Getting solar at the house

[al_g]

We really lucked out buying our house earlier this year. The couple had Solar City put a 7.1 kilo watt system on two years ago and pre-paid the 20 year lease. Warrant and contract transferred to us as part of buying the house and we have to send no money to Solar City, our last electric bill was just under $8.

Talking to Solar City on the phone and email prior to buying the house, I found them very easy to deal with.

[tmleadr03]

We really lucked out buying our house earlier this year. The couple had Solar City put a 7.1 kilo watt system on two years ago and pre-paid the 20 year lease. Warrant and contract transferred to us as part of buying the house and we have to send no money to Solar City, our last electric bill was just under $8.

Talking to Solar City on the phone and email prior to buying the house, I found them very easy to deal with.

Damn, I thought my system was big. How much was that electric bill before the solar?

[newracer]

I am going to look into this once I move into my new place.

[JM Ver. 2.0]

When I get a house I'm going to look into solar. granted when I get a house the whole thing will probably be standard anyway.

[Gman]

Depends on the contract, solar city contract is below:, which would answer a lot of the questions asked. End of contract, buy it outright, have them remove it, or new contract and new stuff.

PDF document.
http://www.solarcity.com/downloads/S...act_sample.pdf

They promise a certain output, so if it fails to deliver over the 20 year period, they will fix/replace as needed to keep it running as designed 20 years previous.

Thanks for the link. Holy crap, a 19 page agreement. I did find it positive that they wouldn't put a lien on your home. I'm still not done going through it in my 'spare time'. Their website indicates no options for buyout with a lease. Would you happen to have a link to their lease agreement?

As to no degradation, that's simply not possible; NREL: Photovoltaic Degradation Rates — An Analytical Review

[SamuraiCO]

Ok I understand some of the arguments about the lack of transparency with solar (or wind for that matter). No one shows the land getting slagged to mine the rare earth metals. No one shows the pollution from the production facilities in China nor do they take into account the coal fired plants producing the energy to make the solar panels. The alternative energy side just sees the production of clean energy without acknowledging the "carbon footprint" of the manufacturing process.

On the other side part of the argument makes sense from a standpoint of energy independence (if only our energy policy were so and we were drilling for all the gas and oil Colorado could produce). Instead of building more energy production plants either natural gas or coal we can turn suburbia into a daytime producing plant by sending back energy espcially during peak hours in the day time. Our gas and oil could be better spent moving us from point A to B without having to be beholden to people who fund others who hate us and want to do us ill will. Solar is an integral part of any person trying to get "off grid" but I would also utilize wind if availble, wood gasification (there is a new company just moved into Douglas county that builds large generators that are super efficient and also produces electricity from the heat production, a smaller version is the Biolite stove where you can heat up your meal and charge your phone or other electronic device at the same time). Think about how much water we have to send downstream in the Colorado just for energy production to keep Las Vegas, Phoenix and So Cal cool in the summer.

I see the spending to incentivise solar purchases just like any other infrastructure spending project for local, city or state good. I am not a big Gov believer and we would have more purchases outright on new homes but I have been told the language does not account as an upgrade that can be rolled into the value of the home and therefore allowed in the loan. Again if it was tied to a real energy policy that moved the US to be energy independent of middle east oil then this makes sense. And I firmly believe in fracking for all the oil and natural gas our reserves will produce.

So if I was not under IREA I would have a system installed. Part for "what if" scenarios I would have my own energy if the power did go off during the day and I would not have to run my generator all day, just at night. I could opt to add battery banks at some time later to store first then sell back the extra.

Just my $0.02 worth.

[gnihcraes]

Thanks for the link. Holy crap, a 19 page agreement. I did find it positive that they wouldn't put a lien on your home. I'm still not done going through it in my 'spare time'. Their website indicates no options for buyout with a lease. Would you happen to have a link to their lease agreement?

As to no degradation, that's simply not possible; NREL: Photovoltaic Degradation Rates — An Analytical Review

I believe their contract is the lease agreement? I haven't looked too closely at it either. I was supposed to meet with Solar City again tomorrow, but it just got pushed back to Sunday. I'll report back with any other details.

So if I was not under IREA I would have a system installed. Part for "what if" scenarios I would have my own energy if the power did go off during the day and I would not have to run my generator all day, just at night. I could opt to add battery banks at some time later to store first then sell back the extra.

Just my $0.02 worth.

My neighbor who has the solar city equipment, did have them install a different inverter that supports generator input. I will also look into the same setup. I'm not sure if there is any additional costs?

[T-Giv]

I am in the process of getting Solar City to come and out have a look at my house. For those that run their AC all of the time...big difference with moving to solar? We are now torn to between just replacing the roof before the panels go on or doing the roof 5 years down the road. Decisions decisions!

[gnihcraes]

I am in the process of getting Solar City to come and out have a look at my house. For those that run their AC all of the time...big difference with moving to solar? We are now torn to between just replacing the roof before the panels go on or doing the roof 5 years down the road. Decisions decisions!

Solar City told me they would replace the roof if needed, before installing panels. My garage would need a roof before panels are installed, so we'll see if they tell me "they pay for it" again when we meet sunday.

[gnihcraes]

Oh, and I talked to State Farm about putting solar on the house, they said go for it, no change on their policies.