Home solar panel system opinion

[gvl]

It's tiered, 18 cents is the cheapest tier 1. It goes up from there.

The question you should ask yourself is if you ever going to get a return on investment for solar that covers your tier 1 usage. The answer is usually never. A good strategy for tiered rates is to size your solar so that your usage is well within the tier 1 rate with solar so you get a faster ROI. 0-offset or better is a beautiful idea but it will take a long time to get your money back

As for pricing, it's usually best to operate using $/watt numbers before any incentives to get a sense if you're getting a good deal. Solar City and the likes are usually the priciest way to get solar.

[downshift00]

It's tiered, 18 cents is the cheapest tier 1. It goes up from there.

Is this a tiered rate or you pay 18c regardless of how much you consume?

[gvl]

Yes I know what TOU is and my company doesn't have it. They got rid of it little while back. They do net metering though. Just same rates night or day, of about 18 cents with delivery and generation.

Is this a tiered rate or you pay 18c regardless of how much you consume?

[downshift00]

Yes I know what TOU is and my company doesn't have it. They got rid of it little while back. They do net metering though. Just same rates night or day, of about 18 cents with delivery and generation.

Under TOU they use a meter that registers not only how much energy is used but also when it is used. The rates are usually higher during peak hours (day) and lower during off-peak hours (night). If you can shift your consumption to off-peak hours and during the day you have excess generation that you export you get bill credits at a higher price per kWh that you then use to cover your off-peak usage, such as charging your car at night, at a lower price per kWh. So you can have a system that generates less than you use and still have enough credits from on-peak generation to offset your bill to 0. This is just a basic idea of how this works. Google net-metering.

[gvl]

My electric company only has one type of residential rate. No time of use if that is what you mean?

What does that matter, just curious?

Under TOU they use a meter that registers not only how much energy is used but also when it is used. The rates are usually higher during peak hours (day) and lower during off-peak hours (night). If you can shift your consumption to off-peak hours and during the day you have excess generation that you export you get bill credits at a higher price per kWh that you then use to cover your off-peak usage, such as charging your car at night, at a lower price per kWh. So you can have a system that generates less than you use and still have enough credits from on-peak generation to offset your bill to 0. This is just a basic idea of how this works. Google net-metering.

[downshift00]

My electric company only has one type of residential rate. No time of use if that is what you mean?

What does that matter, just curious?

What electric rate options are available to you from your POCO? If Time-Of-Use is an option with a Volt you may be able to get away with a system that generates less than you consume and still have a low monthly bill or even 0.

[gvl]

What electric rate options are available to you from your POCO? If Time-Of-Use is an option with a Volt you may be able to get away with a system that generates less than you consume and still have a low monthly bill or even 0.

[downshift00]

So, I am a newbie to the solar world. I have done some homework and met with a couple companies to get quotes. Couple of questions for you guys that have experience with this:

1) Should I get a system that produces a little more than what I am currently using to make sure it covers situations where I might end up using more power down the road? I'm talking like a 9.8kw system vs 7.8kw here. I recently bought a Chevy Volt so I will be charging at home at about 10kw a day. The 9.8kw system will still put out more than I am currently using by about 1-2k a year.

2) Got a quote from Direct Energy Solar (I'm in NJ by the way) on a 9.8kw system. The system is approx $37k, after giving them the tax credit back, the loan payment will be $185 a month on a 20 year purchase loan at 5.9%. This allows me to get all the SRECS as well with Direct Energy Solar, they estimate it will be approx $160 a month and gradually go down over the15 years. They use enphase microinverters.

3) Quote from Solar City. Cost is approx 40k loan financed through them for a 7.8kw system. Financed will be about $25k (12k credit + 3k discount for them taking the SRECS) Monthly payment is $145 for first year before I give them the $12k tax credit money, then the system drops down to $93 a month and then goes up 2.9% a year for 30 years. With this system I will not get the SRECS.


So to me it seems like the Direct Energy Solar system (9.8kw) is the one to go with?


Thanks,

Scott