Solar Not As Easy As I Thought

Solar panels (Photo credit: Abi Skipp)

When my power was finally restored after the Superstorm came through, I started researching solar panels.  This wasn’t the first time I considered adding solar panels to our roof; it’s been on my mind for a couple of years now.  Before now, there were trees blocking the sunshine from getting to my roof, other projects that needed to be completed around the house, and other things that kept us from being able to make the change to solar power.  And there was also my husband: doubting, waiting, watching, hoping for lower prices, expecting the market for solar panels to shift in his favor.

I did some research and found that there are federal tax credits, state tax credits, and utility company rebates available now to offset the price of solar panels.  If we pay cash for the system, we could get the equivalent of 70% of the price offset by these credits and rebates.  In addition, if we finance the system (which is far less appealing to us), the up-front out-of-pocket cost is zero and we would pay for the system over time.  I think the financial incentives make this the right time to transition to solar power for our home.  My husband isn’t sold.  So for now I have to keep researching until I find something that tilts him to my side of this thing.

I contacted three companies to get estimates on the cost of a solar system for our home.  On their websites it sounds so easy: complete the simple online form, send the last month’s electric usage from the utility bill, click submit and someone will call soon with a quote on a solar system for our home.  My experience was nothing like that.

The first company to contact me did so via email.  The extra long and all too wordy message told me that the company had taken a look at the landscaping around my home and determined that we did not get enough sunlight to support a solar system.  Really?  I thought.  I’m a stay at home Mom.  I’m here almost all day.  When exactly did someone come to my home and why didn’t they call first?  The answer to that is that no one physically came to my home.  Someone somewhere looked at a Google Earth picture of my home and made a determination.  Okay.  I run to Google Earth to see what this solar company saw.  What they saw was a more than five year old picture of the roof of my house and the surrounding property.  The picture includes all of the trees that have either been cut down or fallen by storms.  The picture also included my Dad’s car parked in our driveway.  Dad died six years ago.  This picture was old and didn’t tell the current truth about my house.  I complained to the solar company, but they were unmoved.  I would complain to the Google Earth people, but I’m not sure I like that they can show a picture of my house to anyone curious about my address.  I let that one go.

The next company to contact me also sent an email.  That email very politely asked me to go get 16 months of electric usage data from our utility provider. Wha?  I don’t want to do work.  I just want you to look at my house, consider the square footage and how we use it, and give me your best estimate on what you think we’ll need.  I didn’t get that.  I got homework from solar company number two.  Since they also wanted to use the Google Earth method of visiting the house, I decided to let that estimate go as well.

The last company I contacted is actually still recovering from their experience with the Superstorm.  They did say they would be in touch, but they also begged my patience as they struggle to get their business back in operational order.  I’m trying to wait patiently.  Patience is hard, though.

And that’s the status of my solar panel pursuit.  I’m in waiting mode.  I only hope that I’m right that this will be absolutely worth the wait.  I’ll keep you posted.

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• One year with solar energy at home: Mostly sunny! [GigaOM] (gigaom.com)