[Debelg]

Hi everyone ,I am considering putting solar panels on my roof (now that I have a new roof installed )
do any of you that had solar panels installed have any regrets in regards of the payback of the system and the monthly savings on the electric bill
do you have any recommendations or do's and don'ts
are there any local installers you would recommend or locals to stay away from ?????
any advice would be welcome the check that I have to write is rather large so any help would be appreciated
thanks in advance I appreciate it

[Arctic Fox]

I have been contacted by companies operating locally that instal the panels for free and give you a cut of the revenue but, depending on your time-line, I should think that owning outright makes most financial sense

Try contacting your electricity supplier and see if they can recommend anyone - SECO has contacted me on this subject

[retiredguy123]

I think it depends on your motives. If you are doing it to improve the environment, then it is a good thing. But, if you are doing it to save money on your electric bill, then I think it is too expensive and too risky. The potential payback and overall cost savings are just not worth the intial and ongoing investment. I wouldn't believe any payback calculations provided by the contractor. Also, I think that, when you decide to sell the house, the solar panels will be a negative feature for potential buyers. So, I think the money you spend upfront will reduce, rather than increase, the value of your house.

[UpNorth]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

I think it depends on your motives. If you are doing it to improve the environment, then it is a good thing. But, if you are doing it to save money on your electric bill, then I think it is too expensive and too risky. The potential payback and overall cost savings are just not worth the intial and ongoing investment. I wouldn't believe any payback calculations provided by the contractor. Also, I think that, when you decide to sell the house, the solar panels will be a negative feature for potential buyers. So, I think the money you spend upfront will reduce, rather than increase, the value of your house.

A lot depends on if you own the panels outright and get the full value of their output, and if your utility gives you an even trade of a watt for every watt you make. I had 28 panels installed on my roof in 2011 in my Connecticut house. Zero electric bill every year since, where most neighbors are paying hundreds of dollars every month. Back then, 30% of the cost of the system could be written off my federal taxes, at the state kicked in thousands more. I don't know what the deal is in Florida regarding watt swapping, so you need to find out. And yes, it INCREASES the value and desirability of your house. Who doesn't want to buy a house with a ZERO electric bill?

[VJBama]

Seco pays you wholesale for excess killowatts. 7 cents.

You avoid buying it 11.7 cents for the first 1,000 KW 13.7 thereafter.

[rjm1cc]

Determining how many panels you need is part art. The direction (east, south etc) they face and the hours of sun light. Remember a low number of panels means a lower price but may not be what you need..
Breakeven runs from 11 to maybe 18 years (take off once when you redo the roof or a major repair).

I think you get a 1/3 tax credit - this may have expired so check this out.
If you do not care about a breakeven go for it. Depending on your electric co you will probably pay 10 a month to be connected to the grid and you will probably get 1/2 of your electric from them (think night and rainy days) so that is not a bad price. I assume you buy enough panels to cover your total needs plus a little extra. For the 10 the electric company "stores" your extra electric and returns it when you need it.
When the utility is down so are your panels (safety problem)
Ask your neighbors how many panels, the wattage (this improves every year) and what they think they use in KWH a year. See how this compares to your estimates.
I know nothing about leasing so I would avoid. Remember the lease may give you problems if you have to sell your home.
This sight may let you find some homes close to you that have solar. I do not think the direction the panels are facing is correct for all homes. SolarEdge You will have to do a little work to make this address work but you can find homes by city.

[Arctic Fox]

Take a look at the Tesla website. You enter your address (so they can see the size and orientation of your roof) and your monthly usage and they'll tell you what percentage of your roof should be solar.

Not as useful for you, Debelg, as you don't need a whole new roof (which is what the Tesla tiles give you, albeit at quite a cost) but interesting all the same.

Don't forget that the cost of a storage battery is coming down every year (as are the solar panels) so if you want to come "off grid"...