as most know California has been suffering through one of the hottest summers in history. Our electricity provider is San Diego Gas and Electric which allegedly has the highest price of electricity in the nation.
My electric bills have been averaging over $500-$600 per month. In July where temperatures daily were in excess of 100 degrees, my electric bill hit $1000 and that is just my wife and I living in our house
I like to think of myself as an early adopter and have done extensive research in solar energy for my house. Studies continue to show that in spite of the multitude of makes of solar panels many are inefficient and warranties are poor and third party companies dong the installations have grown like wild fire and many have succumbed to competition leaving their clients with a system that might be difficult to service in the future. In my area I am a late adopter as literally my entire street either has or is in the process of installing a solar grid
In every review that I have read the three makes of solar panels that consistently are top rated are Sun Power, LG and Panasonic. Sun Power is the oldest solar company in America and in fact it is their solar panels that are on the Mars Rover
Warranties are often different but again Sun Power rose to the top with a 25 year all inclusive warranty including the roof if the system caused the damage. Also their panels have an efficiency rating of 1.2 meaning that they produce 20-22% more energy than the panel is rated. LG and Panasonic come close. Lg's warranty is only 10 years although you can buy an extended warranty. I also understand that Panasonic makes the solar panels for the Tesla charging stations.
My next door neighbor just put in a Sun Power system smaller than mine 5 months ago and immediately went from monthly electric bills of over $900/month (for him and his wife) to now $11 per month. Plus he is banking kWh's on a monthly basis
I too went with a Sun Power system and have an ideal setting for my house as we live on the fairway of one of our golf courses so there is nothing but open space behind me and my house faces south west.
I went with their highest rated panel at 360 watts. I am installing 30 of these for a 10.8 kw grid and have room for many more although the position of the 30 are the most ideal and will produce the most energy
My average annual use is 14,452 kWh and my system is guaranteed to produce 17,152 kwh, with the excess being banked. My energy bill will drop to the minimum $11 fee by SDGE.
I also researched batteries for the house with the thought of a possible Porsche Taycan in my future as i am also looking for a new car and this is on my short list. I have learned that batteries just haven't reached their potential yet and remain expensive (around $15K). I was advised by every solar company I spoke with to wait on better batteries.
As for my choice of Sun Power I also decided not to go with a 3rd party installer but rather go with Sun Power Direct who uses their own installers and roofers.
I received a 30% tax credit which lowers the price to affordable levels. My math shows me that based on my annual kWh used and the cost of my system it will have paid for itself in 3 years and 10 months
All in all I am very excited to have a solar system and more than anything I can't wait to be self sufficient when it comes to electricity
Of course YMMV and all the usual stuff. This is not having your head in the sand but reality to the rising costs of electricity. SDGE raises their rates annually by 4-6 cents per kWh In fact in the coming years, in California all new home builds will come with Solar on their roofs.
For me it was a no brainer
My electric bills have been averaging over $500-$600 per month. In July where temperatures daily were in excess of 100 degrees, my electric bill hit $1000 and that is just my wife and I living in our house
I like to think of myself as an early adopter and have done extensive research in solar energy for my house. Studies continue to show that in spite of the multitude of makes of solar panels many are inefficient and warranties are poor and third party companies dong the installations have grown like wild fire and many have succumbed to competition leaving their clients with a system that might be difficult to service in the future. In my area I am a late adopter as literally my entire street either has or is in the process of installing a solar grid
In every review that I have read the three makes of solar panels that consistently are top rated are Sun Power, LG and Panasonic. Sun Power is the oldest solar company in America and in fact it is their solar panels that are on the Mars Rover
Warranties are often different but again Sun Power rose to the top with a 25 year all inclusive warranty including the roof if the system caused the damage. Also their panels have an efficiency rating of 1.2 meaning that they produce 20-22% more energy than the panel is rated. LG and Panasonic come close. Lg's warranty is only 10 years although you can buy an extended warranty. I also understand that Panasonic makes the solar panels for the Tesla charging stations.
My next door neighbor just put in a Sun Power system smaller than mine 5 months ago and immediately went from monthly electric bills of over $900/month (for him and his wife) to now $11 per month. Plus he is banking kWh's on a monthly basis
I too went with a Sun Power system and have an ideal setting for my house as we live on the fairway of one of our golf courses so there is nothing but open space behind me and my house faces south west.
I went with their highest rated panel at 360 watts. I am installing 30 of these for a 10.8 kw grid and have room for many more although the position of the 30 are the most ideal and will produce the most energy
My average annual use is 14,452 kWh and my system is guaranteed to produce 17,152 kwh, with the excess being banked. My energy bill will drop to the minimum $11 fee by SDGE.
I also researched batteries for the house with the thought of a possible Porsche Taycan in my future as i am also looking for a new car and this is on my short list. I have learned that batteries just haven't reached their potential yet and remain expensive (around $15K). I was advised by every solar company I spoke with to wait on better batteries.
As for my choice of Sun Power I also decided not to go with a 3rd party installer but rather go with Sun Power Direct who uses their own installers and roofers.
I received a 30% tax credit which lowers the price to affordable levels. My math shows me that based on my annual kWh used and the cost of my system it will have paid for itself in 3 years and 10 months
All in all I am very excited to have a solar system and more than anything I can't wait to be self sufficient when it comes to electricity
Of course YMMV and all the usual stuff. This is not having your head in the sand but reality to the rising costs of electricity. SDGE raises their rates annually by 4-6 cents per kWh In fact in the coming years, in California all new home builds will come with Solar on their roofs.
For me it was a no brainer