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TheDivineMrsM
2 girls 4 me!
Member since 8/08 7878 total posts
Name:
Mama mama mama....
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Solar panels?
Does anyone have solar panels? Thoughts? If you have them, did you save as much money as you expected? Any feedback on Harvest Power? PM if you're uncomfortable posting.
UPDATE: We're going for it! We used Mariuz (sp?) at Harvest Power. NOTHING out of pocket (there's a $500 initial fee but that gets refunded). We're buying the panels outright and will break even in a little over 3 years. PM me for info. I am irrationally excited about solar panels now 
Message edited 12/21/2015 9:23:24 AM.
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Posted 11/24/15 7:52 PM  |
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Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate
Long Island's Largest Bridal Resource | Long Island Weddings |
apb17
My guys
Member since 5/06 2173 total posts
Name:
Alli
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Re: Solar panels?
We bought our panels and used the company Energy By Choice. The company was great (and so was the salesman)...so easy to deal with. We put them on at the very end of March and should hit or surpass our target of solar. Our bill for the panels is less than what my PSE&G bill was. I pay about $12 a month to PSE&G and I love that in a few years my panels will be paid off and I'll only be paying the hook up fee to PSE&G. I'm very happy we did it.
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| Posted 11/25/15 7:59 AM |
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NYCGirl80
I love my kiddies!
Member since 5/11 10413 total posts
Name:
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Re: Solar panels?
We bought a house with them and it's awesome! We didn't have to pay the investment in the panels, but we reap the benefits. Our bils are somewhere around $10/mo but that's just usage fees. Once a year we get a check back for the overage. This year we were basically flat form what we had to pay vs our refund...actually made a couple dollars.
My parents are looking into getting them now. Engineers come and assess your house to make sure you will get efficiency from them. If you won't, they don't install.
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| Posted 11/25/15 9:03 AM |
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ave1024
I Took The Wrong Road
Member since 12/07 6153 total posts
Name:
That Led To The Wrong Tendencies
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Re: Solar panels?
I had a quote done. Break even point was 9 years for me. Too long IMO.
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| Posted 11/25/15 9:48 AM |
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TheDivineMrsM
2 girls 4 me!
Member since 8/08 7878 total posts
Name:
Mama mama mama....
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Re: Solar panels?
Posted by ave1024
I had a quote done. Break even point was 9 years for me. Too long IMO.
Lease or purchase?
If we go ahead with this, we'll be purchasing them and making payments. If the panels are as effective as they're predicted to be, our bills will be significantly lower. The loan payment is lower than what we're currently paying PSEG.
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| Posted 11/25/15 12:51 PM |
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BabyBoy
is Skylar Elizabeth
Member since 5/05 4189 total posts
Name:
Tom
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Re: Solar panels?
Posted by TheDivineMrsM
Posted by ave1024
I had a quote done. Break even point was 9 years for me. Too long IMO.
Lease or purchase?
If we go ahead with this, we'll be purchasing them and making payments. If the panels are as effective as they're predicted to be, our bills will be significantly lower. The loan payment is lower than what we're currently paying PSEG.
This is our situation. My loan is less then monthly payment with pseg connection fee. After loan is up, just a connection fee. This is a no brianer plus 35 year warranty on everything.
Keep on my, rebates end next year and it would just be that much more
I have great recommendation of anyone is intrested
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| Posted 11/25/15 8:49 PM |
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ave1024
I Took The Wrong Road
Member since 12/07 6153 total posts
Name:
That Led To The Wrong Tendencies
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Re: Solar panels?
Posted by BabyBoy
Posted by TheDivineMrsM
Posted by ave1024
I had a quote done. Break even point was 9 years for me. Too long IMO.
Lease or purchase?
If we go ahead with this, we'll be purchasing them and making payments. If the panels are as effective as they're predicted to be, our bills will be significantly lower. The loan payment is lower than what we're currently paying PSEG.
This is our situation. My loan is less then monthly payment with pseg connection fee. After loan is up, just a connection fee. This is a no brianer plus 35 year warranty on everything.
Keep on my, rebates end next year and it would just be that much more
I have great recommendation of anyone is intrested
Here's the problem I have with solar. Even if they were able to save me what I pay PSEG per month, I am buying a 35-40k system that I am going to have to pay back somehow. My break even point was 9 years. So it will take me 9 years just to pay this thing off AND THEN ill start saving afterwards. For the first 9 years I am not saving jack and I have a 40k bill sitting over my head.
Because of the above, I am stuck with this bill and technically tied to this house for 9 years. If I move or sell I am going to be out some cash. I am not going to expect my house will appraise for 30k or even 20k more just because I have solar. I am not going to assume a buyer will take over these payments because I would never take over somebody' solar payments on a system I didn't have a choice in installing.
And IMO the technology is still improving. The panels are getting more efficient and I think eventually the prices will start dropping. When the break even point is 2-3 years maybe then ill consider it.
Another important question I asked, the state credit that's currently available is a one time use thing. So if I get solar for this house and get the state credit, if I decide to sell and want to put solar on another house I am not eligible for the state credit the second time around.
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| Posted 11/30/15 3:25 PM |
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NYCGirl80
I love my kiddies!
Member since 5/11 10413 total posts
Name:
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Re: Solar panels?
Posted by ave1024
Posted by BabyBoy
Posted by TheDivineMrsM
Posted by ave1024
I had a quote done. Break even point was 9 years for me. Too long IMO.
Lease or purchase?
If we go ahead with this, we'll be purchasing them and making payments. If the panels are as effective as they're predicted to be, our bills will be significantly lower. The loan payment is lower than what we're currently paying PSEG.
