PV Gap

Claude Said:

Solar Panel HELP?

We Answered:

Sorry this is so long.

I live in north west arkansas. I have solar on my home. I installed them myself. Did not cost me anywhere near 25 grand.

Solar will pay you back if you get incentives or not. I have said this a hundred times but people just don't seem to understand or can't do the math.

You are renting from the public utility. You have nothing in the end but a stack of payment stubs. There is no way to get a return on your investment. You paid them money and have nothing. Nothing at all .. Well maybe good service. But still nothing.

If you check it out most solar electric systems last 30 years or longer. If your electric bill is 100 dollars a month. do the math.

100 dollars a month for 30 years is $36,000 dollars you would normally pay the public utility. So why not buy your $25,000 system, you just made $10,000 right there on the spot.

Now add in 3.5% cost of living per year for each year for the next 30 years on that 35,000 you pay the public utility. Then you have to keep in mind you do not pay taxes on any electric you make yourself. You do not pay fees on your own power. You do not pay the cost of fuel incresses every time the price of oil goes up.

In the end you saved $100,000.

So it is free even if Arkansas don't give free handouts like other states. I even know people who say they are waiting for some one to make a cheaper solar module. That will not happen because even if they make it for half the cost (like evergreen is doing) it will still be sold at standard market value not production cost.

The real problem with solar is it is hard to come up with the upfront cost. But renting solar panels is comming but that is the same as just renting power from the public utility.

I wish you luck but it will be a while before Arkansas will make any moves on renewables. They just in 2007 made it law that the public utilities have to let your roll your net metering over to the next month if you over produced.