Two Things About Solar Panels That Often Get Overlooked

Solar is a great source of renewable energy, and more and more homeowners in Arizona are thinking about switching to this clean energy. With abundant sun and limited cloudy days, Arizona is a prime location for solar panels (especially with our AC bills!). We have all heard the solar panel installers pitches, aimed at every homeowner regardless of their family size, household size, or roof age. “Free solar!” “Solar panels save thousands!” “Pay nothing on your electricity bill!”, but is this always true? Does solar always save you money?

Is solar right for you?

No. Solar is a great option, especially compared to fossil fuels and other energy methods, but there are often a few things that go overlooked, especially when dealing with dishonest salesmen and non accredited solar companies. Think about it, how often do these salesmen ask about the orientation of your home, age of the roof, or if you are planning to sell in their pitch? We want to be honest with our neighbors- you don’t always need solar. Here are two things about solar that often go overlooked. 

1. Homeowners May Look At The ROI Wrong

One of the most common misconceptions among homeowners considering solar is the focus on Return on Investment (ROI). While ROI is an important factor to consider, it doesn't always provide the full picture of going solar. Instead, taking a look at your monthly utility bill can help you decide if solar is right for you. 

For example, let's say that your monthly energy bill from APS or SRP is $200. If you install solar panels and your monthly financing payment for the solar system comes in at $150, it could be a great cost-saving opportunity. This means that having solar on your home will be more cost-effective than doing nothing at all, the ROI is just an added benefit. You are effectively replacing your APS bill with one that’s less with solar.

On the other hand, suppose your monthly energy bill from APS or SRP is $150, and you install solar panels. If your monthly financing payment for the solar system comes in at $200, your utility bill may not be high enough to offset enough costs and make your solar panel system worth it- at least not for a while. 

These are especially important to take into consideration when you are being told that solar panels will take over your electric bill. 

2. Solar Craze

Some people just want solar, no matter what, and end up paying a higher amount with solar panels than they were without solar panels. This comes from a bad solar design, bad financing terms or dishonest salespeople over promising solar savings. We do not recommend solar in a few situations. 

1. Your Roof Will Not Fit Or Accommodate Solar Panels
If your roof will not fit or accommodate a good orientation for solar panels, the energy offset will probably not be enough to make the cost of solar panels worth it. If you have residential solar panels only facing the east and northern exposures, this would not be ideal for a solar home. If you have a lot of smaller sections of roof, solar panels will be much harder to accommodate. ​

2. Large Shaded Areas
Large trees, buildings, poles, electrical wires, bird poop… these can all shade solar panels. If there’s a large shaded area on the roof, and the panels will not get sun exposure, why waste money putting solar panels there? Over time, the battery will not be able to fully charge, which will eventually cause issues along with poor energy savings.

3. You Are Moving Soon
If you are planning to move or sell your home, you should not get solar panels. Unless you are able to pay for them in full and believe that it will be a great selling point, (which it could be), it could just add on extra costs. In fact, houses with solar panel leases tend to sell for less than a home without solar, since the lease is just another added expense for the buyer. It is also extremely expensive to move solar panels from one home to another, and solar panels should stay where they were installed to get the most out of their lifetime.

4. You Don’t Pay Much Already
If you are already paying under $75 a month for your electric bill, solar may just be an added expense. We mainly see these low energy costs in smaller homes and smaller family sizes, or in places where the average cost/electricity rates are generally lower- (thanks, utility company!). The eventual long term solar savings will likely not be substantial enough to justify the upfront costs, the initial loan and installation fees. If you still want solar, look into adjusting the solar system's size to see what could work for you. 


Is Solar Right For You?
​Solar can be a great way to save money on your electric bills each month. Whether you lease, finance, or purchase your solar panels outright, solar can be a great investment if it is right for your home. A good way to tell is that if your energy produced exceeds your energy consumption- you’re golden!
Green ID Phoenix can help you make sure that solar is right for you. With over 10 years in the Valley, we understand that nobody wants a pesky sales person in their home, so we created a way to send you a free digital quote here. Simply upload your utility bill, and we will send you a no obligation quote for you to review on your own time. 

Luckily, there are federal solar tax credits that could help you pay for your residential solar system. To read more about these tax breaks, visit our blogs or visit “Solar Energy Systems Credits” here. 

We know that solar can be tricky, especially with tax credits, batteries, solar installation, and dealing with APS or SRP. If you have any questions, feel free to give us a call at 602-926-1650.