Top 5 Concerns When Going Solar In El Dorado County

We have talked with thousands of people in Placerville and surrounding El Dorado County communities about the benefits of going solar for their home electricity needs. There are numerous benefits to going solar including saving hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years, lowering your carbon footprint, and increasing your home value. I have run into many concerns or reasons people have for not going solar. Below are the top 5 concerns people have when going solar in El Dorado County.

“My bills are really low”

Some folks are doing a great job at keeping their electricity bills low. Keeping your ac/heat temps conservative, switching to LED bulbs, and being aware of PG&E time-of-use billing schedules will help keep your energy usage low. Switching to solar will keep it even lower. 

If you have a low bill below $100, going solar will drop your monthly cost to about $60! The reason is, each solar installation is sized for the energy needs of that particular home. So, a smaller system (and lower cost), is designed to meet lower energy demands.  

“I have too many trees”

El Dorado county spreads from El Dorado Hills all the way to South Lake Tahoe. We have millions of trees in our county. Some homes and properties are covered in trees. It is true, shade is the enemy of solar. However, with fire concerns and bark beetle tree damage, most properties are being cleaned up with defensible space. Here’s the kicker. If you are paying for tree trimming service, that can be included in your solar project, and you can receive your 26% federal tax credit on the money you spent to go solar + clear your property!

“I can’t afford it”

With no up front costs to install, and monthly payments 40%-50% lower than your PG&E bills, you can’t afford to not go solar! PG&E rates are approved to increase by ridiculous amounts over the next few years. If you think your bill is expensive now, just wait.

https://calmatters.org/economy/2019/08/pges-rate-increases-what-you-need-to-know/

“I’m selling my home in 5 years”

The average return on investment for solar is about 8 years. This is where the system has saved you enough money every month and added enough value to your home that it has paid for itself. A lot can happen in 5 years. 5 years easily turns into 10 years, or folks end up never selling and kicking themselves for not going solar decades ago. 

If someone with solar does move, the loan can be transferred to the new owners. The best transition is to have the new owners factor in the solar loan balance into their mortgage, and pay it off. 

https://news.energysage.com/understanding-your-solar-panel-payback-period/

“I need a new roof”

If your roof is in bad shape, it needs to be replaced before adding solar. The good news is, financing for the roof and solar can be combined into one payment. Most importantly, you can receive the 26% federal tax incentive on the roof and the solar. If the total cost is $50,000 for example, your tax credit would be $13,000!

Conclusion

The solar industry has completely exploded over the last few years. More and more people are switching their homes over to solar power. Not every home is ideal for solar. However, most concerns with going solar have been addressed and eliminated. Now is the time to make the switch! For questions about your solar install, give SIG Placerville a call, or click below to set up a free quote!