Frank romero Loc: Clovis, NM

Wondering how effective solar panels are. I see more and more panels on houses and was wondering if they are worth installing. Anyone have them?

Foodfisher Loc: SO. Cal coast

Jeremy swears by them.

Grizzly 17 Loc: South central Pa

I see solar farms around here. Acres of panels.
If you plan on staying long enough it's probably worth the investment.

Alot of extra weight on the roof.
I'm guessing when you need a new roof it's going to be a major expense.

Don't have solar myself.
Do have natural gas but masterminds want to ban a very efficient heat system 🤪

Graywulff Loc: Cortez,Co.

I knew a couple who heated their home and water with solar and it was not a small home either. They loved it. I don’t remember them complaining about the maintenance either. It would be worth checking into Frank. These folks lived in Nambe’ so you know their system got put thru it’s paces…

Frank romero Loc: Clovis, NM

Thanks. I have heard about unscrupulous companies that are ripping people off. I see them more and more here in Clovis. I haven’t seen them on metal roofs and that is what I have.

Graywulff Loc: Cortez,Co.

I think the Nambe’ Romeros had a pro panel roof. Their array covered most of the south side of it.

Dogand1 Loc: Meadow Vista, Ca

Have had mine for three years
Very happy
No true bill so far
Investment should be returned in another four years

saw1 Loc: nor cal Windsor

I was gonna say the same thing. You could PM him.

USAF Major Loc: Sea Bright, NJ

Many states are subsidizing the costs and some have even enacted legislation forcing the utility company to buy back any excess that is produced. Call your local power company and inquire.

Flytier Loc: Wilmington Delaware

I had three panels on my roof in NJ, but they were hot water, not electric. Had a 120 gallon stone tank in the basement and I never ran out of hot water. It had an electrical backup but it only activated when it was cloudy for multiple days.

Grandpa Knows How Loc: Bahia De Los angeles, Mexico

I have solar panels and live in Orange County California. Solar Panels for housing here have been a very efficient bargain when the Government Rebates from you and everyone else paying Tax Dollars are offsetting the cost. My out of pocket expense was minimal and the money I won't be paying to the electric company will make up for it in just a few years. In the mean time our local electrical rates have gone higher since our purchase of SP and increased the savings. Although we aren't crazy over consumers, there are many people complaining of $600 monthly electric bills in our area due to heavy air conditioning use.
The important thing is to do your homework on your product and installer. Many incompetent companies have sprouted up and have capitalized on installation and have wreaked havoc on the roof and installed substandard equipment.

I did extensive research and went with a company called "Enphase Energy" https://enphase.com/homeowners and installed by a local partner. I found out some interesting things on Enphase and purchased stock in the company (Stock Symbol - ENP) and bought several hundred shares in 2019 when I put panels on my home. I have paid for my panels many times over with that purchase and will never have to pay an electric bill while I live in this home.

Contracts with local energy company's vary and have changed over the years. Originally you put your daily production on the local grid (basically be credited for the rate the were charging for it at that time of day) and purchased it back during hours of darkness (basically be credited back at the lower evening rates) and the power company paid you a check for the excess production at the end of the year. Most people were making money and the power companies didn't like that so now they credit you at a minimal, nominal rate and you buy it back at the regular rates. Therefore adding more panels, which many people did, to generate income is no longer feasible.

I did add 2 extra panels to be sure I wasn't negatively impacted by unexpected cloudy days and as we had anticipated getting an EV- Electric Vehicle. We also spend 3 months in Minnesota so we currently have an excess production.

While I think home solar panels are avbenefit, EV's continue to have major problems that we decided not to purchase one. For one, they are just not a cost effective purchase. You have trouble getting your battery recharged unless you stay in your local area and have access to you home charger or an area that has adequate charging capability which is very limited on a National basis and is mostly in large cities. Major problems in cold weather areas as batteries do not like the cold, they catch on fire and fire departments just have to let them burn. My wife elected to buy a Hybrid from Lexus and hardly every buys gas, maybe monthly based on her usage. Again, a high priced alternative to buy a conventional gasoline powered car as price difference was about $30,000. How much gas can you buy with $30,000 over the next 20 years? (Women!) Our local Lexus dealer took in 7 New Tesla's with less that 7000 miles on them as trade in's for a replacement Lexus. So far, the have not been able to resell the Tesla's at give away prices. The are licking their wounds and not taking any more EV"s as trade in's. People are finally wising up.


Attanched are our power usage readings for 2023.
Hope this information is useful to you and others.

john1941 Loc: CA

I installed 13 panels totalling 5.2kw. It is saving me about $80 a month right now, I expect the savings to increase as the days get longer. I basically get free electricity from around 8:30am till about 3:30pm

Frank romero Loc: Clovis, NM

Thank you this is very helpful.

Grizzly 17 Loc: South central Pa

Frank I saw my first installment on a metal roof over the weekend.
I have a metal roof n I wouldn't put it on mine.
If I got solar it would be ground install for me 👍

RuffplayOR57 Loc: Klamath Falls, OR

Frank, I believe if your going to stay in your house forever, or at least long long time they may be worth it. A good friend of mine got talked into putting them on his place 3 years ago. His average electric bill a month was $65. He added the total # of panels the solar Co. said to use, cast about $14K. That changed his bill to $80 a month for 12 years. At first it seemed good, with just the $10 a month connection fee. Now he is upset. With cloudy weather and winter, he is paying another $45+ a month on top of the other charges. And then in 10 years or so he gets to replace them as their longevity will end. And if you have to replace the roof, it is $100 or so for each panel to be removed & replaced on the new roof. His was cheep as his house is small. One of my other friends got some on his house last year, cost was over $60K. 🤔I believe I’ll just pay my electric bill each month and not try to complicate my Life