Solar System for the house

[MrSquid]

If I were going solar today, I'd do the following:
1. Take a big chunk of my savings and buy it outright.
or
2. Most likely option, get a loan from my credit union and finance it through them.

Why?

1. To get all the rebates and incentives.
2. To avoid payment escalator year after year (prices go up with a lease).
3. To avoid 20 year lease contract.
4. To pay for my solar investment after 5 to 7 years, and cash in thereafter for another 15 to 20 years.

I can't comprehend how people claim that buying is a better deal. Our Solar City system will be installed in a few months - 3.4kw (biggest we could do with our roof layout due to skylights). We pre-paid the 20 year lease for $5700 and the system is ours at the end with a really cheap buyout. That equates to under $24/month. If we sell, that pre-paid lease just gets handed on to the next owner.

When leasing you still "get" the rebates - it is taken into account when they figure out your lease price. They don't go in your pocket, but they still offset your costs.

They also paid to have our 100amp electrical panel upgraded to 200amp - which is something we have to do anyways because of an upcoming remodel and that runs about $2k. (not only that, but the job turned out to be way bigger than anyone initially thought and required 110' of trenching plus a 135 amp subpanel - we didn't pay a dime for any of it)

The closest system to purchase was $18,000 AFTER tax incentives.

Plus the lifespan of inverters is about 7-9 years and they cost ~$4k to replace. Even the non-lease companies told us this. Replacements are covered under our lease.

Not really sure how we are getting a raw deal with leasing....

 

[SchnitzelReef]

I've heard from 3 different company's that inverters last 10-12 years. I researched it and most agree

 

[MrSquid]

I've heard from 3 different company's that inverters last 10-12 years. I researched it and most agree

Yup. And to that point, we also talked with Sungevity and they only replace one during your lease. If you blow a 2nd one, that's on you. Solar City will replace as-needed knowing everyone will need at least 1.

 

[lovingacans]

I own mine. Not to get into the whole argument of buying versus leasing but.......... just think of it this way... by leasing, the company you lease from is going to make money. No matter how you look at it, it's money you won't be getting because they are getting it.
I paid about 16k for a 5kw system. Paid for itself in under 5 years. Now I save 200 a month until it dies/breaks.
There's no lease to sub out of I move either. You can't just assume the next buyer will be okay with that.....I definitely would not. Then what?
No matter how you look at it, leasing is better for them....the company doing the lease, than it is for you...period....

 

[philjust]

im happy with mine, I only paid $5000.00 for a 20 year lease, save around $150.00 per billing cycle.

 

[robert_ellis]

Who did u end up going with ?? 360 solar? Or California solar?

Most likely going with 360 solar. And correction is... The lease deal is 18 panels with 1 inverter as sun power doesn't allow micro inverters on their leasing programs. The purchase program is 24
Panels and micro inverters and using suniva panels. Suniva isn't as good an sunpower though. Schnitz... Pm me Your email and I can forward the estimate just to give you an idea and a breakdown of money saved and spent.

 

[twomuch42004]

Sunlife solar power does not advertise. They go only by referral. I built the largest privately funded system in LA. They did it. 1247 panels on the LA Flower Market. Google Earth 754 wall st, Los Angeles to see the panels. Their site is sunlifesolarpower.com. It is down now. I can get you the info if needed.

Lol why would I buy from a company that they can't keep a site up what if I have a issue with my system.

 

[robert_ellis]

im happy with mine, I only paid $5000.00 for a 20 year lease, save around $150.00 per billing cycle.

How much power is it producing though?

 

[twomuch42004]

I can't comprehend how people claim that buying is a better deal. Our Solar City system will be installed in a few months - 3.4kw (biggest we could do with our roof layout due to skylights). We pre-paid the 20 year lease for $5700 and the system is ours at the end with a really cheap buyout. That equates to under $24/month. If we sell, that pre-paid lease just gets handed on to the next owner.

When leasing you still "get" the rebates - it is taken into account when they figure out your lease price. They don't go in your pocket, but they still offset your costs.

They also paid to have our 100amp electrical panel upgraded to 200amp - which is something we have to do anyways because of an upcoming remodel and that runs about $2k. (not only that, but the job turned out to be way bigger than anyone initially thought and required 110' of trenching plus a 135 amp subpanel - we didn't pay a dime for any of it)

The closest system to purchase was $18,000 AFTER tax incentives.

