OT -- Solar panels...

Triggreef · Jan 30, 2015

I have some research ahead of me but I'm looking into going with solar panels. I had Solarcity come by today and talked about their "leasing" plan.

So more/less they're plan is this. They own the panels, therefore they reap the tax rebate/incentive whatever for themselves. They pay for, install, maintain, repair, update the panels for the life of the lease (30 yrs). Rather than producing extra energy and getting these credits for myself, they basically make money for themselves off my overproduction. My reward for letting them install their panels at no cost to me, is I basically get my electric bill cut in half. And it is subject to a maximum annual increase of 2.9% for those 30 years. Which is substantially less than the 4.8% National rate increase. (?)

So completely no fees at all, bill cut in half basically. About a $150 savings monthly for me. Verses buying them, paying for them, etc etc...

Anyone already have panels? Experience with either plan? Other companies?

DarkTang · Jan 30, 2015

Did they do a detailed analysis of your home because I currently pay about 400 a month

Suicideissleep · Jan 30, 2015

With all the government assistance that is out there you can get a 5 year loan pay off the panels and own them and get a check from clandp every month. I know three people that did this and they payed everything off in five years with there savings and they collect every month winter they collect less but stil way better in the long run they also offer insurance and assistance on the panels

Triggreef · Jan 30, 2015

Suicideissleep said:
With all the government assistance that is out there you can get a 5 year loan pay off the panels and own them and get a check from clandp every month. I know three people that did this and they payed everything off in five years with there savings and they collect every month winter they collect less but stil way better in the long run they also offer insurance and assistance on the panels

Can you find out the companies they used?

tigerdragon · Jan 30, 2015

I have panels mine are through vivint

clueless · Jan 31, 2015

doing now

I'm doing an installation on my house now. Looked into various programs found them lacking,so i'm getting 24 panels,(255 watts per) with mico-invertors and a monitoring system for $12,721. This includes shipping from Ca. Does not include istallation,pretty simple or tree removal. total cost $15000 plus or minus. after applying tax credit of 30% my net will be $10500 plus or minus.I chose to use a 15 year second mortgage at 4.99% so I would always have a positive cash flow. I can write off any intrest paid on the loan,because it is a mortgage. Also every dollar saved I dont have to earn the appropriate gross amt,after i pay taxes to give to CL&P. The fixed cost with no increases gives me a perfect opportunity to guage my investment over time:angel:

clueless · Jan 31, 2015

forgot name

name of company is Wholesale Solar,Mount Shasta,Ca, (800) 472-1142,I deal with Ian

Triggreef · Jan 31, 2015

clueless said:
name of company is Wholesale Solar,Mount Shasta,Ca, (800) 472-1142,I deal with Ian

So is your installer separate from the supplier?

clueless · Jan 31, 2015

solar install

a roofing contractor is installing the rack,mounting collector, and connecting the panels(plug-ins on the back) a licenced electrician will do the hook-up to the grid and whatever else is required. a tree company is felling the trees,6 and i'm giving away the wood for removal Total labor under $3500 If I was a younger man I would do it myself(I owned a solar business,28 employees,during the Jimmy Carter days,thermal collectors and passive only) but the tax credits are not capped at 10,000 as they were than, so i still receive the 30% tax credit on the labor and material for the install.Be more than happy to give you some insight but i struggle as a typist:tongue:by the way love these goofy figures

clueless · Jan 31, 2015

by the way licenced installer wanted $9000 a bit steep even considering tax credit I know and trust the folks doing the install,all licenced,and insured

clueless · Feb 2, 2015

additional research

a
little glitch In original plan gave me an opportunity to do some additional research, I will update you In a few days Trigger

Triggreef · Feb 3, 2015

DarkTang said:
Did they do a detailed analysis of your home because I currently pay about 400 a month

They come for the detailed survey today. My bill is about 280 to 360 a month, varies quite a bit for whatever reason. I have a ton of roof all newly shingled so I don't anticipate any issues with a lack of space for panels.

