csriram45
Well-known member
Hello all,
I live in Northern CA and I am considering going solar. I was looking for the same info as this thread as I am considering a Solar System installed at my home.
One of the main reason I am also considering going solar is because I am getting the LEAF which is going to increase my electricity usage by approx 300kWH and I wanted to see if I can invest in solar to offset the usage as well as take the benefits.
I have gotten quotes from a private installer, SolarCity and Real Goods Solar and I am trying to compare them.
Here is a quote from various providers.
SolarCity
System Size. 3.22KW DC System
SolarLease®
$0 Down Plan
Initial Solar Payment $0
Monthly Payment $88
Annual Increase 3.9 %
Over 20 Years:
First Year Cost
(Solar Energy) 22.2¢/kWh
Total Savings $24,897
Premium Service Package
SolarLease®
Initial Payment Plan
Initial Solar Payment $6,256
Monthly Payment $29
Annual Increase —
Over 20 Years:
Average Cost
(Solar Energy) 14.7¢/kWh
Total Savings $42,580
Premium Service Package
SolarLease®
Pre Pay Plan
Initial Solar Payment $9,389
Monthly Payment —
Annual Increase —
Over 20 Years:
Average Cost
(Solar Energy) 10.4¢/kWh
Total Savings $46,455
Premium Service Package
Purchase
You Own the System
System Cost $20,260
State Rebate – $944
Out Of Pocket Payment $19,316
Federal Tax Credit – $5,795
Net System Cost $13,521
Monthly Payment —
Annual Increase —
Over 30 Years:
Average Cost
(Solar Energy) 10.2¢/kWh
Total Savings $99,856
Standard Service Package
Quote 2 from Real Goods Solar for Purchase:
System Size: 2.035 kW DC, STC ($4.59/ DC watt)
System Size: 1.747 kW AC, CEC ($5.34/ AC watt)
PV Panels: Qty: 11 - Suntech Power Inc Model: STP185S-24/Adb+. 185W
Monocrystalline Module, Black Backsheet.
Inverter(s): Qty: 11 - Enphase Energy Model: M190-72-240-Sxx (-NA).
190 W, 32Vdc, 240Vac inverter, xx are connector types NA if North
American.
Gross System Cost $13,918 ($6.84/watt DC, $7.97/watt AC)
CA Expected Perf-Based Buydown (EPBB) Step 8 - ($586)
Installer Contract Cost - $13,332 ($6.55/watt DC, $7.63/watt AC)
Federal Tax Credit/Tax Impact - ($4,000)
Net Cost (year of installation) - $9,332 ($4.59/watt DC, $5.34/watt AC)
Quote 3 from Private installer:
Syetem Size: 2.82 STC KW PV System
Panels: 12 Schuco 235 MPE PSO4
Inverter: 1-SB4000US Inverter and integrated AC/DC Disconnect (SunnyBoy)
Gross System Cost: 22,128.94
CEC Incentive: - 832.00
Installer Discount - 35%
Total - 13,551.81
Federal Tax Incentive: - $4065.54
Customer Expected Cost: $9486.27
Internet Monitoring - $700 extra
My Average usage so far per month is around 600KWH and with my EV I assume another 300 KWH usage per month. I am trying to see what option would work out better.
Based on the system size it will not offset all my electricity usage and only offset my top tier usage. Can the experts here advice on what option would make the most sense?
The solar city quote involves 4 different choices. The first three are leases while the third is an outright purchase. The lease option comes with monitoring and other options like maintenance and inverter replacement while purchase would require me to do it. The delta in the outright pre-purchase of lease gives me the solar credit for federal right away compared to purchase in which I am paying a bit more as well.
One of the consideration for lease is also because my home is the new 3 stories kind of homes so going on top of my roof is going to be impossible for me and if I were to purchase and any service is required, I am quiet confident it can cost quiet a bit to get someone to just go there and look and fix.
The Real Goods Solar (I went through them as they are preffered installer by the 1BOG initiative) quote seems to be with micro inverters I believe. Any idea on how much extra that costs so I can compare them well? One of the issue is that comparing the 2 is becoming difficult because of the size of the system is different and the panels are different. Real Goods also has the SunRun Lease option which isnt as good as the SolarCity one. So far SolarCity quote amongst the 2 seems better and hence the question.
The third private quote seems the best price/watt perspetive, just not sure how the after sales support etc. would be and if needed for any warranty or other purpose how to go about it.
