[Patricia]

What are your recent experiences with going solar? My husband and I met with a reputable solar company yesterday.

We’ve been wanting to do this for a while, and actively looked into it about 10 years ago, but it wasn’t feasible then.

I live in the NE and our generation rates are high with other fees. We are pretty energy efficient and like the low environmental impact of solar.

With solar our monthly costs would be fixed, and on average lower than what I currently pay in most months. The cost would be shifting to paying for the installation and upkeep of the panels.

We’d have a 25 yr warranty on everything from panels to labor and we’d generate enough energy to have our electricity bill at 0. There is a 25% tax incentive that we would get back in the first year.

We would own the system after 25 yrs (near the end of their life). And here’s what I’m concerned about: it’s basically taking out a long-term loan (a mortgage) on something that will deteriorate over time.

Then again, energy costs are going up constantly and our utility company wants a 20% increase this year. We’d have to pay for electricity anyway.

What are your thoughts. I’m particularly interested in those who have done this.

[Darlene]

I have solar. I also live in the Northeast in an area with very high electric rates. Perhaps we live in the same area, lol!

I was able to get my solar installed when the rebates were still quite high so I paid about 60% of the cost with a loan.

I pay monthly. It’s not a lease it’s a purchase so there is no issue with selling the house unless the person buying doesn’t want solar panels which is highly unlikely.

My unfortunately I have gas for cooking and heating so it hasn’t eliminated my power bill but it has substantially decreased it.

It allowed me to buy two electric cars so now I don’t pay for gasoline or electric.

For me it’s been worth it not to have to worry about what the electric company is going to do with rates.

I have been able to generate enough solar to cover my needs for the past 2 years that I’ve had it, but my only advice is go with the biggest system you can possibly get on your roof because it’s likely that over the 25 years of life for solar panels you need for electricity will increase. Hope that helps

[Lauren]

Our personal experience: one year after install and our SunPower panels are doing fine and producing 90-95% (I knew going in that I didn’t purchase a system that would be 100 %) for house and for my EV.

We got our city , state, and federal (just got the money back for federal), incentives back as stated. System installed on time without issue.

It will take us about 3 years to get the return on investment – saving a lot of money with free car charging and powering our home.

Downsides: the solar panel company itself went under.

Our Installers are still in business and will respond to us if needed for maintenance or parts. There’s other companies who have taken on the warranties.

You’ll need to get tons of quotes, and do a lot of research on each company. Be *very* careful and wary of promised incentives or refunds, those are often gone at the beginning of the year and have limited supply.

Double check everything the solar panel sales people tell you. And leasing is generally a bad idea.

Owning is far safer, and you also need a newer roof.

[Sara]

I might not be the right person to ask. I put solar on my roof five years ago. The installers put holes in my roof and now I have to have my roof replaced.

The solar itself has been great, and it paid for itself in five years between savings on my electric bill, and plugging my car in (I haven’t bought gas in five years).

The thing about a 25-year warranty is that it is only as good as the organization issuing it. My warranty was five years and it wasn’t honored, even though the company was still doing business.

Talk to customers of this company, and also, check out the better business bureau and the state licensing board for any complaints.

Ask a LOT of questions about how the panels will be connected to your roof, and how leaks will be prevented, and what will happen if you get a leak.

Last but not least, figure out what your payback period is on the system, and try to pay cash for it to save financing charges.

Best of luck to you.

[Lori]

And if you try to sell your house you’re going to have to hope the buyers want it and can take over the lease.

I read that some solar companies don’t let them do that.

I don’t know how true that is, but I can tell you I am trying to buy a house but won’t even look at the ones that have leased solar panels.

[Patricia]

Utility bills are going up, but the total cost of solar at purchase and the unknown costs after purchase and installation can be so much, you are better off not getting the solar system at all.

Ruins the roof and you have lost your roof warranty.

Things go wrong and you will be paying for that if installers and solar companies have gone out of business. Not worth the headaches.

Invest in better insulation, etc

[Kriste]

If there is anyway you can ground mount them that would be a better option.

If you put on the roof you will void any roof warranty and potential for leaks and such.

[Loretta]

We were in the same boat and teetering on it for a long time. We purchased the system 2 years ago.

What I did was a break even analysis based on the cost and projected increases of electricity rates for every year.

Our break even was 12 years (savings on electricity against cost of panels).

[Amy]

The deal breaker for me was that the solar panels wouldn’t provide power when the electricity was down.

Kinda seems like a major reason to have solar power, imo.

[Gina]

We installed solar about 2 years ago & benefitted from the 30% federal tax credit. We live in SW California & right before our electric company changed the way they compensated solar customers (making it less of a benefit to customers with solar), we got it.

We bought an extra panel so that we could use the air conditioner a little more.

This turned out perfectly for us. We paid some cash & put the balance on a home equity line.

