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Solarcity

m_asim

m_asim

Coitus Infinitum
Joined
Mar 25, 2004
Location
LA, CA
Moto(s)
Stephanie (she is a Kawasaki)
So I am almost at the final stage of getting SolarCity install its panels on the house.

The only pro I have for Solar city is that it is going to be charging 12c/kWh compared to the local utility that is now charging 17c/kWh. That and may be taking some of the direct sunlight off the roof so may be it won't get too hot during summer/fall/spring.

Yes it will be 20 year lease but I can't come with other negatives. Have to give them a :thumbdown or :thumbup soon. BTW, they gave me a $500 Home Depot card that I haven't used just yet.
 
Wait...you are going to lease the system. Don't THEY get the tax credit instead of you?

I was under the impression that the only way you get the tax credit is if you purchase the system outright. Not via finance option or a lease.

I could be wrong...
 
He's not leasing, it's a PPA - power purchase arrangement.

asim make sure you don't size the system too large. You should shoot for 80-85% of your estimated annual power usage, no more. You don't want to get caught buying power at 12 cents and selling it at 3.
 
What happens if the system breaks or isn't configured correctly?
 
mercurial said:
He's not leasing, it's a PPA - power purchase arrangement.

asim make sure you don't size the system too large. You should shoot for 80-85% of your estimated annual power usage, no more. You don't want to get caught buying power at 12 cents and selling it at 3.
Click to expand...

You are correct.

My system is actually less than my actual needs. We have tiered payment in LA. Using Solar will keep me in the lower tier even with AC running during summer. At least that is the plan.

wazzuFreddo said:
What happens if the system breaks or isn't configured correctly?
Click to expand...

Since I don't own the system outright, the onus is on Solar City to fix any issues. This includes damage due to hail etc.
 
I talked my dad out of doing it, didn't really work for him and what he wanted, but they put a bit of a sell on him.

As a contractor friend said first, start with conservation. We started with buying about $180 worth of LED bulbs and replacing every bulb in his house. His bill dropped to half the first month, and then a little more after that during the summer. As winter comes and lights stay on longer, I'll monitor it with him to see what happens, but he's happy he didn't sign a 20 year agreement he'll never see the end of.
 
The lease concept is interesting. I'm surprised most new construction doesn't integrate renewables into the house. Seems cheaper both design wise and increased production to make it integral
 
Imagine the panels available before that 20 yr contract is up. But then if current tech meets the needs
 
Johndicezx9 said:
As a contractor friend said first, start with conservation. We started with buying about $180 worth of LED bulbs and replacing every bulb in his house. His bill dropped to half the first month, and then a little more after that during the summer. As winter comes and lights stay on longer, I'll monitor it with him to see what happens, but he's happy he didn't sign a 20 year agreement he'll never see the end of.
Click to expand...

+1 on that. The lowest and cheapest hanging fruit is conservation, shifting a handful of patterns.
 
Johndicezx9 said:
I talked my dad out of doing it, didn't really work for him and what he wanted, but they put a bit of a sell on him.

As a contractor friend said first, start with conservation. We started with buying about $180 worth of LED bulbs and replacing every bulb in his house. His bill dropped to half the first month, and then a little more after that during the summer. As winter comes and lights stay on longer, I'll monitor it with him to see what happens, but he's happy he didn't sign a 20 year agreement he'll never see the end of.
Click to expand...

We try to be as frugal as possible. Even when it is 100+ outside, we only run the AC during the hottest part of the day and usually never at night. For me the AC is the biggest money hog electricity wise. The system I had Solar City plan for me will not cover all my energy needs. It will only keep me in the lower tier so I don't end up paying extra costs. There is also the sense that when the big one arrives, we will still have electricity in the house (if the roof doesn't collapse) :p
 
Meter Man said:
The lease concept is interesting. I'm surprised most new construction doesn't integrate renewables into the house. Seems cheaper both design wise and increased production to make it integral
Click to expand...

I live in a newer development, solar was actually one of the upgrades the builders were offering for our project.

I recall seeing a development of newer homes along HWY 50, close to Folsom, and all the homes had solar installed.

Edit: Found it...
 
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m_asim said:
We try to be as frugal as possible. Even when it is 100+ outside, we only run the AC during the hottest part of the day and usually never at night. For me the AC is the biggest money hog electricity wise. The system I had Solar City plan for me will not cover all my energy needs. It will only keep me in the lower tier so I don't end up paying extra costs. There is also the sense that when the big one arrives, we will still have electricity in the house (if the roof doesn't collapse) :p
Click to expand...

Any commercial inverter will have anti islanding features to protect grid workers. It is either an IEEE, NFPA, or ANSI standard. (Can't remember which at the moment since I am not in front of my work computer)

Sorry, but when the big one hits, you'll be out like the rest of us. :(
 
m_asim said:
We try to be as frugal as possible. Even when it is 100+ outside, we only run the AC during the hottest part of the day and usually never at night. For me the AC is the biggest money hog electricity wise. The system I had Solar City plan for me will not cover all my energy needs. It will only keep me in the lower tier so I don't end up paying extra costs. There is also the sense that when the big one arrives, we will still have electricity in the house (if the roof doesn't collapse) :p
Click to expand...

The A/C factor was why didn't work for my father, he's in the foggy part of the Monterey Peninsula.
 
We bought ours outright from an associate of a fellow barfer..
http://www.roamsolar.com

25% less than Solar City, and more straightforward. Elect was $20 last month, versus about $150.
 
wazzuFreddo said:
Any commercial inverter will have anti islanding features to protect grid workers. It is either an IEEE, NFPA, or ANSI standard. (Can't remember which at the moment since I am not in front of my work computer)

Sorry, but when the big one hits, you'll be out like the rest of us. :(
Click to expand...
The old boss of the old solar company installed a system in his place in the peninsula and he swears it has an islandng switch. TBD. There's one utility in the east that allows islandng.


Butch said:
We bought ours outright from an associate of a fellow barfer..
http://www.roamsolar.com

25% less than Solar City, and more straightforward. Elect was $20 last month, versus about $150.
Click to expand...

Good for you!
 
You can island with a transfer switch, but I doubt Solar City is spending money on one of those of a leased system.
 
wazzuFreddo said:
You can island with a transfer switch, but I doubt Solar City is spending money on one of those of a leased system.
Click to expand...

If I were SolarCity with thousands of systems out there, I too wouldn't be too keen on islanding. Too much liability hanging out there. And that's why I'm keen on owning my own and installed by a smaller firm that could install an islanding switch for "the big one".
 
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