Do you have solar whole-house electric?

[Henryk]

I'm thinking of options regarding electricity. Solar electric (NOT pool heaters or such things) of the whole house can save lots of money once over the initial investment.

Do you have solar electric? Does it live up to its reputation for saving money on the electric bill? Who did the job for you? Would you hire them again?

TIA from the novice.

[Dana1963]

I hope you receive a response from an actual user. Too many times all responses are opinion-based.

[retiredguy123]

Lots of threads on this. Do a search. Most of them conclude that it will not be a good investment. But, the contractors who sell the system will claim otherwise.

[metoo21]

Well, since insurers seem to want everyone to replace their roof every 15 years in order to insure the house, be aware that the panels have to be removed first and then put back afterwards. Extra $$

[retiredguy123]

Well, since insurers seem to want everyone to replace their roof every 15 years in order to insure the house, be aware that the panels have to be removed first and then put back afterwards. Extra $$
Yes. About $4,000. The solar contractor will probably omit that information from their sales pitch.

[villagetinker]

Be real careful, recent article stated there was a bill going through the FL legislature to REDUCE the payments to solar electric installations. There was going to be a xx (10?) year grace period for current installations, but from what I recall, these system will NEVER pay for them selves under the new payment proposal. Please research this carefully.

[DAIII]

I'm thinking of options regarding electricity. Solar electric (NOT pool heaters or such things) of the whole house can save lots of money once over the initial investment.

Do you have solar electric? Does it live up to its reputation for saving money on the electric bill? Who did the job for you? Would you hire them again?

TIA from the novice.

I had TESLA solar install mine- it's a wonderful system with full application and 0 down time with power. I have in both of my homes this combined with Tesla vehicles in both homes to me it saves. (time and money) think of never needing an oil change or tune ups or dealership visits or to visit a gas station)

The shingles under the panels do not get exposed to UV (which breaks down the shingles) so no need to replace under. just feather into the existing.

When you get a solar system you form a contract with your electric supplier and you are locked into a buy back rate. (credits for unused or sold electric) just don't over build your system and use what you need. You won't make money selling the extra electric anyway.

Tesla has a 25 year bumper to bumper on the solar so it should outlive me.

Hope this helps!!

[Stu from NYC]

I had TESLA solar install mine- it's a wonderful system with full application and 0 down time with power. I have in both of my homes this combined with Tesla vehicles in both homes to me it saves. (time and money) think of never needing an oil change or tune ups or dealership visits or to visit a gas station)

The shingles under the panels do not get exposed to UV (which breaks down the shingles) so no need to replace under. just feather into the existing.

When you get a solar system you form a contract with your electric supplier and you are locked into a buy back rate. (credits for unused or sold electric) just don't over build your system and use what you need. You won't make money selling the extra electric anyway.

Tesla has a 25 year bumper to bumper on the solar so it should outlive me.

Hope this helps!!

From previous threads think there is a lot more to this. When the roof needs replacement it will be entire roof and panels will need to come off and replaced.

[villagetinker]

I'm thinking of options regarding electricity. Solar electric (NOT pool heaters or such things) of the whole house can save lots of money once over the initial investment.

Do you have solar electric? Does it live up to its reputation for saving money on the electric bill? Who did the job for you? Would you hire them again?

TIA from the novice.

I found the article:
Changes to Florida'''s solar power laws could '''devastate''' industry (https://www.fox13news.com/news/florida-lawmaker-proposes-75-cut-in-excess-solar-energy-credits)

Hope the link works.

[DAIII]

From previous threads think there is a lot more to this. When the roof needs replacement it will be entire roof and panels will need to come off and replaced.

Was going off of my experience as what the OP was requesting.

[thevillages2013]

I had TESLA solar install mine- it's a wonderful system with full application and 0 down time with power. I have in both of my homes this combined with Tesla vehicles in both homes to me it saves. (time and money) think of never needing an oil change or tune ups or dealership visits or to visit a gas station)

The shingles under the panels do not get exposed to UV (which breaks down the shingles) so no need to replace under. just feather into the existing.

When you get a solar system you form a contract with your electric supplier and you are locked into a buy back rate. (credits for unused or sold electric) just don't over build your system and use what you need. You won't make money selling the extra electric anyway.

Tesla has a 25 year bumper to bumper on the solar so it should outlive me.

Hope this helps!!