When we received the tax credit, we put that towards a principal reduction on the home equity line.

In a little less than 2 years we’ve saved about 33% of the cost of the installation. I love it!

[Kaye]

Just like owning cars, leases are often not as described at the beginning of the deal vs when the lease “is up”.

I like the idea of solar but have many older trees so would have to have the mounts for panels as I’ve seen on a couple of tv shows, (Homeland Rescue, on his own property for example). Do you have an option to convert to a gas stove?

It really helps

[Betty]

haven’t done it…. but if you are talking about the FEDERAL tax incentive… be aware that MANY programs that have FEDERAL tax incentives (including at FARMS) have had them taken away…

[Jackie]

Ten years ago we leased our solar panels from Solar City. Solar City was then bought by Tesla, who is honoring our contract, so far.

I realize you are talking about purchasing but I will tell you our experience for what it’s worth.

It was zero up front cost for the solar. We had to get a new roof first.

We opted to pay a bit higher kWh rate and lock that rate in for 20 years.

Our lease was very different from what is offered nowadays. We only pay for the solar power we generate – we pay the solar company directly.

The only thing we pay the regular electric company is about $10 a month for the flat service fee and for about 75% of the year, we don’t even pay that, due to credits on our regular electric bill.

Our monthly solar bill in the winter is very low because we generate less solar then – usually less than $100.

In the summer, it is higher, but still reasonable because we locked that rate.

We save at least $1,000 a year from what we would normally pay without the solar.

So, for the past 10 years, we have saved about $10K. And because we locked into a rate for 20 years, we are enjoying those savings increasing.

We do not have any other payment regarding solar or electric. We are entirely happy with our solar situation.

We have had no roof leaks. Once we had the solar company come out to put screens around our panels (to keep squirrels out).

They did not charge us. Once we had to pay about $100 to have some solar stuff moved when we got new siding.

I understand new solar leases are set up differently. They now usually require a flat payment to the solar company, which payment increases every year (and therein lies the rub). We once considered this for another house we used to own.

I read the 55 page fine print contract and then asked a million questions based on that.

I thought it was a bad deal compared to what we currently have on our residence. So, we passed.

I would advise everyone to completely read ALL the fine print, even if 50-100 pages long before signing any contract, for lease or purchase.

And yes, current politics has certainly added a concern as to whether or not the government will honor tax incentives for solar purchases.

Just as current politics has called into question how long my current solar lease company will be in business (Tesla). But that’s a whole other topic.

[Karey]

If you have Better Earth in your area, they are by far the best. Perfect installation.

I had an issue, they were here before their appointment and fixed it in the spot.

I’ve heard nightmares about other companies.

[Kim]

I am presently having my third system put it. I do not believe it is cost effective. I am doing it for the environment, the tax deduction doesn’t hurt either.

Some things to be aware of:
1. Some companies put a lien on your home.

2. Some systems are set up so, when one panel goes panel goes bad, the whole system goes down. I am presently dealing with converting mine.

3. Apply for state tax deduction as soon as possible. It may take awhile to receive the documentation.

4. If you are having them installed at the end of the year, know that if the unit is not operational by he end of the year, you may not get the complete credit. (The federal amount may change this year).

5. Some people may not want Solar. I recently sold a house and some people stated they did not want Solar. My unit was paid for and it would have cost them nothing.

I love having an $8.00 electrical bill monthly.

[Rob]

I looked into solar panels a few years ago and it wasn’t worth the cost in the end. It would have taken many years just to break even.

I received multiple quotes.

I find the best course of action is to lock in a fixed rate with a third party electricity supplier for as many years as you can find.

I locked in for 4 years fixed with no cancellation or monthly fee.

[Dorsey]

Ask your agent how it impacts your homeowners insurance and a settlement you have if there is a claim

[Stephenie]

I have signed a contract for solar installation. I think its a bit of a risk, in case they come up with something new.

And China has several patents in the USA for the best solar panels/features.

My panels will be coming from a company that is owned by China, so I worry about international issues affecting their warranties – but if everything goes as planned, I think it will pay off.

[Cassie]

A friend of our has solar panels hes making payments on. Lightning hit the mother board. The cost out of pocket to repair was around $26k! Their home owners insurance only wanted to pay $5k.

Luckily his business insurance offered to pay more then the homeowners policy but he was still in the hook for $6k or $7k.

In the long run do people really save time they pay for the system & repairs?

[Susan]

We live in Arizona and had solar panels installed when we moved into this house.

While it was a big initial investment (which will take many years to recoup), I love being able to set the temperature where I am comfortable without worrying about the big electric bill.

We also have an EV and installed a Level 2 charger, so we have no gasoline bill.

I have a large house, and my electric bill runs about $25, except in the heat of the summer.

Having a purchased system is much better for resale than a leased system. I would do it again in a heartbeat.

[Author]

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