In Vermont’s state legislature, a bill is under consideration that will help owners of residential solar photovoltaic (PV) systems put more green into their pockets.

It’s not a rebate or an incentive program to reduce installation costs, but a change to net-metering policies–a change that can reap substantial savings for Vermont residents.

For pricing on a home solar system, click here.

What Is Net Metering?

When a grid-connected, residential solar system generates more electricity than the home is currently using, the home’s electrical meter literally spins backward, sending the surplus energy back into the electrical grid. In many states, the customer then gets a credit for that energy on the monthly electrical bill.

Net metering is one of the primary reasons that going solar has become so affordable. Even with a small home solar system, there are periods of the day when it will generate more energy than the home needs. When that excess electricity is credited to a home energy bill, it cuts down on the costs of the conventional energy that a homeowner may need to supplement the PV system.

Why is Vermont’s Net Metering Policy Changing?

Across the nation, public utilities are mandated to invest in renewable energy. Many utilities partially meet these mandates through net metering, but states are allowed to dictate the percentage of solar-generated electricity that utilities credit their customers. Last year, Vermont raised the cap on the amount that utilities can get from net-metered PV systems to 4 percent.

This, along with Vermont solar rebates, was good news for residents, but the new law restricted the size of eligible solar panel systems to only 5 kilowatts. In Vermont, the average home PV system is around 7 kilowatts, leaving most homeowners ineligible to take advantage of the extra savings without undergoing a taxing application process.

House Bill 475, which just passed in the state’s house of representatives, allows for a simple application process for PV systems sized up to 10 kilowatts. Best of all, the bill also credits customers with home solar systems more money per kilowatt hour for surplus electricity. The bill must still pass the state’s senate.

What About Other States?

Almost every state has programs in place that garner extra income for PV system owners. In many areas of California, for example, net metering savings can be augmented by taking advantage of tiered and time-of-use (TOU) rates. Tiered rates are those that rise as the customer uses more energy. TOU rates increase during peak-demand periods. Home PV systems typically generate enough electricity to keep customers in the lower, base rates.

Other states like New Jersey award home solar system owners a Solar Renewable Energy Credit (SREC) for each megawatt-hour of electricity that their systems produce. New Jersey SRECs are currently selling for $675 each.

Cutting installation costs through rebate and incentive programs is only the beginning of solar savings. Programs like net metering not only offer ongoing savings for homeowners, but decrease the payback period for their systems. Once that period is over, those savings become sheer profit.

For more assistance paying for a home solar system, check out solar lending programs, offered in Vermont and across other states as well.

When it comes to sheer number of solar installations, Arizona comes in third among states, following California and New Jersey.

Until last December, Arizona’s incentive programs were among the best in the nation, with public utilities offering generous per-watt rebates in addition to a state rebate.

Solar Rebates are Fading Fast

In December, however, the Arizona Corporation Commission, the state’s regulatory board, agreed to allow utilities to decrease rebate amounts.

Public utilities are mandated by law to invest in renewable energy, and since 2006, electric utilities in Arizona have been partially meeting that mandate by offering customers who install residential solar photovoltaic (PV) systems rebates, based on the system’s size.

Some rebate programs were as high at $3 per watt. Those rebates, when combined with the federal tax credit incentive program and the state’s $1,000 rebate program, made going solar in Arizona highly affordable.

To check current pricing on solar in your area, click here.

Beginning in 2010, however, utilities began to pressure the Commission to approve reductions in rebates for residential and commercial installations. Utilities like the Tucson Electric Power Company, who recently received financing for the construction of a 6.1-megawatt solar energy plant, are seeking to meet renewable energy mandates through large-scale solar farms.

In December of 2011, the Commission responded by agreeing to allow utilities to decrease rebates and to continue to decrease them as more residential solar systems are installed. California’s utilities operate their solar rebate programs under a similar tiered system. The Commission also reduced overall funding for the rebate programs.

Is Solar Still Worth it? Answer: Yes

The good news for residents of the Grand Canyon State is that Arizona is still one of the most affordable places to go solar. In sunny Arizona, an average size for a home solar system would be about 3 kilowatts and cost about $25,000, before rebates. The federal incentive program would cut up to 30 percent of that cost. The state rebate would shave off another $1,000, leaving a total of $16,500.

Most of the Arizona utilities are currently paying $.75 per-watt rebates, reducing the cost further to $14,250.