Any guidance on this is helpful.
I live in Northern CA and I am considering going solar. I was looking for the same info as this thread as I am considering a Solar System installed at my home.
One of the main reason I am also considering going solar is because I am getting the LEAF which is going to increase my electricity usage by approx 300kWH and I wanted to see if I can invest in solar to offset the usage as well as take the benefits.
I have gotten quotes from a private installer, SolarCity and Real Goods Solar and I am trying to compare them.
Here is a quote from various providers.
SolarCity
System Size. 3.22KW DC System
SolarLease®
$0 Down Plan
Initial Solar Payment $0
Monthly Payment $88
Annual Increase 3.9 %
Over 20 Years:
First Year Cost
(Solar Energy) 22.2¢/kWh
Total Savings $24,897
Premium Service Package
SolarLease®
Initial Payment Plan
Initial Solar Payment $6,256
Monthly Payment $29
Annual Increase —
Over 20 Years:
Average Cost
(Solar Energy) 14.7¢/kWh
Total Savings $42,580
Premium Service Package
SolarLease®
Pre Pay Plan
Initial Solar Payment $9,389
Monthly Payment —
Annual Increase —
Over 20 Years:
Average Cost
(Solar Energy) 10.4¢/kWh
Total Savings $46,455
Premium Service Package
Purchase
You Own the System
System Cost $20,260
State Rebate – $944
Out Of Pocket Payment $19,316
Federal Tax Credit – $5,795
Net System Cost $13,521
Monthly Payment —
Annual Increase —
Over 30 Years:
Average Cost
(Solar Energy) 10.2¢/kWh
Total Savings $99,856
Standard Service Package
Quote 2 from Real Goods Solar for Purchase:
System Size: 2.035 kW DC, STC ($4.59/ DC watt)
System Size: 1.747 kW AC, CEC ($5.34/ AC watt)
PV Panels: Qty: 11 - Suntech Power Inc Model: STP185S-24/Adb+. 185W
Monocrystalline Module, Black Backsheet.
Inverter(s): Qty: 11 - Enphase Energy Model: M190-72-240-Sxx (-NA).
190 W, 32Vdc, 240Vac inverter, xx are connector types NA if North
American.
Gross System Cost $13,918 ($6.84/watt DC, $7.97/watt AC)
CA Expected Perf-Based Buydown (EPBB) Step 8 - ($586)
Installer Contract Cost - $13,332 ($6.55/watt DC, $7.63/watt AC)
Federal Tax Credit/Tax Impact - ($4,000)
Net Cost (year of installation) - $9,332 ($4.59/watt DC, $5.34/watt AC)
Quote 3 from Private installer:
Syetem Size: 2.82 STC KW PV System
Panels: 12 Schuco 235 MPE PSO4
Inverter: 1-SB4000US Inverter and integrated AC/DC Disconnect (SunnyBoy)
Gross System Cost: 22,128.94
CEC Incentive: - 832.00
Installer Discount - 35%
Total - 13,551.81
Federal Tax Incentive: - $4065.54
Customer Expected Cost: $9486.27
Internet Monitoring - $700 extra
My Average usage so far per month is around 600KWH and with my EV I assume another 300 KWH usage per month. I am trying to see what option would work out better.
Based on the system size it will not offset all my electricity usage and only offset my top tier usage. Can the experts here advice on what option would make the most sense?
The solar city quote involves 4 different choices. The first three are leases while the third is an outright purchase. The lease option comes with monitoring and other options like maintenance and inverter replacement while purchase would require me to do it. The delta in the outright pre-purchase of lease gives me the solar credit for federal right away compared to purchase in which I am paying a bit more as well.
One of the consideration for lease is also because my home is the new 3 stories kind of homes so going on top of my roof is going to be impossible for me and if I were to purchase and any service is required, I am quiet confident it can cost quiet a bit to get someone to just go there and look and fix.
The Real Goods Solar (I went through them as they are preffered installer by the 1BOG initiative) quote seems to be with micro inverters I believe. Any idea on how much extra that costs so I can compare them well? One of the issue is that comparing the 2 is becoming difficult because of the size of the system is different and the panels are different. Real Goods also has the SunRun Lease option which isnt as good as the SolarCity one. So far SolarCity quote amongst the 2 seems better and hence the question.
The third private quote seems the best price/watt perspetive, just not sure how the after sales support etc. would be and if needed for any warranty or other purpose how to go about it.
Any guidance on this is helpful.