Plus the lifespan of inverters is about 7-9 years and they cost ~$4k to replace. Even the non-lease companies told us this. Replacements are covered under our lease.

Not really sure how we are getting a raw deal with leasing....

Lol u can't force the next owner to take over a lease better check your sources n do the math PPA n 0 downs r a joke if u have good credit

 

[philjust]

5.640 kW system

 

[MrSquid]

There's nothing to take over if the lease is pre-paid. At the end they can have it removed or keep it.

In our case, we plan on sticking around, so it's a non-issue for us.

 

[kajung2k]

I can't imagine if someone is buying a house and they get approved, that they wouldn't get approved for a solar lease...

 

[krakatowa]

One thing to keep in mind is that everyone's situation is different. So there is no ONE right answer.
For some, buying makes more sense vs leasing.

We went with the PPA model and our panels produced up to 704 kWh last month (7410 kWh last 12 months). We went with Verengo as our installer (no out of pocket) and is serviced by Sunrun.

The orientation of your roof and the amount of panels it can support will determine how big of a system you should get. You may have a big roof and pointed to the right place but if there is a big tree or another building then you are SOL and limited with your choices.

 

[Mr. Plant]

I went with Real Goods Solar Lease... Like mentioned above ...every case is different...In my case the Lease is the best option for me, with out a doubt.

 

[higgy2010]

I finally got my first bill today from SCE since the start of solar power production in early July. Per my PPA, I'm paying $90 per month for my 3+ kWh system. The bill from SCE is about $1.5 for some delivery charge, and I already have credit energy. Regardless of whether you buy, lease or lease to buy, you are ahead already. If you look closely at the regular SCE bill, you'll see a lot of extraneous charges. Solar power system takes off all of those as well as spares you the dreaded tier charges that, as all reafers know, will quickly elevates into tier 3. In the long run, the tier charge will increase. SCE already submitted the rate increase proposal to the PUC for next year. And with San Clemente shutting down, power will have to be bought from out of state, which will only add more to the companies' profits from the consumers' pockets.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk

 

[kajung2k]

I guess I should add my .02 since I've had solar since 2011.

I own my panels (in a few more years). I have a 6.9kwh system but unfortunately not all he panels are facing south.

I paid 15,525 after all rebates. Basically I paid $2.25 a kw.

Currently I produce about 30-35 kwh a day except for on cloudy days.

I have three SMA inverters and I forgot the panel mfg. I also have a SMA monitor that sends me email everyday at 8pm the total kw produced.

I am with SCE. I am in their net billing plan. Meaning for 11 months I only pay the tax or some small fee..1.25-1.85 a month. On the 12 month they add up all that you produced (minus) all that you used for 12 months and then you pay that bill....and start over again.

Whole house fan. Nick really nailed it. It doesn't get cool enough where him and I live to really make good use of one. Of course there may be that one day fluke or several days during summer where it might help. Though for me I don't have enough net free vent in my attic to put a big whole house fan in. I wanted to put in a 10000cfm one (I know loud as hell) and they told me like $3000 for the fan and install but another 5k to vent my attic, otherwise all the air would go down the side walls and out the sockets etc. though I might still do it bc and vent the roof / attic bc my attic stays like 130 degrees or more until 11pm and that's a good reason why my AC is on all the time.

Anyhow back on topic. For the 12 months I owe about $80-90 for the last 2 years. This year should be better as I went all led and changed out pumps too more efficient ones.

Here are some pics:

 

[OCReefMadness]

How much did you pay the Edition bills before you got the Solar system.

 

[lovingacans]

Mine went from $350 to $100 with a 5kw system.

Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2

 

[OCReefMadness]

Wow, you save a lot money.

 

[SchnitzelReef]

Just talked to solar city. The guy literally just left.

I got two different options if I go PPA

1) $175/ Month. Produces 86% of my electricity. (They leave a 10% buffer supposedly, so the guy says it produces closer to 96% of my electricity)

2) $193 a month produces 98% (don't forget about 10% buffer)

They're selling it to me at 18.5 cents a kilowatt

What are u guys paying per kilowatt???

Here's the lay out. 8 kw system.