So let’s say 12 years or so after you install the panels you have to replace the roof. How are you going to find shingles that match? Will that partial replacement void the new shingle warranty and how will the insurance company feel about this method of reroofing?

[Dana1963]

I found the article:
Changes to Florida'''s solar power laws could '''devastate''' industry (https://www.fox13news.com/news/florida-lawmaker-proposes-75-cut-in-excess-solar-energy-credits)

Hope the link works.
Duke Energy solar expansion approved by Florida regulators
Some customers will voluntarily pay more upfront on their bills to help finance 10 plants and then receive future bill credits.
Duke Energy solar expansion approved by Florida regulators (https://www.tampabay.com/news/business/2021/01/05/duke-energy-solar-expansion-approved-by-state-regulators/?outputType=amp)

[Bgillam]

I wonder why Florida Legislature would want to take away solar jobs and savings for us?? The electric company want us to turn our thermostats to 65 for the whole weekend. They need help with solar power.

[Blackbird45]

I love the idea of solar and it might be worth it to install, but at my age I will never recoup the investment. You have to calculate your present monthly bill, nail down what you would save, if you sell your home are buyers willing to pay for the upgrade and what is your life expectancy. As dark as that might sound it has to come into the calculation.

[retiredguy123]

So let’s say 12 years or so after you install the panels you have to replace the roof. How are you going to find shingles that match? Will that partial replacement void the new shingle warranty and how will the insurance company feel about this method of reroofing?
I agree. And, I doubt that you will even find a roofer who will install a partial roof for less money, and they definitely won't guarantee that it won't leak. "Feathering" the new shingles into the existing ones sounds like a bogus claim from a solar salesperson.

[bobs57]

For the environment a great idea. In most cases the payback on investment is never realized, the only person that benefits are the people selling the panels to you.

[Dlbonivich]

My electric bill never goes over 200$ with SECO. Most times below $120. It seems like it would take a really long time to recoup the cost. It is not popular if you have to resale your house.

[TPRLOC]

We had SOLAR installed six months ago , and , with a new roof; Duke bill is now 20.00 per month --- SUNPRO was installing company, Now; ADT , call Larry Austin , 352-978-3500 for any further information ; And , I do not worry about anything 12 years down the road.

[Sunshine Dale]

I'm thinking of options regarding electricity. Solar electric (NOT pool heaters or such things) of the whole house can save lots of money once over the initial investment.

Do you have solar electric? Does it live up to its reputation for saving money on the electric bill? Who did the job for you? Would you hire them again?

TIA from the novice.

My 2,000sq ft home used received 37kw from Seco and returned 32kw for a net usage of 5KW. I have a Bosch 20 seer HVAC 1-29-22 7am thru 1-30-22 7:30 am Done Right Electric Perry 303–8166

[irishwonone]

I'm thinking of options regarding electricity. Solar electric (NOT pool heaters or such things) of the whole house can save lots of money once over the initial investment.

Do you have solar electric? Does it live up to its reputation for saving money on the electric bill? Who did the job for you? Would you hire them again?

TIA from the novice.
Great question. Google solar shingles! Although we don’t have them from reading the information they sound like a great investment for Florida considering both cost and longevity. Good luck.

[msmr23@gmail.com]

At $100-140 +/- per month for utility bill, it didn't pencil out for us, and when buying we rejected houses with solar, concerned about roof issues.

[PoolBrews]

My electric bill never goes over 200$ with SECO. Most times below $120. It seems like it would take a really long time to recoup the cost. It is not popular if you have to resale your house.

The other issue with SECO is that SECO is a coop, and not governed by the same rules as Duke and others. A non-coop electric company must pay you the same rate for your electricity as they charge you. A coop is exempt, and SECO pays you about 85%-90% of what they charge you. None of these systems directly power your home - electricity must be sold back to your provider, and then they sell back to you. Even with Tesla, power goes to your provider, then Tesla has an option to store incoming power in a battery bank (called a Tesla Wall) to cover outages.

With SECO, you need to get enough banks to cover ~115% of the power you use - and even then you'll never get to zero. There is a $30/month member fee that never goes away.

I researched this heavily - going solar may make you feel good, but you'll never come close to paying it off.

One more important thing to take into account if you do purchase - all solar panels lose about 10% efficiency in their first year of use. They remain stable after that, but I guarantee the salesman won't mention that you'll only have 90% of what you paid for after year one.

