Anyone have any experience with solar?

[BushMasterBoy]

Seen a bunch of negative reviews. This is one example. Google "Solar City reviews".

http://www.highya.com/solarcity-reviews

[Gman]

Solar City is losing money hand over fist. Since Tesla has them entirely under their wing, it's also dragging down Tesla.

[fitz19d]

From my research, basically the best thing going sorta is the actual tesla shingles and battery, but even then making some sense only for high end homes and commercial stuff. And believing panels last as long as stated along with them staying in business for the warranty. Basically it's a "wait 5 years" if it succeeds and watch costs come down. The shingles very pricey, I think it was like 100k total for average good sized home before rebates etc. Something like 9 to 12k of that is just the battery.

Battery tech is still got some things to overcome, and fortunately costs are coming down some and seen a few possible lithium alternatives coming on line including one by the guy who originally made the lithiums that power all our phones etc.


So suffice to say I'd skip for now. In the very early days it was better when utilities were paying you a lot but theyve been cutting payments so it's a lot harder to recoup investment unless you are eco nut.

[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.

[Ronin13]

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

This was exactly our concern. We didn't yet run the numbers, but the panels cost about $10k, they offer a pay now in full, 10 yr lease, or 20 yr lease, all of which has a full 20 year warranty (we only have to pay what we break, they cover everything else).

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

Solar City doesn't rent, they lease their panels. We would still get the tax incentives, which kind of pisses me off in one aspect, because it's more betting on "green" energy by the government.

We're still doing research into the long term viability of solar, but everything on paper (granted, provided by them) looks to help cut costs, but we want to wait and see.

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[Madeinhb]

This was exactly our concern. We didn't yet run the numbers, but the panels cost about $10k, they offer a pay now in full, 10 yr lease, or 20 yr lease, all of which has a full 20 year warranty (we only have to pay what we break, they cover everything else).

Solar City doesn't rent, they lease their panels. We would still get the tax incentives, which kind of pisses me off in one aspect, because it's more betting on "green" energy by the government.

We're still doing research into the long term viability of solar, but everything on paper (granted, provided by them) looks to help cut costs, but we want to wait and see.

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Someone I know who leased said they didn't get the federal tax and all that because they didn't own the solar. All 2nd hand though as I dont have solar.

The other thing to take into account leasing is the length of lease. If a person decides to sell house, I believe the lease has to get transferred to the new owner. And they may not want the lease.

[Bailey Guns]

I wish the tax breaks for this would end. Any tech or product worth buying should be able to compete on its own merits without cronie capitalism stealing money from me for your stuff.

I tend to agree with this.

Also, if it was that good, everyone would have it. If you have to look at this as hard as you are to justify getting it... Well, maybe it's not the deal the salesman is trying to convince you it is.

On the other hand, I know about as much about solar systems (the kind you put on your house...not the kind that involves planets orbiting around a sun) as I do solar systems (the kind that involves planets orbiting around a sun...not the kid you put on your house).

[Ronin13]

I tend to agree with this.

Also, if it was that good, everyone would have it. If you have to look at this as hard as you are to justify getting it... Well, maybe it's not the deal the salesman is trying to convince you it is.

You do make a good point here, Carl.

[20X11]

Just say NO...if you lease it, you are reducing your homes future resale potential...buyers have to agree to your solar lease terms...if you buy the system, you will never get what you haven't yet recouped in energy savings from a buyer.

[T. B. Turner]

Solar panels have been around since the 70's and have never seemed to have really caught on. I had a customer in golden that had them on her roof. She explained how the system worked was that the power the panels produced went back into the grid and she was credited back on her bill. The power not feed directly into her home.
Also I wondered with them being on the roof how much of a PIA would it be to replace the roof when needed.

Sometimes I think sales people have as about as much compassion toward their clientele as a hungry great white shark has toward a sea lion........if they don't make sales they don't eat.