Bryan06107 · Feb 3, 2015

1. Make sure they do a solar analysis on your roof. They often over inflate the savings to make it sound better. Eagleview is a company most roofers use. Even slight shade can decrease efficiency by 50% or more

2. Don't put panels on an aging roof. Most roofs last 30 years. You would hate for your roof to fail 10 years into your 30 year commitment

3. Buy and finance yor own panels it will be cheaper in the long run. Would you give free space to northeast utilities to build a power plant in your back yard?

tonymission · Feb 3, 2015

I own a large roofing company and most people with solar panels (at least here) want us to take them off. I'd make sure you're very confident with the installer as I've seen those lead to more leaks than they haven't.

I'd also be surprised if you got 30 years on your shingle regardless of the warranty (against defect) so make sure you're planning for remove/reset costs earlier than 30 years.

Do you remember which shingle you put on the house?

clueless · Feb 3, 2015

commited today went with Solar Electric Supply Co, out of Ca. Dealt with Stewart Wadsworth, very knowlageable and helpful. Quote was very complete stating exactly what you did or did not get. I'm putting the collectors landscape,6 across 4, down total of 24 not using micro invertors,but rather a single invertor. heat and electronics are not good friends and it would be very difficult to replace one within the array, in addition guy next door is allowing me to take down 6 of his trees. with that factored in it was a far more practical route The invertor brand name is Solaredge(I may upgrade this to allow for 8 more collectors) The collectors are American made Solarworld 280 watt. Based on the calcullation we did with the help of some software the had,we should get approx 8300 kwh per year that was valuble for me as i'm looking to replace one payment with a similar amt. Breaking it out monthly based on my current charges that would be $140/mos which is $17,500 at 5% over 15 years. Another thing I looked at was the amt of time and documentation to get the building permit. The cost to me by hiring someone to do the complete design $400. My grand total on equipment shipped to my door,including the design is $12,655. Tree removal,licenced electrician,installation by my roofer(roof abt 1 yr old) is going to be approx $3500. My final cost= $16000-16500 After applying credit net cost approx $11500. My cost/ kwh is between six and seve cents a far cry from the 20 cents i"m currently paying. Now that my hobby is not costing my wife who pays the electric bill anything (in fact ther is an excess) I can move on

Windy · Feb 3, 2015

I wish I was as smart as you!

d2mini · Feb 3, 2015

You should give your wife the $11,500 bill.

Triggreef · Feb 3, 2015

clueless said:
commited today went with Solar Electric Supply Co, out of Ca. Dealt with Stewart Wadsworth, very knowlageable and helpful. Quote was very complete stating exactly what you did or did not get. I'm putting the collectors landscape,6 across 4, down total of 24 not using micro invertors,but rather a single invertor. heat and electronics are not good friends and it would be very difficult to replace one within the array, in addition guy next door is allowing me to take down 6 of his trees. with that factored in it was a far more practical route The invertor brand name is Solaredge(I may upgrade this to allow for 8 more collectors) The collectors are American made Solarworld 280 watt. Based on the calcullation we did with the help of some software the had,we should get approx 8300 kwh per year that was valuble for me as i'm looking to replace one payment with a similar amt. Breaking it out monthly based on my current charges that would be $140/mos which is $17,500 at 5% over 15 years. Another thing I looked at was the amt of time and documentation to get the building permit. The cost to me by hiring someone to do the complete design $400. My grand total on equipment shipped to my door,including the design is $12,655. Tree removal,licenced electrician,installation by my roofer(roof abt 1 yr old) is going to be approx $3500. My final cost= $16000-16500 After applying credit net cost approx $11500. My cost/ kwh is between six and seve cents a far cry from the 20 cents i"m currently paying. Now that my hobby is not costing my wife who pays the electric bill anything (in fact ther is an excess) I can move on

It pays to know people.

How many kwh is you average bill?