One of the best places in the U.S. for solar panels

You probably cannot find better weather for solar panels than in San Diego CA. The average daytime temperature is 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Tthe average hits close to 79 and dips to a comfortable 69 in December and January. Since solar panels work best at 77 degrees, they easily work at or near peak performance all year long.

In the winter it rarely gets too cold, and in the summer it has long days that are the definition of comfortable. That is why we picked San Diego for our next hypothetical home that needs some solar panels. Please keep in mind that most of the time we use averages and estimations such as average monthly bill in an area, so individual results may vary from county to county. In San Diego, we picked a home that is modest in size, and it is updated to modern building codes for energy efficiency.

This home has no air conditioning, they rarely use the heater in the winter, and the family of three inside primarily open windows and use the ocean air to keep the home cool when it gets warm.

Because this family lives in a temperate area, and they have a modern home and watch their power consumption, their electric bill averages $100 a month.

If we enter in the address and the $100 a month electric bill into our HahaSmart Price Checker Tool, it recommends a 3.3kW system for the home. The home is not covered by trees, and there is plenty of roof space. The panels on the roof are facing east to capture the sun all day long as it passes over San Diego, giving them more than enough power for the family. Power in California is more expensive than in other parts of the country, so even though the solar panel system is smaller, the payback is still quite fast. Let’s take a closer look.
 

How much it costs for the solar system equipment 

Now as we stated earlier, the HahaSmart Price Checker Took recommends a 3.3 kW solar panel system and it gives a breakdown of the cost and the permits needed. The first step is to get the approval of the design and a permit to build the residential solar system. That engineering and permitting process costs about $798.

If you add together the cost of the solar panels, the power inverters, the racking, the material needed to mount the panels, and other miscellaneous items, the total comes to about $5,319. The sales tax in San Diego County is a livable 7.75 percent which is better than many cities in California. If you add the sales tax of about $412 it brings the total to $5,731 in equipment and permitting.

It is important to note that this cost does not include the electrical main service panel upgrade, and expenses or interest you accrue if you choose to finance your solar system. 
 

The average cost for a solar system installation

The HahaSmart price checker tool compiles data from nearly 2300 different installers and it states the installation cost is from $4,125 to $4,587 for the solar panels. If we average the two numbers we get $4,356 as an average installation cost.

Installation costs can vary and we recommend that you compare two to three different installers quotes for your needs. When you talk to multiple installers please note, local installers are certified and they care about their work. Many times they are also less expensive than national chains.

An installation package has an application for a solar installation permit from the local building safety department. A plan and layout of the overall installation, a guarantee from the installation company that the project will be done right, and then a permit to operate the solar system.  For more info, click here. 

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