Solar Panels

[Brovane]

I think I am finally ready to spend the money to get Solar Panels on my house.

I pay about $250 month in electrical and use on average about 1100 kw/h a month. I am sick and tired of seeing my electrical rates get ratched up every year. I reached out to Solar City but because I have a stone-coated steel roof they don't install systems on them. I am going to get a qoute from the company that replaced my roof a couple of years ago. Right now I am planning on using the line of credit on my house to pay for the system and do a pre-paid lease with everything paid up-front.

Any recomendations for Solar System installers in Southern CA besides Solar City?
Should I lease or just buy the system outright?
Any other gotchas that I should be concerned about?

 

[cabri]

I was quoted about $25K for a system.

The company wanted to do it cost based on credit.
800+ - Free
700+ - 1/2 price
full cost

Problem was that the tax credits/saving for $25K even at half price was not cost effective.

there are multiple solar installation sites offering packages.

 

[Brovane]

I was quoted about $25K for a system.

The company wanted to do it cost based on credit.
800+ - Free
700+ - 1/2 price
full cost

Problem was that the tax credits/saving for $25K even at half price was not cost effective.

there are multiple solar installation sites offering packages.

What was the size of the system quoted?

 

[NutBucket]

The cheaper option is to stop using your AC and drain the pool

 

[Brovane]

The cheaper option is to stop using your AC and drain the pool

No pool but I am not giving up my AC.......

 

[cabri]

What was the size of the system quoted?

2200 sq split level plus attached garage.

All they initially did was to look at the Google Maps view of the house.

Then they sent a quote and wanted to pull my credit.

I did the math and at 50% of the price, it was not cost effective.

 

[edro]

wat?

They would give anyone with an 800+ credit score a free $25k solar install?

 

[Brovane]

2200 sq split level plus attached garage.

All they initially did was to look at the Google Maps view of the house.

Then they sent a quote and wanted to pull my credit.

I did the math and at 50% of the price, it was not cost effective.

Do you know the kW rating of the system qouted?

 

[cabri]

Do you know the kW rating of the system qouted?

No - I will try to dig back through older emails (if not junked) for you to get a POC

 

[cabri]

wat?

They would give anyone with an 800+ credit score a free $25k solar install?

I would expect that they would also collect all the tax credits.
And probably have some type of payments to cover the difference.

As stated, because of the payback costs; I passed.

this was 3 years ago; I may be off on the costs also


/edit

FREE == no upfront payment - just financing of the unit as a lease

 

[Stopsignhank]

Bro,

My brother in law runs an electrical supply house in Riverside that also sells solar. I am going to buy my solar panels from him this year. My wife is traveling today, but I will PM you his e-mail tomorrow. I don't know anything about his prices, but I can tell you he will be completely honest with you.

 

[Brovane]

Bro,

My brother in law runs an electrical supply house in Riverside that also sells solar. I am going to buy my solar panels from him this year. My wife is traveling today, but I will PM you his e-mail tomorrow. I don't know anything about his prices, but I can tell you he will be completely honest with you.

Thank you - One of my biggest concerns is making sure that whoever installs the panels on my roof knows what they are doing. I just had my roof installed a couple of years ago and I don't want to have issues with it. Which is why I am leaning towards the same people that put my roof on doing the solar since any issues with the roof they are on the hook for it instead of pointing the finger game at the other contractor.

 

[Blain]

I've been toying with the idea of solar power for years.
I initially wanted a grid-tied system, but my pioneer spirit has risen up, now off-grid generation appeals to me.
With me it's not simply a matter of cost/benefit analysis. Being handy, I'm not put off by the system maintenance.

 

[halik]

I think there's huge issue with the financed systems if you decide to sell the house, since obviously you don't necessarily own them at that point.

 

[NutBucket]

Yes, the buyer has to qualify for the financing too. But I can't imagine how someone could afford a house but not the solar lease?

 

[Stopsignhank]

My brother in law said that he recommends

Infinity Solar
2460 N. GLASSELL ST. Ste A
ORANGE, CA 92865
(714) 921-8168

 

[Brovane]

My brother in law said that he recommends

Infinity Solar
2460 N. GLASSELL ST. Ste A
ORANGE, CA 92865
(714) 921-8168

Thank you - I will contact them. Thank you for the PM, but that was a wholesaler.

I have gotten two quotes so far. Still trying to decide between micro inverters or doing a string inverters.

 

[cabri]

dug up an old email/quote.

It was from Solar City; and they still send me spam :thumbsdown:

 

[Brovane]

Pulled the trigger today on a system from a local company in Southern California called Solar360.

The system is a 8.55kw system and is projected to generate 13,665 kWH a year which should offset my power bill by 100%. Total system cost $30k and I will get 30% back as a tax credit.

The Solar Panels are from a US company called SolarWorld and the Inverter is a SMS SB4000TL-US.

Payback period should be 5-6 years. and the cost of energy of the 25 year designed life of the system is .069 kWH.

Learned a lot about PV Solar panels going through process. So let me know if anyone has any specific questions.

 

[edro]

$21,000 worth of electricity in 5-6 years?

$200/mo=$2400/year
Sounds more like 9-10 years to me.

 

[Zorba]

That seems like a pretty decent deal. Are you going to sell the excess power back the grid? What's their efficiency?

I really wish neighborhoods around here would stop banning solar panels.

 

[Zorba]

$21,000 worth of electricity in 5-6 years?

$200/mo=$2400/year
Sounds more like 9-10 years to me.

At my rates 13,665 KWH would be about $1650. Assuming you could sell the extra back to the grid at the retail price. I assume Cali has higher rates than here.

 

[Stopsignhank]

I pay about $250 month in electrical

$21,000 worth of electricity in 5-6 years?

$200/mo=$2400/year
Sounds more like 9-10 years to me.

250/month = 3,000/year.

7 years this is excluding any rate increases.

 

[Stopsignhank]

Bro, Congrats!!

I have someone coming out to the house on Monday to see about solar.

 

[Brovane]

250/month = 3,000/year.

7 years this is excluding any rate increases.

They factor in a average rate increase of 4.5%.