Solar Energy FAQ

Is Solar really a good investment?

Absolutely. How much you will save will depend on your exact circumstances, and we'll go over those with you during our free estimate, but for nearly anyone, as photovoltaic solar system is a good investment. It's returns are comparable, if not better, than stocks, bonds, or other financial investments, and unlike those, it comes with a warranty, so it's very low risk.

How do I compare prices for bids I've received from different contractors?

There are so many different standards and measurements floating around the solar industry that it's easy for an unscrupulous contractor to deceive a homeowner. The easiest (and most accepted) way to describe what a photovoltaic system produces is the CEC AC rating (California Energy Commission). Use this rating as a benchmark to compare between various bids by dividing the cost of the system by it's CEC AC rating to determine the true cost per watt value. At Solar Horizons, we will beat any competitors bid using this method to determine the true cost per watt.

How long will it take to pay off my system with the savings it generates?

This depends totally on your specific circumstances and the specifications of the system you have installed, but, roughly, anywhere from 5-12 years. However, if you count the rise in property value, these systems could pay themselves off within as few as 3 years. Generally, people with higher utility bills will pay off their system faster than people with smaller utility bills.

Can I zero out my utility bill?

Yes and no. Depending on your energy usage and your available roof space, you certainly could. However, it's generally not cost-efficient. Your utility company charges you on a tier based system, where the more energy you use, the more you have to pay per unit of that energy. As an example, PG&E customers only pay 11 cents per kilowatt/hour while they're in their baseline (Tier 0) usage. But, as their energy usage increases, they could be billed as much as 44 cents for the same kilowatt/hour of energy that they only paid 11 cents for earlier in the month. The most cost effective way to go solar is to size the system to eliminate the higher tiers while letting you continue paying the utility company for the lower tiers. However, if you want to zero out you bill, we're more than happy to help you size a system that will do just that.

If I produce more energy than I use, will the utility company send me a check?

Sort of. If you produce more energy in a given month than you use, the utility will credit your account with that energy for your future use. This is called net metering. However, if, over the course of an entire year, you still have produced more energy than you've used, the utility company is not obligated to write you a check or continue the credit. However, we'll size any system to avoid this situation and only eliminate your bill, as who wants to give the utility company free energy?

What is photovoltaic?

Photovoltaic cells are solar cells that produce electricity when exposed to light. Photo (light) + voltaic (electrical).