[rlcooper70]

Feathering the shingles is very simple and it does work. And no one sees beneath the solar panels so getting an "exact" color is not an issue.

Perhaps we should be talking about just plain "do the right thing" for society rather than "outliving" the system.

[PoolBrews]

Feathering the shingles is very simple and it does work. And no one sees beneath the solar panels so getting an "exact" color is not an issue.

Perhaps we should be talking about just plain "do the right thing" for society rather than "outliving" the system.

"Do the right thing" for society? Have you ever researched the amount of toxic waste the environment gets from old solar panels and batteries? Far worse than anything the power plant puts out, yet the powers that be call it "green".

Solar Panels Produce Tons of Toxic Waste—Literally - Foundation for Economic Education (https://fee.org/articles/solar-panels-produce-tons-of-toxic-waste-literally/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAi9mPBhCJARIsAHchl1xzk0ubxyPySayly3n yi8Jm7OY0bqSogNgplCgAC8QqASburmPiIKYaArcXEALw_wcB)

[NoMo50]

I wonder why Florida Legislature would want to take away solar jobs and savings for us??

Simple one word answer to your question: Lobbyists.

[Heytubes]

Don’t forget the 24% Federal Solar Tax Credit.

[Cliff Fr]

I had TESLA solar install mine- it's a wonderful system with full application and 0 down time with power. I have in both of my homes this combined with Tesla vehicles in both homes to me it saves. (time and money) think of never needing an oil change or tune ups or dealership visits or to visit a gas station)

The shingles under the panels do not get exposed to UV (which breaks down the shingles) so no need to replace under. just feather into the existing.

When you get a solar system you form a contract with your electric supplier and you are locked into a buy back rate. (credits for unused or sold electric) just don't over build your system and use what you need. You won't make money selling the extra electric anyway.

Tesla has a 25 year bumper to bumper on the solar so it should outlive me.

Hope this helps!!

Here in Florida because of rainfall and humidity the shingles under the panels will suffer from mold and mildew. They may not even last as long as the exposed shingles

[tophcfa]

I wonder why Florida Legislature would want to take away solar jobs and savings for us?? The electric company want us to turn our thermostats to 65 for the whole weekend. They need help with solar power.

“Savings for us”? Net net there are no savings when tax credits are involved, one parties savings are others tax burden.

[Proveone]

I'm thinking of options regarding electricity. Solar electric (NOT pool heaters or such things) of the whole house can save lots of money once over the initial investment.

Do you have solar electric? Does it live up to its reputation for saving money on the electric bill? Who did the job for you? Would you hire them again?

TIA from the novice.
I have had it since 2019 and love it. I wish I had done it years earlier. I have never had a zero bill because SECO is a co-op and customers pay $1 a day to be a member but I have had bills less than $10. Solar companies will tell you payback period is 8 to 10 years but it is really 12 to 13 years. Another problem is that the Florida legislature has a bill that is back by electric companies to not pay solar customers as much for what they produce, don't use and goes back into the grid. Currently SECO charges customers about $.11 a kwh and pays solar customers a little less than $.08 a kwh. Florida politics is backing big utilities. SAD!

[OhioBuckeye]

I'm thinking of options regarding electricity. Solar electric (NOT pool heaters or such things) of the whole house can save lots of money once over the initial investment.

Do you have solar electric? Does it live up to its reputation for saving money on the electric bill? Who did the job for you? Would you hire them again?

TIA from the novice.

Maybe I don’t understand SOLAR PANELS. What happens when you need a new roof? Do you have pay to have Solar Panels taken off & replaced or does the Solar company pay for that? Also I’m sure there’s some maintenance to Solar Panels, explain because I don’t know!

[CTFORSBERG]

That’s what I believe also and what I’ve read but the biggest concern right now is that it’s very difficult to sell your home if you have solar because it’s basically a 20 year commitment on lease payments. Maybe if your heating bill or was $1000 a month or more then it might justify it but anything to 300 a month forget it not worth it in my opinion

[retiredguy123]

I don't get it. If solar energy is a good idea, why don't the power companies use it? In my opinion, installing solar panels on individual asphalt shingle roofs, and then selling the energy back to the power company doesn't make sense.

[billethkid]

Here in Florida because of rainfall and humidity the shingles under the panels will suffer from mold and mildew. They may not even last as long as the exposed shingles

There is more to consider than just the shingles.
All the mountings for solar (whether for electric or pool heating) drill into the under shingle sheeting and plywood.

