I put in solar, but not with the idea that I would save money. The proposal said the breakeven was about 12 or 13 years. This assumed a 4% per year increase in electric costs. At some point you will probably have to remove the panels to put on a new roof. You also may have some maintenance expense. I added $5,000 (just a guess) to the costs and a lower increase in the cost of electric and got about a 18 year payback after the Federal tax rebate. My system is also oversized so maybe you can get a 16 or 17 year payback.
The plus side is that you are not taxed on the electric payment you do not have to make to the utility. Thus if you are in the 25% tax bracket you can add that back to your savings. Also you probably could not get a bond or CD that would give you after tax income to pay for your electric bill for the net cost of your system.
Conclusion their should be some savings but at this time do not do it just for the savings.
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