you can see, my $~200 this month to pay for the electric isn't "worth it". From what I understand, the sunnier months of spring and summer will generate a lot more, since we have brighter and longer days and should negate the few months it doesn't cover the entire electrical use, so time will tell if that number coming back to me is worth it. In my case, I use net metering, meaning that I get one bill for the entire year.
The thing problem I see in most of these type of things, is the american population wants an all or nothing solutions. "I want a car to go 400 mi on a charge just like my gas car will go 400 mi on a tank, anything less is lame", even though this same person drives less than 100 miles a given day, would never think about filling their tank every trip each way, and most likely comes home every night. They just want the option. The same person is the one that says my solar panels should MAKE me money vs take what I use off of an aging and strained energy grid.
Also, the math on the electric, is sound, but doesn't factor in the rising costs or poor weather days. Our area just approved a 6% increase, which is 6 years since a 4%. So six years ago, a 10% increase has happened, and I doubt it is the last time it will be raised with in the 10 year loan I have. Even if we just leave it as that, the cost to regain your money comes faster. In my area it is mostly sunny, and we have less than 20 days of cloudy weather, but I would imagine in most of the nation this isn't the case. In other parts of the nation, this might not be the case.
That said, I live in sunny southern California and my electric bill before was as high as ~400 in summer, and averages ~200 year round. Since I installed my panels, my winter months have dropped to ~20 dollars. To repay the loan I took to pay for the parts the rebate didn't cover, is 175 bucks. So you can see, my $~200 this month to pay for the electric isn't "worth it". From what I understand, the sunnier months of spring and summer will generate a lot more, since we have brighter and longer days and should negate the few months it doesn't cover the entire electrical use, so time will tell if that number coming back to me is worth it. In my case, I use net metering, meaning that I get one bill for the entire year.
The thing problem I see in most of these type of things, is the american population wants an all or nothing solutions. "I want a car to go 400 mi on a charge just like my gas car will go 400 mi on a tank, anything less is lame", even though this same person drives less than 100 miles a given day, would never think about filling their tank every trip each way, and most likely comes home every night. They just want the option. The same person is the one that says my solar panels should MAKE me money vs take what I use off of an aging and strained energy grid.
Also, the math on the electric, is sound, but doesn't factor in the rising costs or poor weather days. Our area just approved a 6% increase, which is 6 years since a 4%. So six years ago, a 10% increase has happened, and I doubt it is the last time it will be raised with in the 10 year loan I have. Even if we just leave it as that, the cost to regain your money comes faster. In my area it is mostly sunny, and we have less than 20 days of cloudy weather, but I would imagine in most of the nation this isn't the case. In other parts of the nation, this might not be the case.
Last edited:
Facebook
Twitter