Solar Electric

[Paul B]

Two years ago I installed solar on my home and I am very happy with it. I installed it myself as I was an electrician for 40 years.
The system is just under 4KW, I have 22 175 watt panels built by Sharp.
The system cost me $23,000.00 of which I got $14,000.00 back from the electricity company and about $6,000.00 back in my income tax. So it cost me $3,000.00 which I made back already.
This month my electric bill that I just paid is $94.75 for the entire month. We use the air conditioner all the time when we are home and the electric rates on Long Island NY are among the highest in the nation.
I am tied into the grid.
The system saves me about $1,500.00 a year or a little more than $100.00 a month

 

[E.intheC]

That's awesome Paul. It's too bad more people don't follow in your footsteps. Nothing like clean, cheaper (free, really, once you get past the initial cost) energy.

 

[Paul B]

I don't know why they don't either, you could finance the panels and they are much cheaper now than when I installed them.
To me, it's a no brainer. I like saving money, my new heating system saves me over $2,000.00 a year.
I am putting my fish on a diet which will save me 50 cents a year. :bablefish

 

[OneTimer]

How much would the labor be if you had someone install it? Did your cost include all hardware and wiring to the house? Do you recieve a credit from LIPA for selling power back to the grid?

thanks

 

[NYPDFrogman]

I have an appt July 2 with a contractor to see if solar is going to help me
will post results

 

[Paul B]

How much would the labor be if you had someone install it? Did your cost include all hardware and wiring to the house? Do you recieve a credit from LIPA for selling power back to the grid?

My cost included everything including the inverter and the wiring to the panels and my breaker panel.
It would cost you about $10,000.oo for labor to have someone install it. It would pay back itself in 5 years then it would be profit. The panels are about half the price now from what I paid.
LIPA pays me for the power but at a reduced rate from what they charge me for it.

 

[tangmaniac]

that is AWSOME, i will definatly look in to it when i get my own place.

 

[OneTimer]

My cost included everything including the inverter and the wiring to the panels and my breaker panel.
It would cost you about $10,000.oo for labor to have someone install it. It would pay back itself in 5 years then it would be profit. The panels are about half the price now from what I paid.
LIPA pays me for the power but at a reduced rate from what they charge me for it.

Thanks for the information - I thought I read the whole set up cost about 40K complete with approximately 24K in government incentives for a 5 kw- system.

 

[Paul B]

No it doesn't cost $40,000.00, it is closer to $30,000.00 installed.