We recently had our roof replaced. Had to remove solar system (pool heating).....50% of all plywood sheeting where the panels were mounted had weather rot.....hence significant plywood replacement.

After that education plus the sun baked piping that needed to be replaced (system was 12 years old) we decided to not have the pool heating solar system replaced. (We have gas heater as primary pool heater).

Long story short....it is not about just the shingles!!!!

[retiredguy123]

Maybe I don’t understand SOLAR PANELS. What happens when you need a new roof? Do you have pay to have Solar Panels taken off & replaced or does the Solar company pay for that? Also I’m sure there’s some maintenance to Solar Panels, explain because I don’t know!
Yes, when you replace your roof, you need to hire a solar company to remove and re-install the panels. That can cost about $4,000.

The solar contractor will provide a 25-30 year parts and labor warranty when they install the system. But, I don't believe that any small contractor can expect to service that type of warranty and stay in business.

[ProfessorDave]

Was in the industry. Honestly. Rarely achieves promises. Multiple reasons. Includes: a. Weather... causing damage and debris... b. Roof... needing repairs or replacement requiring solar panel remove/replace....c. design not at ideal sun angles... d. Inaccurate computations... etc

[MrFlorida]

A friend of mine had his solar panels ripped off his roof during one of our famous storms... cracked the beams underneath.

[RealJudy]

I used Solar Trek, Todd 408-9447, for my home and am awaiting them to install solar panels on my rental villa. I’ve had them on my home about 3 years and am saving more than they estimated. With energy costs going up I believe they underestimated my savings, which is about $90 a month.

[Vermilion Villager]

Well, since insurers seem to want everyone to replace their roof every 15 years in order to insure the house, be aware that the panels have to be removed first and then put back afterwards. Extra $$
Do you have any proof that anyone has had their insurance cancelled?
Think about what you just said… Over 1/3 of the villages has a home that is older than 15 years. According to you....About 12,000 homes that will need to have their roofs immediately replaced due to their age.
Yet here you are ignoring the news story of the century trying to throw shade to someone who is looking to make his life better. Another example that fake news came of age when old people learned how to use the Internet.
So....is your roof older than 15 years old? and if yes did you replace it?

[Vermilion Villager]

I hope you receive a response from an actual user. Too many times all responses are opinion-based.
Hahahaha....can all but guarantee that won't happen!:1rotfl:

[Vermilion Villager]

I don't get it. If solar energy is a good idea, why don't the power companies use it? In my opinion, installing solar panels on individual asphalt shingle roofs, and then selling the energy back to the power company doesn't make sense.
Power companies actually do!!! Every solar panel on every roof or backyard is an extension of the power company. Think about it..... Power companies get consumers to foot the upfront cost of solar panel installation and then the power companies pay less than they would pay for other forms of energy from these customers. Intern customers save money on their power bills.

[Boston1945]

So let’s say 12 years or so after you install the panels you have to replace the roof. How are you going to find shingles that match? Will that partial replacement void the new shingle warranty and how will the insurance company feel about this method of reroofing?

Trust me, the insurance company wants the entire roof replaced. They do not buy into just replacing the exposed parts of the roof.

[bruce213]

I went solar Dec 2019. My 20 and 21 ele bill was reduced by 75%. My ROI should be between 13-16 years depending on energy cost increases. So to make it work you need to be strong green or live in your house 20+ years. If you have any questions PM me.

[montagnard1969]

This is something you must determine based on Return On Investment [ROI]. A solar array for a whole house installation can run upwards of $20,000 depending if you have battery backup in addition to adding a second electric meter to sell back any excess electricity your system produces.
You must also consider the maintenance of the system, meaning cleaning and replacement of underperforming solar panels. In addition the condition of your roof materials should be assessed. If you have a new asphalt shingle rood you should be okay for the short term, however if you spring a leak you may incur additional costs to remove/replace the solar panels to repair the leak from beneath them. Don’t think because you install a system it’s all savings of the electric bill. There are many costs to consider, one being how much electricity you consume and how many years it will take to recover the cost of the installation and maintenance. If it is going to take 15-20 years to recover those costs will you keep the property that long? How much will you save in electricity costs versus how much will you spend to install the system. Solar is a great alternative but perhaps a less expensive system to supplement your electricity usage is a greater benefit versus a whole house system. You have to crunch the numbers and always remember to consider the ROI.

