Is A Solar Electric System Right For You?

In the last blog, we explained the up front rebates offered by some of the major electric utilities in Arizona. Besides the rebates, there are federal and state tax credits. There is no state sales tax on solar electric installations, and many municipalities also exempt the installation from sales tax. Some municipalities also discount or eliminate the permit fee. We can go into specifics in a future blog post. Another benefit is that, it is generally accepted by appraisers, a home's value increases by $20,000 for every $1000 in electric costs saved in the first year. And, as electricity rates continue to rise, the homeowner will save even more in the future.

Of course, there are some factors that could negatively affect your decision whether to purchase a solar electric installation. Some properties are physically just not practical locations for solar electric. The most common physical stumbling block would be shading issues. Sometimes a tree can be cut back, but once in a while neighboring structures or trees, equipment taking up too much space on a roof, or the orientation of a roof could reduce the efficiency such that a solar installation is just not practical. Other factors to consider are the condition of the roof. Does additional money have to be spent to get it in acceptable condition? Is a ground mount system a possibility? Do you have the cash available? If not, is there a low cost financing option that makes going ahead with the installation the right choice? Usually there is. And you have to consider, if you plan on selling the property sometime soon, in this weak economy, is it still worth going ahead?

In most cases it is well worth it to install a solar electric system. Remember, you start saving money immediately, and you save even more when electricity rates go up. The longer you plan on staying where you are, the more installing a solar system makes sense.