California Solar Panel Systems Are Affordable

Not many people know all the economic expenses and advantages of solar panels. How costly are they to install? How much can one save on energy service bills and solar incentives? Teaching Americans on these aggregates is the first step toward increasing awareness about how to protect the environment through clean energy solutions.

There are a lot of myths out there.  One of the myths of solar panel system installation is that it is costly. While there are initial upfront expenses associated with the system, labor, permitting fees and overhead, the cost per watt and overall financial losses of installing residential solar systems have drastically dropped across the nation in the past few years.

In California solely, for the start of the California Solar Initiative in 2007, the average cost of a system has fallen by at least 30 percent, according to the Center for Sustainable Energy. Not only has the value of the systems themselves dropped, but due to incentives, tax credits, and utility company rebates, the prices continue to plummet.

Solar Panel Cost In So Cal

Presently, the average size of a household photovoltaic (PV) system is 5 kilowatts (kW). Many systems typically vary from 2 to 10kW, which usually fetch anywhere from $10,000 to $36,000, according to Energy Information. But, with the 30 percent federal tax credit, a qualified solar firm writes that a 10kW domestic system in California can fetch between $22,750 to $25,200. This figure does not even cover local government or utility rebates.

If you would like to determine how much your initial investment will save you in the future, contemplate not only how much your utility bill is now & how much it is expected to increase, but how much sunlight your roof typically gets.

“But the most important factor is the amount of sunlight that shines in your area throughout the day: For example, all things being equal, a 10kW solar system in southern California would produce about 20 percent more electricity over the course of a year than a system in the Northeast,” a qualified solar firm describes.

Considering Solar

Those considering getting into solar should recognize that the most expensive or well-known solar panels on the market do not mean they are the best solution for your home electricity needs. Many times, the more informative way to approach the expense of a system is to calculate the cost per watt. Usually, if you invest in a larger system, you will have a lower expense per watt.

“Over the last 20 years, the cost of these systems has decreased by a factor of seven,” Solar Panel Cost Guide communicates. “As the residential and commercial demand for solar panels increases and the efficiency of the technology improves, they will continue to drop, and overall return on investment will rise.”

Not entirely sure what size would be best for you or whether to lease or purchase your system? While it may appear that the solar industry is challenging to navigate, our team of accommodating experts will make the process manageable. Contact HahaSmart today for a free consultation to help you identify available rates, incentives, solar savings and go over your customized system’s design with our free design tool.