Residential Solar

 –  How it is done

(based on Dave/Kerry’s experience)

1.       Contact a solar company to speak with a salesperson. 

a.       Either contact the company that performs the actual installation of the panels (like Real Goods Solar - http://www.realgoodssolar.com OR

b.      a company that does leasing/financing, like Sun RUN - http://www.sunrunhome.com .

2.       They present you with a solar solution based on your past electric usage. 

a.       You collect past usage information (from past bills or you can log into your online Excel account to get this information - http://myaccount.xcelenergy.com)

3.       You decide on whether you want a

a.       Larger solar system that covers all your usage

b.      Smaller system that only covers some of your usage (you’ll still buy electricity from utility company

4.       They measure your roof and how much eastern and southern exposure you have (the more, the larger a system they can install)

5.       You decide what you want to do with any excess electricity you might produce (above what you use

a.       You can “bank it” meaning you use it anytime you want (but if you move before you use it all up, you never get any “refund” for unused electricity)

b.      You can “sell it” to the electric company (but the price you get is lower than what electricity generally costs)

c.       You sign the contracts and agree to a time frame

6.       (Optional) You might want to perform any roof improvements (like replace your existing old asphalt shingles) since once the panels are installed it would be your cost to remove them if the roof needed maintenance

7.       They install the solar panels and controlling equipment

8.       They do all the paperwork (application for rebates, tax incentives)

9.       Xcel installs a new electric meter that can spin forwards (you use electricity from power grid) or backwards (you supply electricity to the power grid for your neighbors)

10.   You are now producing electricity (if more than you consume, it runs the meter backwards) and when you need more than you produce (like at night) you get it from the electric company (the meter moves forward)

1.       If you sell your house within the first 6 years, the leasing company will insist that you sell to a party with good credit (since they don’t want someone to default on the lease). After 6 years, you can sell your house to anyone.

2.       Some companies require a small non-refundable down payment – like $500.   We were able to avoid this cost.

3.       It takes time to meet with sales people and evaluate options. Hopefully this display helps you avoid the pitfalls and get solar faster.

4.       You “lock in” to a fixed lease cost for 20 years. Our cost is $54. If Xcel were to lower the cost of electricity (it has not in the past 10 years), a solar customer would end up paying more for their energy than to buy it from “dirty” utility-supplied electricity. But then, you know you are still doing the right thing. And this is extremely unlikely to happen. 

1.       If you choose leasing, you can always “buy out” the lease at a later point. This means a lump payment after which you wont pay your monthly lease payments.

2.       You can own the system after the 20-year lease is finished (we’ve been told expect to pay $1 for it). Or, at your request, the leasing company will remove it from your roof.

3.       Your residence will likely increase in value since you have a clean/green power source and the energy costs are locked in and will never increase.

   

 

 

 Here are some pictures of our church's solar panels: