SunPower: We are going Solar (1 Viewer)

[ucla1967]

California has the highest electrical rates in the U.S., except for Hawaii and Alaska. Southern California Edison has a tier billing system which has seen increases since 2005 of 24% in tier 1 (the least expensive) to 86% in tier 4. My September electrical bill was $543 because we ran our two zone central air conditioning system for about 10 days due to the 100 degree weather we had been experiencing. I had already signed the contract for a solar energy system before receiving that obscene bill, so that just confirmed the wisdom of my decision.

All solar systems are not created equal. The efficiency of the panels range from about 14% to 21% depending on the manufacturer. My research showed that a company called SunPower made highly rated panels. I got bids from three different contractors which ranged from $30,000 to $38,000 for a solar panel system which would provide from about 50% to 95% of our future estimated requirements. Then the choice was whether to buy it out right or lease it; and if leased, how much money to put down.

We decided to lease for 20 years a 6.54 kW (DC), 5.8 kW (AC) SunPower System with 20 solar panels each producing 327 watts. By making a $10,800 down payment, it reduced the fixed monthly lease payment from $159 (with no down payment) to $80. The estimated net savings over the 20 year life of the lease was more than $50,000. The thing I liked about leasing is that they fix any problems. For example, the inverters only last about 10 or 12 years and would cost about $6,000 to replace if I owned the system rather than leased it.

Here are some photos of my house just before installation.

 

[ucla1967]

The first day of the installation. A four man crew arrives and starts work. In the fourth photo you can see the vertical mounts that they drilled through the roof tiles into the wood roof joists. The last photo shows the horizontal support members that the solar panels will be attached to.

 

[Go for Broke]

I'm sure they're a professional outfit, but I hope they don't break your tiles and cause roof leakage. I see that now and then in my neck of the woods. I didn't know you could do a lease. I also worry about maintenance costs and have yet to make a move.

 

[ucla1967]

I'm sure they're a professional outfit, but I hope they don't break your tiles and cause roof leakage. I see that now and then in my neck of the woods. I didn't know you could do a lease. I also worry about maintenance costs and have yet to make a move.

I was also worried about tile breakage, but none were broken. If they had been, they have a roofer on contract who would have replaced the broken tiles. My tiles are made of cement and are fairly strong. I was also concerned about the roof penetrations for the vertical anchors, but they sealed those openings with Henry's black roof cement and a second product with silicone (I think).

 

[Panzer ace]

Sorry, I did not notice the solar work, I was blinded by that perfect blue sky!

 

[TomB]

California has the highest electrical rates in the U.S., except for Hawaii and Alaska. Southern California Edison has a tier billing system which has seen increases since 2005 of 24% in tier 1 (the least expensive) to 86% in tier 4. My September electrical bill was $543 because we ran our two zone central air conditioning system for about 10 days due to the 100 degree weather we had been experiencing. I had already signed the contract for a solar energy system before receiving that obscene bill, so that just confirmed the wisdom of my decision.

All solar systems are not created equal. The efficiency of the panels range from about 14% to 21% depending on the manufacturer. My research showed that a company called SunPower made highly rated panels. I got bids from three different contractors which ranged from $30,000 to $38,000 for a solar panel system which would provide from about 50% to 95% of our future estimated requirements. Then the choice was whether to buy it out right or lease it; and if leased, how much money to put down.

We decided to lease for 20 years a 6.54 kW (DC), 5.8 kW (AC) SunPower System with 20 solar panels each producing 327 watts. By making a $10,800 down payment, it reduced the fixed monthly lease payment from $159 (with no down payment) to $80. The estimated net savings over the 20 year life of the lease was more than $50,000. The thing I liked about leasing is that they fix any problems. For example, the inverters only last about 10 or 12 years and would cost about $6,000 to replace if I owned the system rather than leased it.

Here are some photos of my house just before installation.

The way to go....leasing is also the way to go but unfortunately we do not have a leasing system here but whatever the system it sure does save on the power bills...I only have ten unites but I think my savings is about $100 a bill...(.we have a lot of Sun in West Aust.)....matter of fact the local power mob is complaining they are losing money because so many people here have connected to Solo power....regards TomB

 

[uksubs]

I was also worried about tile breakage, but none were broken. If they had been, they have a roofer on contract who would have replaced the broken tiles. My tiles are made of cement and are fairly strong. I was also concerned about the roof penetrations for the vertical anchors, but they sealed those openings with Henry's black roof cement and a second product with silicone (I think).

I'm shocked they drill holes in the tiles {eek3}^&confuse as cement and silicone won't last long

 

[ucla1967]

I'm shocked they drill holes in the tiles {eek3}^&confuse as cement and silicone won't last long

I may have used the wrong term to describe the Henry's product as cement--it is more like black roofing tar. Also, here is a photo of the metal cone-like parts (to the right of the ladder) they used for the vertical anchors to pass through. Tile roofs are very common here in California, so the solar companies know how to deal with this issue and my contract requires them to fix any roof leaks. I also picked a company which was ranked as one of the top 100 in the U.S.

 

[Mitch]

I have had solar panels for over a year and a half now. I have 18 panels and its the best decision I have made. They really have saved me a fortune. You also sell the energy which you don't use to the electric company
Mitch

 

[ucla1967]

Day two of the installation. They now have five men working on the job. Not a lot happening on the roof because they were running all the internal wiring through the house and installing the inverter. I was really impressed with how they ran the wiring from the attic, through the second story walls, then through the first story walls, then through the two-car garage, and finally into the attic above the third-car garage. All this was done without making any openings in our interior walls. The only cuts they made, which they repaired, were two in the two-car garage's ceiling.

I may not have been completely clear in my first post. The system I had installed was estimated to provide either 90% of annual usage (according to the first SunPower dealer) or 95% (according to the second SunPower dealer) who I ultimately used because he was less expensive for the exact same system. The third bid I received was from a different solar panel contractor who proposed a 16 panel system using less efficient panels that generated only 245 watts per panel (rather than the 327 watt panels I had installed) and that would generate about 50% of my estimated annual usage. My system is estimated to produce 10,541 KWH per year.

 

[ucla1967]

They were not quite finished at the end of the second day, but decided to stay on and finish the job anyway. Hey, these guys must not be in the union. So, I am up and running. My digital electrical meter still has the regular settings and must be reprogrammed for a solar system, but I can still see it showing that I am using "minus" electricity from the power grid. Once they have reprogrammed the meter, I will be able to go online and see what is actually going on. The city building inspector has approved the installation. They e-mailed me a copy of the building permit which cost $500! I am sure I paid for that indirectly.

Here is what the inverter setup looks like. You can see the digital readout of each of the two solar panel sections on my roof. This is really a clean and professional job. As I write this, the system has been on for 11 days.

 

[ucla1967]

Here is what the solar panels look like from the sidewalk. The third photo is from across the street.

 

[ucla1967]

Well, two weeks after the installation has been completed and I am up and running, Southern California Edison still has not converted my meter over to the solar mode. I am told it may take about another 30 days. So, I can't really go on line yet to see how I am doing; however, the meter does show that I am using less electricity than I am making. At this moment, minus 318 watts.

 

[ucla1967]

Seven weeks plus after my solar system was installed, Southern California Edison still has not reprogrammed my electrical meter for solar. However, I did receive my first SCE electrical bill which covers a full month when my solar system was operational and it was for only $54!

 

[MarkeytMaker]

Seven weeks plus after my solar system was installed, Southern California Edison still has not reprogrammed my electrical meter for solar. However, I did receive my first SCE electrical bill which covers a full month when my solar system was operational and it was for only $54!

Very nice! So your bill can be less once the meter is reprogrammed?

 

[MarkeytMaker]

If you should sell your home and your solar is financed...the solar does transfer over with title right? So how's that work?

 

[MarkeytMaker]

If you should sell your home and your solar is financed...the solar does transfer over with title right? So how's that work?

I meant to say the solar "doesn't" transfer with title...right?

 

[ucla1967]

Very nice! So your bill can be less once the meter is reprogrammed?

It may be less or more depending on the amount of solar energy produced versus my usage. When the days get longer and the sun gets higher in the sky, I will produce more solar energy than I am now doing. The meter doesn't really have anything to do with the amount of my bill. Once SCE reprograms my meter, I will go to annual billing with them except for various miscellaneous, non-electrical usage, charges.

 

[ucla1967]

If you should sell your home and your solar is financed...the solar does transfer over with title right? So how's that work?

If the home is sold during the 20-year period of the lease, the new owners must agree to take over the balance remaining on the lease and legally transfer it to them. They would then pay the lease terms of $80 a month. I can't imagine anyone not wanting to do that since I paid 1/3 of the lease's value upfront thereby reducing the monthly payment from $159 to $80 per month.

 

[MarkeytMaker]

If the home is sold during the 20-year period of the lease, the new owners must agree to take over the balance remaining on the lease and legally transfer it to them. They would then pay the lease terms of $80 a month. I can't imagine anyone not wanting to do that since I paid 1/3 of the lease's value upfront thereby reducing the monthly payment from $159 to $80 per month.

O.k thanks...help me figure something else out. You pay the same amount you did before solar (new payment $80, plus lease $80 = $160) this makes the solar free essentially right?....but what is the benefit...will you benefit only after the 20 years? My fear would be the condition of the solar in 20yrs...does it then need to be replaced? Will it even make it to 20 years? What if you need a new roof, how will this effect the new roof cost (maybe not with tile roofs of course) I'm asking because getting something for free is exciting but I'm not sure if free makes sense if it causes headaches later, or doesn't benefit you after being paid off.