6kW in San Antonio, Texas

[vudu]

After looking into local solar programs offered by our POCO, CPS, we found some surprisingly enticing programs. I wanted to throw them up here and request feedback.

One program, we pay nothing, and receive 3 cents per kWh.

http://solarhostsa.com/

What does it mean to be a solar host? Much like private ownership of solar systems, a homeowner or business would “host” a solar system on their roof. The difference with SolarHosting is that the homeowner or business owner, YOU, would not pay anything at all to have the system installed and maintained.

On the other, we get about a 40% rebate from the POCO.

http://www.albaenergy.com/solar-systems-blog/2015/7/23/cps-energys-solar-rebate-program-pays-you-to-install-solar-panels-in-san-antonio

http://www.albaenergy.com

San Antonio homeowners in the CPS Energy service territory can receive up to $25,000 dollars worth of rebates toward the cost of installing solar panels on a residence. Under the CPS Energy Solar Rebate Program, a rebate of $1.60 per watt-AC is available for residential customers in San Antonio who install solar photovoltaic (PV) systems on their homes. The maximum solar rebate is $25,000 dollars or 50% of the total system cost, whichever is less.

Honestly, after dabbling with solar on our shed, I was pretty tepid on the idea of solar on the house and was expecting to wait even though I know (unlike the shed) we have plenty of non-shaded, south facing roof - plus a large aluminum patio. As a side but significant benefit, to my mind, the panels would not be seen from the street.

One of the above installers called and said their remote assessment suggests we could get at least 6kW on the roof - 20 315W panels. I believe we could get to 10kW.

My reservations are:

• Rather than something we own entirely, I'd feel like I have a giant tick on the roof
• Being grid-tied - not having a backup when the grid is down. In real life, this has only mattered for about 6 hours the last year but it bothers me still.
• The devil in the details. Insurance, liability, risk, etc.

I'll update the specs when we get them. Feedback welcome and appreciated!

[vudu]

I can't seem to edit this post

And it is not showing up in 'New Posts'

So, it seems to me these offers are too good to be true. Any advise on what to look out for would be greatly appreciated.

From the POCO's point of view, they get to distribute power generation out to the edges - lessoning the load at a very opportune, money making time - peak usage. That is, during the summer, they can make 3/4/5 times that price. Where it is hot and humid it seems like a no-brainer as they can increase their capacity at a time they need it most - without building more plants.

[jmgray28]

I dont know anything about solar in San Antonio but the deadline is 12/31/15. It will be hard to get a system up and inspected and signed off by then. With a big rebate like $1.60 per watt there is probally a bunch of people trying to get done before the cutoff. If i read right the solar hosting sounds bad if you ever plan on having solar they take your prime roof space and give u 3cents per watt you dont get any of the power. If you dont plan on getting solar and dont mind the panels on your roof i giess it free money. To me this is a worse option than leasing solar.

[vudu]

2 system quotes

I've got 2 quotes now. The differences amount to enphase or solar edge. This thread helped me a bunch.

http://www.solarpaneltalk.com/showthread.php?21856-Solar-Edge-Vs-Enphase-Power-optimizers

1) $3.75 per kw
- Solarworld (275w) panels
- Enphase micro inverters
- Iron ridge mounting


2) $3.65 per kw
- LG (310w) panels
- Solaredge inverter
- Iron ridge mouting

Roughly, each quote comes in at about 25k. With incentives, we'd be paying ~14k. 3% financing. Very enticing indeed.

We have tentatively chosen 2 - leaning toward solaredge / single inverter, thinking it would afford us more options in the future if we want to make our system 'grid-assisted' with some emergency/backup capabilities.

Here is why we have not signed the dotted line.

- We asked the installer to give us 2 quotes - one for a smaller system, 10 panels (with an oversized inverter), and one for as many south facing panels as we can fit (22). He chose to give us the proposal for 22 - "the price difference would not be that much". We liked the installer's representative very much, he was very informative and answered every question we asked of him with patience and professionalism. He mentioned during our conversation why they had moved away from enphase (failures due to the Texas heat). He gave us what we considered good reasons to choose LG / solar edge. (performance/cost)

- Production at this larger size (~1000kwh/month) will go over our needs 3-4 months of the year. 4-6 we'd break even. 3-4 months we'd use more (summer)

- We want to undersize our system and reassess the landscape 3-5 years down the road when energy storage prices come down and/or a clear winner emerges

- We'd have to pay an additional 1.5k to upgrade our electrical system (moving the elec meter away from natural gas meter)

- Sticker shock. 26k is ~20% the value of the entire house.