[mpalazzola]

A complicated question going solar. Was going to the moon worth it? Was your first computer worth it? Here are some facts: they work. They work so well Duke and Seco are building their own solar farms. My return on investment has been 8%. Yeah, some years the stock market does better, but every year I need electricity. Will they pay for themselves: yes, in 12 years. When will the new granite my wife buys break even? The answer to both is when you sell the house. Is distributed power better for everyone? Yes, otherwise we would have one big power plant, vs 1000's smaller ones. The panels cover the shingles that wear out first. So the roof lasts longer, but insurance companies decide when roofs are replaced in the Villages. So it will cost you a little more to remove the panels and reinstall them during the roof replacement. I produced 100% of my electrical needs last year. But most people will for many reasons (space, location roof style, money) install only a few panels. Saving some of their energy needs. If you cut your eclectic bill 25% with solar, what is the controversy? If you add better insulation you can reduce your energy needs too. Some people just want to hate solar.

[Boston1945]

There is more to consider than just the shingles.
All the mountings for solar (whether for electric or pool heating) drill into the under shingle sheeting and plywood.

We recently had our roof replaced. Had to remove solar system (pool heating).....50% of all plywood sheeting where the panels were mounted had weather rot.....hence significant plywood replacement.

After that education plus the sun baked piping that needed to be replaced (system was 12 years old) we decided to not have the pool heating solar system replaced. (We have gas heater as primary pool heater).

Long story short....it is not about just the shingles!!!!

BINGO! Enough said on this issue about the roof.

[Roron123]

Yes I have whole house solar and batteries! The house runs on solar during the day and batteries during the night! In the last couple of months had a $30 bill only!

[Roron123]

26%

[Henryk]

Lots of threads on this. Do a search. Most of them conclude that it will not be a good investment. But, the contractors who sell the system will claim otherwise.

Several searches here turned up only two entries.

[Henryk]

I found the article:
Changes to Florida'''s solar power laws could '''devastate''' industry (https://www.fox13news.com/news/florida-lawmaker-proposes-75-cut-in-excess-solar-energy-credits)

Hope the link works.
Thanks for the link. I wouldn't expect to make much selling power back to the grid, but how much would it reduce my electric bill?

[villagetinker]

Thanks for the link. I wouldn't expect to make much selling power back to the grid, but how much would it reduce my electric bill?

A LOT less than what is currently offered ,I believe there was a new level of compensation mentioned in the article, but without rereading it I do not recall the number, but i think it was below 50% of the current level. So IMHO, solar will never pay off in Florida if this passes.

[Brad-tv]

Tesla

That’s the only company I would use
And free charging for the Tessy

And without the power wall it’s crazy you have to have a battery storage

[Henryk]

Thank you, everyone for your replies. I appreciate them.

[thevillages2013]

Feathering the shingles is very simple and it does work. And no one sees beneath the solar panels so getting an "exact" color is not an issue.

Perhaps we should be talking about just plain "do the right thing" for society rather than "outliving" the system.

How about the new roof warranty being voided?

[thevillages2013]

Yes I have whole house solar and batteries! The house runs on solar during the day and batteries during the night! In the last couple of months had a $30 bill only!

My electric bill was only $90 average the last two months and I don’t have solar panels:boom:

[Boston1945]

My electric bill was only $90 average the last two months and I don’t have solar panels:boom:

I think I got you beat..How about $60 for the last three months. And NO solar panels here.

[Jdburns11]

We just bought our house in August 2021 and completed solar December 2021…. So completely new customer with almost 10 kw system (which can produce about 7+kw to alternating current hourly in ideal conditions. My quick thoughts: I would note we also get enough solar on cloudy or even rainy days to cover most of our use during the day which surprised me a bit.

1. Financially, this was a toss up for us cost, up front & recoup over time. The tax credit and some gains we had on a house sale last year probably put us over the top in deciding to do this. Note- the tax credit is not paying less tax, only paying it to the solar company as part of the project vs. the IRS. I misunderstood this initially. We plan to be here for awhile and the roof is only a year old - so we figured if there was any time to do this - it was now.

2. We used PPM (Power Production Management) and I was very impressed with them from beginning to end. Professional, timely, responsive, knowledgeable- I would definitely recommend. 25-year warranty on panels & inverters… I think a 10 or 15 year roof warranty on the install work.

