Tweet
I'm currently debating whether to lease or buy a PV system in SoCal and just had a quote from American Solar Direct (ASD) among a few others for leasing since I'm thinking of getting electric cars in the near future.
My annual usage is currently about 6000 kWh and so I was looking roughly somewhere in the neighborhood of a 3 kW roof mounted system (based on 14 panels) with micro-inverters. The roof is also ideal and a previous quote showed it to be 93% in the sun for the whole day (South West facing @ 210 degrees).
So here's the question:
ASD despite knowing my usage have quoted me for a 10 panel system (2.45 kW) and say that they are not allowed by the utility company here (Socal Edison) to offer anything larger like a 3 kW system since I'm not allowed to be "net zero"
The figures they gave are based on a monthly lease payment of $73.90 plus $20.31 to utility, with a total payment of $94.21 which is only just above my current average bill which is about $85. (So not a bad deal)
Despite the fact a 3 kW system would cost me more to lease each month for the extra panels, ($115 to lease by my calculations from their 10 panel quote), and a bit more again on top of their initial quote, is there any merit in their statement about not being allowed to be net-zero, and having to have a small proportion going to the utility? It just doesn't sound right to me (other than transmission tax etc)!
I explained to them that I will be adding electric cars soon, and that we would also like to use our Air Conditioning more (since we use it way less than merits), and that if we are paying $20 already as part of their quote to the utility, that this figure would likely increase further, and I didn't want that!
I'd rather not lease at all, and would actually quite like to do this as a DIY project instead (I have the skills), just don't know what I'd be letting myself in for in terms of all the permitting etc!
My annual usage is currently about 6000 kWh and so I was looking roughly somewhere in the neighborhood of a 3 kW roof mounted system (based on 14 panels) with micro-inverters. The roof is also ideal and a previous quote showed it to be 93% in the sun for the whole day (South West facing @ 210 degrees).
So here's the question:
ASD despite knowing my usage have quoted me for a 10 panel system (2.45 kW) and say that they are not allowed by the utility company here (Socal Edison) to offer anything larger like a 3 kW system since I'm not allowed to be "net zero"
The figures they gave are based on a monthly lease payment of $73.90 plus $20.31 to utility, with a total payment of $94.21 which is only just above my current average bill which is about $85. (So not a bad deal)
Despite the fact a 3 kW system would cost me more to lease each month for the extra panels, ($115 to lease by my calculations from their 10 panel quote), and a bit more again on top of their initial quote, is there any merit in their statement about not being allowed to be net-zero, and having to have a small proportion going to the utility? It just doesn't sound right to me (other than transmission tax etc)!
I explained to them that I will be adding electric cars soon, and that we would also like to use our Air Conditioning more (since we use it way less than merits), and that if we are paying $20 already as part of their quote to the utility, that this figure would likely increase further, and I didn't want that!
I'd rather not lease at all, and would actually quite like to do this as a DIY project instead (I have the skills), just don't know what I'd be letting myself in for in terms of all the permitting etc!
Comment