- Installation costs are 100% + of hardware cost? Looking at wholesale solar, the system hardware costs are roughly 13k (retail). [1]

- Electricity costs here are some of the best in the country (~10c), pushing our ROI out to 10 years

- We are considering spending 20% of the cost and just adding a smaller, off grid system [2] to our shed->office in the backyard (in lieu of running elec from the house out there which would cost ~1.5k) to _really_ get our feet wet with solar.

Honestly, I'm conflicted. We'll probably have one more installer come out and give us a quote for installing a smaller system.

Any insights appreciated. Paul


[1] http://www.wholesalesolar.com/189091...y-315-w-panels

[2] http://www.renogy-store.com/1800W-24...cabin1800p.htm

[solardreamer]

I've got 2 quotes now. The differences amount to enphase or solar edge. This thread helped me a bunch.

http://www.solarpaneltalk.com/showthread.php?21856-Solar-Edge-Vs-Enphase-Power-optimizers

1) $3.75 per kw
- Solarworld (275w) panels
- Enphase micro inverters
- Iron ridge mounting


2) $3.65 per kw
- LG (310w) panels
- Solaredge inverter
- Iron ridge mouting

Roughly, each quote comes in at about 25k. With incentives, we'd be paying ~14k. 3% financing. Very enticing indeed.

We have tentatively chosen 2 - leaning toward solaredge / single inverter, thinking it would afford us more options in the future if we want to make our system 'grid-assisted' with some emergency/backup capabilities.

Here is why we have not signed the dotted line.

- We asked the installer to give us 2 quotes - one for a smaller system, 10 panels (with an oversized inverter), and one for as many south facing panels as we can fit (22). He chose to give us the proposal for 22 - "the price difference would not be that much". We liked the installer's representative very much, he was very informative and answered every question we asked of him with patience and professionalism. He mentioned during our conversation why they had moved away from enphase (failures due to the Texas heat). He gave us what we considered good reasons to choose LG / solar edge. (performance/cost)

- Production at this larger size (~1000kwh/month) will go over our needs 3-4 months of the year. 4-6 we'd break even. 3-4 months we'd use more (summer)

- We want to undersize our system and reassess the landscape 3-5 years down the road when energy storage prices come down and/or a clear winner emerges

- We'd have to pay an additional 1.5k to upgrade our electrical system (moving the elec meter away from natural gas meter)

- Sticker shock. 26k is ~20% the value of the entire house.

- Installation costs are 100% + of hardware cost? Looking at wholesale solar, the system hardware costs are roughly 13k (retail). [1]

- Electricity costs here are some of the best in the country (~10c), pushing our ROI out to 10 years

- We are considering spending 20% of the cost and just adding a smaller, off grid system [2] to our shed->office in the backyard (in lieu of running elec from the house out there which would cost ~1.5k) to _really_ get our feet wet with solar.

Honestly, I'm conflicted. We'll probably have one more installer come out and give us a quote for installing a smaller system.

Any insights appreciated. Paul


[1] http://www.wholesalesolar.com/189091...y-315-w-panels

[2] http://www.renogy-store.com/1800W-24...cabin1800p.htm

I don't know the solar market in San Antoni but your quotes seem a bit high for the SF Bay Area which is supposed to be one of the highest cost markets in the country. Also, I personally would not have gone solar with a 10 year break even time. I got a 6.16kw SolarWorld 280/Enphase m250 system at $3.3/w with about 5-6 year break even time. Lastly, I am not sure if you can get incentives if you go with off grid solar.

[vudu]

I don't know the solar market in San Antoni but your quotes seem a bit high for the SF Bay Area which is supposed to be one of the highest cost markets in the country.

Agreed - I'm assuming this is because of the high demand given the incentive from the local POCO. (1.60 per kw) that expires at the end of the year.

Also, I personally would not have gone solar with a 10 year break even time. I got a 6.16kw SolarWorld 280/Enphase m250 system at $3.3/w with about 5-6 year break even time.

It does seem long (and may be a deciding factory against it even with the rebates) assumably because our rates here are so low.

Lastly, I am not sure if you can get incentives if you go with off grid solar.

Yes, definitely not, apparently they are not even paying the rebate for the SMA inverters that have an important capability, which to me should be standard for grid-tied system, SPS.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fF461YYNbtw

I have a feeling the installers and the POCO have a pretty tight relationship. Maybe too cozy.

Thanks for the feedback solardreamer, Paul