My first quote in Texas. Please give your thoughts!

[beatme]

Estimated property value increase: $8,340
Break even point: < 1 year

Don't believe what they tell you for property value increase. It is highly location and buyer dependent. In some cases it is $0.

[rubdom]

Price appears reasonable especially with the great incentives you have available to you. What is your current cost per kWh including fees and taxes? Also what is your rate structure i.e. a single or multiple tiers, time-of-use factors, etc.? How is your net metering - if any - set up? Do you plan to stay in the home for many years? I would also say that if you can get an equivalent Sunpower system for the same money, I'd be seriously considering that instead.

My kWh rate is around 10 cents with all taxes and fees included. I plan to stay in the house for at least another 18 years. The proposal has estimated paybacks at 9.2 cents (see below). The net metering program is ok but the problem is that they base it off a monthly cycle and only pay you retail rate for the energy you use. Any energy you don't use in any given 30 day cycle they pay you 1.2 cents kWh so you can't size your system to cover your summer bill. Wish they based net metering on an annual basis.
I have yet to see the Sun Power written quote from company B, but when we talked he said it was $7974 for a 5.2 DC system. My calculations put that at $1.52 per kWh after all rebates vs. the $1.46 per kWh for the Canadian proposal from company A.


Utility savings over 25 years $27,590
Estimated 1st year ROI: 8.48%
Estimated Cashflow Payback: 10 years
Solar Energy Price per kWh: $0.048
Current assumed electric rate per kWh: 0.092
Current average monthly bill $127.92
Average monthly bill with solar: $65.74
Estimated property value increase: $8,340
Break even point: < 1 year

[Sunking]

You had better look at your utility company first and see what they pay for excess. If they pay you wholesale, you are screwed. Even if they pay you retail can be bad if all you pay is 9-cents per Kwh like most Texans pay.

[J.P.M.]

Hello everyone,

I am currently shopping around in San Antonio for some solar quotes. I received my first estimate and wanted to run it by all the experts here to see if it makes sense to do solar in San Antonio. I also received some preliminary numbers from another company and they seem to be around the same out of pocket cost but with Sun power panels. Once I receive the official estimate I will post some numbers here. Any guidance would be very much appreciated!!! Also, just want everyone to know that I am looking to pull the trigger soon since San Antonio's net metering program is set to change in April and any system install prior will be grandfathered in. Also power company rebates seem to go down every year in Q1 and we are quickly approaching that time.

Modules: Canadian Solar CS6P-250P 8,221 kWh

# of Modules: 24 Annual Usage: 16,685 kWh

Inverter: Power One Aurora PVI5000 240 49.3 %

# of Inverters: 1 182,735 kWh

System Size: 6.00 kW DC 5.26 kW AC

Monitoring: Upgrade Available

Racking: ProSolar Rooftrac

First year production: 8,221 kWh
Annual usage: $16,685 kWh
Percent of annual usage: 49.3%
25 year total production: 182,735 kWh

Price per Watt: $3.50
Gross system cost: $20,982.41 (includes tax and permit fees)
CPS rebate: ($8,413.92)
Out of pocket costs: $12,568.49
Fed tax: ($3771)
Year one net cost: $8798

Panel power: 25 years
Panel defect: 10 years
Inverter defect: 10 years
Workmanship: 10 years

I'd say if you can get new Sunpower stuff for the same $/D.C. Watt as Canadian Solar, do it. $3.50/D.C. for S.p. would be nice.

[Ian S]

Price appears reasonable especially with the great incentives you have available to you. What is your current cost per kWh including fees and taxes? Also what is your rate structure i.e. a single or multiple tiers, time-of-use factors, etc.? How is your net metering - if any - set up? Do you plan to stay in the home for many years? I would also say that if you can get an equivalent Sunpower system for the same money, I'd be seriously considering that instead.

[rubdom]

Hello everyone,

I am currently shopping around in San Antonio for some solar quotes. I received my first estimate and wanted to run it by all the experts here to see if it makes sense to do solar in San Antonio. I also received some preliminary numbers from another company and they seem to be around the same out of pocket cost but with Sun power panels. Once I receive the official estimate I will post some numbers here. Any guidance would be very much appreciated!!! Also, just want everyone to know that I am looking to pull the trigger soon since San Antonio's net metering program is set to change in April and any system install prior will be grandfathered in. Also power company rebates seem to go down every year in Q1 and we are quickly approaching that time.

Modules: Canadian Solar CS6P-250P 8,221 kWh

# of Modules: 24 Annual Usage: 16,685 kWh

Inverter: Power One Aurora PVI5000 240 49.3 %

# of Inverters: 1 182,735 kWh

System Size: 6.00 kW DC 5.26 kW AC

Monitoring: Upgrade Available

Racking: ProSolar Rooftrac

First year production: 8,221 kWh
Annual usage: $16,685 kWh
Percent of annual usage: 49.3%
25 year total production: 182,735 kWh

Price per Watt: $3.50
Gross system cost: $20,982.41 (includes tax and permit fees)
CPS rebate: ($8,413.92)
Out of pocket costs: $12,568.49
Fed tax: ($3771)
Year one net cost: $8798

Panel power: 25 years
Panel defect: 10 years
Inverter defect: 10 years
Workmanship: 10 years