Solar Panels – Frequently Asked Questions

A photovoltaic (PV) solar system includes solar panels, the racks for installing panels on your roof, some electrical wiring, and an inverter. As long as the sun is up, the solar panels can generate electricity that is sent to the inverter to convert the power so it can be used in a home. The electricity is then sent right to your home’s main electrical service panel and can be used throughout your house.

Shade can be an issue. Solar panels cannot give their optimal output if they cannot capture direct sunlight. Your solar installer will be able to look at your individual situation to provide options to make it work.

That depends on how much electricity you normally use as well as the size of the solar system you install. After the initial installation costs, the solar panel systems will pay for themselves over time. You can anticipate a typical return on investment of about 15-20%.

Yes, though the amount of increased value varies depending on where you live as well as the size of the system. In a study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, homes with solar panels appreciated in value by 17%. Also, homes with solar energy sold about 20% faster than non-solar homes.

The total cost of installing a solar panel system depends on your current energy usage, how much of your roof is unshaded, the size of the system that you have installed, and the local utility company’s net metering policy.

Most solar panels can be cleaned with a garden hose, but the amount of build-up and debris that can affect them depends on the tilt of the roof as well as the amount of dust and dirt in the area. It is recommended that you have your panels inspected annually to ensure that all of the electrical and mechanical connections are still in good working order.

 (Hint; Home electric consumption is kWh-AC same as your Electric Bill)

(DC to AC conversion can cause losses up to 30% of proposed kWh-DC)

(Panels output size can be varying from 200-400 kWh, more Solar Panel doesn’t mean you will get more Electric power)

((Hint; Panels size is only one of the effecting parameters on your future savings)

(Monocrystalline or Polycrystalline silicon panels. Hint: Polycrystalline are cheaper and absorb less sunlight)

(Standard Test Conditions – STC, Performance Test Conditions – PTC, California Energy Commission – CEC)

(Solar system will lose partial of the production capability during the years)

(Hint; Any PV Solar Panel has degradation of performance during the time)

(Central, Micro, Optimizer. Hint: Central Inverter is cheaper and cause critical energy losses to cause by shading & dirt)

(Inverters has different efficiency that must took in consideration in your system output)

(The above can affect your system production up to 40% from suggested System Size in kWh-DC)

(Monitoring is recommending in order to track your system performance as part of system warranty)

(TMY is officially method using by National Renewable Energy Laboratory -NREL)

(Different location has different Irradiation, from one city to another)

(In so, your utility provider will charge “Minimum Monthly Charge” and/or “Basic Charge”)

(Accurate solar system can simply skip or reduced this unnecessary payments)

(You deserve to know what is your actual savings to justified your decision on going solar)

(Hint: Excessive electric escalation rate assumption sales better)

(Accept only official data)

(Your Baseline Region is defining the amount of kWh usage in each Utility Tiers and might change between seasons. It is significantly effect on your potential saving analysis)

(Rebate are subject to change, but if you lucky to get, Rebate have to deduct portion of tax credit- ITC)

(Hint, Check IRS Publication 17, section 22 & IRS Rev Rul. 79-201)

(Financing program fees sometime increasing loan rate dramatically)

(Hint, Interest and system degradation should take into consideration as effective cost)

(Hint, ask for accumulative Interest before first payment)

(Need to define by officially appraisal. Solar system without Production guarantee consider as zero added home value)

(Hint, check your cost by adding your lost incentives)

Most Lease companies are only one more investing managing group that provide your system to some local installer. Hint, ask about which panel brand you are using?)

(The percentage differences between what you have been offered to what you really get can be vary up to 10% variance)

(Monthly payment annually increases 0%-3% not far from US historical increasing electric rate. If no escalation rate indicated, probably your increasing cost is linked to the inflation)

(Hint, Production guarantee reduced over the years together with the increasing or fix initial suggested rate)

(Your guaranteed price is what you get pay back if your system will not produce enough energy power under circumstance)

(Performance Guarantee reduced by the time, while your payments stay or increase over time)

(High level restriction and penalty of late payment, Non automatic payment, incentives losses, Guaranteed price differentiation, escalation rate, etc. might cause your electricity expanses to be much higher than you should pay to your local utility provider)

(Ask about dirty panels, shading of grown tree, storm damage, ball strike etc.)

(Insist of getting for review the full contract, not just the shiny proposal)

(Sales taxes or City taxes should be considered above Lease suggested price per kWh. Those taxes might not be Income Tax deductible)

(Hint, you might be offered to continue the lease in 10% off utility rates)

(Unless you direct debit your monthly payments your monthly payment will increase in fix price)

(Resources dedicate that your home value will decrease due to the long-term obligation and potential customer barrier)

(Hint, check what happened when you want to upgrade your roof)

(Hint; Credit Application cost for new buyer)

(Hint, Fico Score, Financing buyer and long term contract. “Leased solar panels can complicate – or kill -a home sale” LA Times).