3. Only time will tell the offsets - but our first bill from SECO was a credit overall - I am not certain how this will fare overall need more time in the summer etc.,

4. Many others have cited the House & Senate bills pending — agreed, this could very much change the dynamic depending on the recoup agreements for credit. It appears to put existing owners a 10-year period at old agreement - but this would likely be very bad for all customers (especially newer ones), potential customers and the solar industry as a whole.

Respectfully, DB

[Travelhunter123]

I went solar Dec 2019. My 20 and 21 ele bill was reduced by 75%. My ROI should be between 13-16 years depending on energy cost increases. So to make it work you need to be strong green or live in your house 20+ years. If you have any questions PM me.

When I calculate break even points of 15 years or more, I question whether I will live that long.

[Shirleyq]

I have an 1800 sq ft home with 11 solar panels. Seco gives me on average $25 per month back. I've had them for 4 yrs now & I'm not happy.

[Fran from MI]

Well, since insurers seem to want everyone to replace their roof every 15 years in order to insure the house, be aware that the panels have to be removed first and then put back afterwards. Extra $$

Looks like this could be a moot point in the near future. GAF has introduced Timberline Solar Shingles. The cost may still make this an iffy investment, but from what I am reading, it could become the way to do solar. There is another company in Tampa (Alsolar) that is advertising this type of shingle. I would do some research on this if interested in Solar.

[Proveone]

The other issue with SECO is that SECO is a coop, and not governed by the same rules as Duke and others. A non-coop electric company must pay you the same rate for your electricity as they charge you. A coop is exempt, and SECO pays you about 85%-90% of what they charge you. None of these systems directly power your home - electricity must be sold back to your provider, and then they sell back to you. Even with Tesla, power goes to your provider, then Tesla has an option to store incoming power in a battery bank (called a Tesla Wall) to cover outages.

With SECO, you need to get enough banks to cover ~115% of the power you use - and even then you'll never get to zero. There is a $30/month member fee that never goes away.

I researched this heavily - going solar may make you feel good, but you'll never come close to paying it off.

One more important thing to take into account if you do purchase - all solar panels lose about 10% efficiency in their first year of use. They remain stable after that, but I guarantee the salesman won't mention that you'll only have 90% of what you paid for after year one.
I believe you are incorrect about what you generate goes into the grid and then what you use comes from the grid. What you generate goes to you directly if you are using electricity at that moment. So, it is best to use your appliances when the Sun is shinning and you are generating. Sales person will tell you payback period is 8 to 10 years but it is more like 11 to 13 years.

[Proveone]

I wonder why Florida Legislature would want to take away solar jobs and savings for us?? The electric company want us to turn our thermostats to 65 for the whole weekend. They need help with solar power.
Right wing politics to help big business energy. Pathetic!!

[Proveone]

“Savings for us”? Net net there are no savings when tax credits are involved, one parties savings are others tax burden.
Solar tax credits wouldn't be a tax "burden" for other citizens if CORPORATIONS WOULD BE TAXED APPROPRIATELY AND PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE!

[Stu from NYC]

Solar tax credits wouldn't be a tax "burden" for other citizens if CORPORATIONS WOULD BE TAXED APPROPRIATELY AND PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE!

Just curious what do you think Corporations fair share of taxes should be?

By the way it is the opinion of most economists that corporations really do not pay taxes but pass it on in the form of higher prices.

However have you considered that business take their profits and invest them in order to grow their business and provide more jobs? Or they pay dividends to their investors and that must is used for investments or buying stuff that also creates jobs.

Do you really think govt uses our money more efficiently than businesses?

[Laurawilcox]

Hello. Just validating that when we had severe hail damage to our roof in Colorado, all of the solar panels remained in perfect condition though the roof needed to be replaced. Feathering shingles wasn’t an allowable option. 9k to have the panels removed, and stacked in our back yard for 30 days, and then put back on when the new roof was completed. Insurance covered it. That was 1/3rd of the cost of the project.

[Henryk]

Thank you all again for your replies. Appreciated.

[PersonOfInterest]

I'm thinking of options regarding electricity. Solar electric (NOT pool heaters or such things) of the whole house can save lots of money once over the initial investment.

Do you have solar electric? Does it live up to its reputation for saving money on the electric bill? Who did the job for you? Would you hire them again?

TIA from the novice.

Electricity rates here are too cheap to make Solar worthwhile. I've had solar on a house in CA and even with their very high rates it was hardly worthwhile.