Anyone have any experience with solar?

[Ronin13]

So the wife and I just bought a house a couple months ago, moved into a new construction development in NW Arvada. The development doesn't *require* solar, per se, but does kind of push for it. They put us in touch with Solar City (who I found is owned by Tesla, Inc.). The guy came out today and gave us the initial consult, and it all sounds great, but I wanted to dig into this further. According to the guy, who is paid to talk up their tech, they set up the panels to 100% (or close to it) offset our electrical draw from Xcel (so basically, once the panels are paid for, we pay nothing for electricity). All sounds fantastic and perfect, but really?

Prior to the guy coming over, my wife met a neighbor who works at the National Renewable Energy Lab who told her that the technology isn't yet there, and the panels would wear out in 10 years. He said he wouldn't get panels on his house yet. My wife is kind of in the boat that when this guy gets solar panels, then we get solar panels. But it's still an ongoing discussion. Anyone here have any experience with solar?

[Zundfolge]

I guess the way I'd look at it is; how much is the next ten years of electricity going to cost? Are the panels more or less than this? What is the cost of maintenance of the panels over 10 years?

If you save more money buying and maintaining the panels, buy the panels (and I'd think it would have to be a good 20% or more savings to make it worth the hassle) if not, then wait.

[n2877]

If you can afford the panels I would highly recommend getting them now. It is possible to occasionally see zero on money owed to xcel but don't expect it all the time. Just depends on how much power you use each mont. You will see I sizeable reduction in your bill. But even with solar panels still do things like swap out bulbs for led ones, turn off lights you don't use, and don't leave things running.

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

[Fentonite]

Grant H can answer about any question you have.

[ray1970]

I don't have any knowledge about the solar stuff but I do know if someone is pushing you to buy something it likely isn't because it's necessarily what's best for you but usually more about someone making a sale.

[DFBrews]

Namaste is a good company and excel pays shit for excess voltage generated as well

[Madeinhb]

1 thing - don't rent the equipment. Purchase it.

[Great-Kazoo]

1 thing - don't rent the equipment. Purchase it.

BUT. weigh the cost of solar vs your average bill. We run maybe $40 month, if that, electrical use. I'd never see savings with the average cost of a solar system. If anything we'd be paying more for the equipment than our bill is annually

[Madeinhb]

BUT. weigh the cost of solar vs your average bill. We run maybe $40 month, if that, electrical use. I'd never see savings with the average cost of a solar system. If anything we'd be paying more for the equipment than our bill is annually

Possibly. But I was told if you rent, you don't get any of the tax incentives.

[Great-Kazoo]

Possibly. But I was told if you rent, you don't get any of the tax incentives.

Even buying, not all cities & towns do the rebate, as is done with appliances. The cost still outweighs the benefits, when you're talking 3x the investment & return over paying for electrical.