This is our situation. My loan is less then monthly payment with pseg connection fee. After loan is up, just a connection fee. This is a no brianer plus 35 year warranty on everything.
Keep on my, rebates end next year and it would just be that much more
I have great recommendation of anyone is intrested
Here's the problem I have with solar. Even if they were able to save me what I pay PSEG per month, I am buying a 35-40k system that I am going to have to pay back somehow. My break even point was 9 years. So it will take me 9 years just to pay this thing off AND THEN ill start saving afterwards. For the first 9 years I am not saving jack and I have a 40k bill sitting over my head.
Because of the above, I am stuck with this bill and technically tied to this house for 9 years. If I move or sell I am going to be out some cash. I am not going to expect my house will appraise for 30k or even 20k more just because I have solar. I am not going to assume a buyer will take over these payments because I would never take over somebody' solar payments on a system I didn't have a choice in installing.
And IMO the technology is still improving. The panels are getting more efficient and I think eventually the prices will start dropping. When the break even point is 2-3 years maybe then ill consider it.
Another important question I asked, the state credit that's currently available is a one time use thing. So if I get solar for this house and get the state credit, if I decide to sell and want to put solar on another house I am not eligible for the state credit the second time around.
For someone in their forever house, who plans on staying 20 or 30 (or 50!) years, then 9 years break even is nothing. So while it's not worth it for you, it may be for OP, who I think is in her forever house.
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| Posted 11/30/15 3:30 PM |
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BabyBoy
is Skylar Elizabeth
Member since 5/05 4189 total posts
Name:
Tom
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Re: Solar panels?
Posted by ave1024
Posted by BabyBoy
Posted by TheDivineMrsM
Posted by ave1024
I had a quote done. Break even point was 9 years for me. Too long IMO.
Lease or purchase?
If we go ahead with this, we'll be purchasing them and making payments. If the panels are as effective as they're predicted to be, our bills will be significantly lower. The loan payment is lower than what we're currently paying PSEG.
This is our situation. My loan is less then monthly payment with pseg connection fee. After loan is up, just a connection fee. This is a no brianer plus 35 year warranty on everything.
Keep on my, rebates end next year and it would just be that much more
I have great recommendation of anyone is intrested
Here's the problem I have with solar. Even if they were able to save me what I pay PSEG per month, I am buying a 35-40k system that I am going to have to pay back somehow. My break even point was 9 years. So it will take me 9 years just to pay this thing off AND THEN ill start saving afterwards. For the first 9 years I am not saving jack and I have a 40k bill sitting over my head.
Because of the above, I am stuck with this bill and technically tied to this house for 9 years. If I move or sell I am going to be out some cash. I am not going to expect my house will appraise for 30k or even 20k more just because I have solar. I am not going to assume a buyer will take over these payments because I would never take over somebody' solar payments on a system I didn't have a choice in installing.
And IMO the technology is still improving. The panels are getting more efficient and I think eventually the prices will start dropping. When the break even point is 2-3 years maybe then ill consider it.
Another important question I asked, the state credit that's currently available is a one time use thing. So if I get solar for this house and get the state credit, if I decide to sell and want to put solar on another house I am not eligible for the state credit the second time around.
Understood and point taken however, as i stated, i start saving my first full month that i exceed my usage (should be March). My loan is fixed at a low rate which is already less they my average PSG bill. Yes, you do have a loan to take out however if you are in your house that much longer, your return will be higher. This doesn't even factor increase cost of energy when the rates go up 2% each year...hmmm
Yes, technology is "ALWAYS" improving. Does this mean your not going to buy a new car or anything else? I mentioned what will be the next big panel out but my savings would be marginal as these get more and more efficient. Sure, cost would hopefully come down but your talking pennies at this rate.
As for the state credit, as you know our state doesn't know how to spend money. From what i know, this "1 time credit" will soon go away as there will be no more funding. I could be wrong because i don't know much about it. The federal programs (which is the bulk of the money) is ending 2016 (this i do know becasuse i thought it was this year). This (rebates) is accounting for about half of my 30k install. All programs comes and go. I missed out on federal down payment assistance...upset that people just got handed money or bailed out for whatever reason they had with their bank. I'll be damnned to pass out on Solor free money.
As for when you sell your house, you have some options. If you lease, yes, someone will need to take that over. One would work that into the contract. Just to mention leasing sucks imo. Leasing model helps you and the utility provider as they are feeding any unsured energy into the system (which they get a check for). You can help yourself more by owning a system.
If you buy, you build your price to close out your house accounting on your end to factor in your remaining payments on solar and maybe to profit. No different then trading in your car to a dealership..factor in how much is left and pay it off.
While this may not be my forever house, im investing for the next 10 years or so to give me some small monthly savings till its paid off while increasing the property value.
Realized in my last message, i have a 25 year warranty.
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| Posted 11/30/15 8:58 PM |
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Mara1017
LIF Adolescent
Member since 5/11 696 total posts
Name:
Mara
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Solar panels?
I used Keith at Harvest Power and he was great. We have had them for over a year now and we have not paid more than $12 a month to PSEG which is the service fee. We bought the panels and figured out that after the rebates and tax credits as received we break even in 3 years. Not bad at all. We love our panels.
Message edited 12/1/2015 6:52:29 AM.
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| Posted 12/1/15 6:52 AM |
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EMC11709
LIF Toddler
Member since 3/10 484 total posts
Name:
Erica
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Solar panels?
Hello we just our solar panels installed for FREE. We used Level Solar. We just pay $11 to be connected to the PSEG grid and + what we generate. FM for more info
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| Posted 12/18/15 3:24 PM |
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