Newb here.
Hello all you wise solar owners! Can you share some thoughts on buying out right, prepaid leasing, or prepaid PPA? We own our home outright, (no mortgage), and have a 2nd line of credit to pay off the solar that is currently at around 5%. The problem I have run into is warranties. The big issue, is, How long will the company really be in business? Solar World looks to be on the ropes, what of Rec Solar, or Solar City? What of the panel's they use??? Or, even, what of Sunrun leasing? I really like the idea of a 20 year "guarantee" with "free maintenance", yet, will the companies last that long? Or is it just better to wing it, hope for the best, buy it outright, and pay for repairs??? (I read the inverters usually last 12 - 15 years then need replacing, a + for lease program)..
I have bids from Rec solar, Sungevity, Solar City, & Pacific Energy, (who swears by Solar World panels). Solar City has the lowest "pre-paid" lease / PPA bid by near $800, yet, seems to want / need to put up 12 panels to make 2.94 kwh (or even a stated 2.55 kwh on another part of their bid), where as Rec Solar says they only need to put up 10 panels to make 3.06 kwh! It looks like Solar City is either way over building, or way under rating the amount of sunny days we have here.
The more I read these threads, the more confused I get, so sorry for the dumb questions, but can anyone sort this out for me??
Thank you
Beachnut
Hello all you wise solar owners! Can you share some thoughts on buying out right, prepaid leasing, or prepaid PPA? We own our home outright, (no mortgage), and have a 2nd line of credit to pay off the solar that is currently at around 5%. The problem I have run into is warranties. The big issue, is, How long will the company really be in business? Solar World looks to be on the ropes, what of Rec Solar, or Solar City? What of the panel's they use??? Or, even, what of Sunrun leasing? I really like the idea of a 20 year "guarantee" with "free maintenance", yet, will the companies last that long? Or is it just better to wing it, hope for the best, buy it outright, and pay for repairs??? (I read the inverters usually last 12 - 15 years then need replacing, a + for lease program)..
I have bids from Rec solar, Sungevity, Solar City, & Pacific Energy, (who swears by Solar World panels). Solar City has the lowest "pre-paid" lease / PPA bid by near $800, yet, seems to want / need to put up 12 panels to make 2.94 kwh (or even a stated 2.55 kwh on another part of their bid), where as Rec Solar says they only need to put up 10 panels to make 3.06 kwh! It looks like Solar City is either way over building, or way under rating the amount of sunny days we have here.
The more I read these threads, the more confused I get, so sorry for the dumb questions, but can anyone sort this out for me??
Thank you
Beachnut
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