Residents could expect to recover the installation costs in around six to nine years through savings on their monthly energy bills. After that payback period, homeowners with home solar systems can enjoy years and years of free electricity, knowing that each kilowatt hour generated by their systems helps reduce the nation’s reliance on gas-emitting fossil fuel generation.

To take full advantage of the existing incentive programs, however, Arizona residents need to act soon. The new tiered system for the utility rebates allows the per-watt rebate to be reduced to $.10 per watt.

In addition, funds are limited for the current year, and it is likely that cuts will continue to the program next year. There are still substantial solar savings available in sunny Arizona, and there may never be a better time to go solar than now.

Click here to get cost information on solar panels in your area.

When you start thinking about adding a residential solar system to your home, the first question you’ll likely want answered is, how much is this going to cost me? A realistic answer to that question is, of course, it depends. Several factors must be taken into consideration to determine the cost of a photovoltaic (PV) system for your specific home and your specific location.

For secure estimates on solar panels in your area, click here.

The first step is establishing whether your home is a good candidate for a residential solar system. For roof-mounted systems, the strength and area of the roof must be evaluated, as well as the roof’s orientation to the sun. While the size of a home won’t greatly influence installation costs, the amount of electricity that the home consumes, and what proportion of that electricity will be offset by solar energy, must be determined before an accurate cost estimate can be given.

Average Home Solar Costs

According to data collected by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), in 2009, the last year that data was analyzed, the energy consumed in an average American home was 908 kilowatt-hours per month. The average size for home solar systems is between 2 and 5 kilowatts. Average solar costs for residential PV systems range from $15,000 to $40,000, before rebates and tax credits.

The amount you can save by installing solar panels will not only be affected by the cost of conventional energy at your location, but by the solar rebates and tax credits for installations that may be available where you live. While the federal government’s tax credit incentive program is available to all Americans who wish to go solar, incentive programs offered at the state and local level vary from location to location.

The Federal 30% Off Tax Credit Program

The federal government incentive program covers up to 30% of the cost of installing a residential solar system, provided in the form of a tax credit. Some states offer cash rebates as well, often in conjunction with public utilities.

In most states, public utilities are required to invest in renewable energy, especially solar electricity. In order to meet these mandates, utilities offer rebates, incentives, loans and buy-back programs to their customers who install PV systems, making it easy to earn credit from your utility by going solar. Cities and municipalities may offer additional incentive programs as well, like the excellent top 10 solar cities in California.

Installation costs may be further offset through “buy-back” programs. Many states offer a Solar Renewable Energy Credit (SREC) for each megawatt-hour of solar-generated electricity. Depending on local policies, the credits can be sold on the solar market or back to the public utility, often for upwards of $600 apiece.

Some utilities offer other options, such as providing credit for surplus energy, aka net metering, that a home PV system generates to the homeowner’s electric bill.

Case Study: Gainesville, Florida

To illustrate variables that affect the overall costs and savings of your residential solar system, consider the incentive programs offered in Gainesville, Florida. In general, Florida solar rebates have become victim to their own success. In most major cities in Florida, the funds for rebate programs offered by public utilities are exhausted for both this year and next.

Gainesville is an exception. Gainesville Regional Utility (GRU) residential customers can receive rebates up to $7,500. GRU bases their per-watt rebates on the PV system’s efficiency, as measured by the amount of sunlight available at the home’s location, with a $1.50 per-watt rebate offered for homeowners in the sunniest locations. Less energy-efficient locations may receive a $1.15 per-watt rebate.

GRU also gives customers with home solar panels the option to sell 100% of their solar-generated electricity back to them, at a rate of $.32 per kilowatt hour. Alternately, customers who choose to “net meter,” selling back only the extra solar-generated electricity that the home does not use, are offered a flat rebate. GRU also offers 6% annual interest solar loans to customers who wish to install a residential system.

The wide variety of incentive programs available throughout the country makes general estimates about the cost of going solar difficult, if not impossible. The very best way to get an accurate estimate of how much it costs to have a solar system installed on your home is to get a free evaluation by a professional solar contractor.

You can get pricing in your area quickly and securely by clicking here.

Many still view residential solar systems as a long-term investment, one that requires coming up with a large amount of cash at the outset. Statistics prove otherwise. In California, over 50 percent of the photovoltaic (PV) systems installed upon rooftops throughout the state in the last year were not purchased at all, but leased.

California and other states are also offering special incentives for low-income homeowners as well. Below we’ll dive into these two popular avenues for going solar, as well as offer free solar contractor referrals and additional information.

For pricing on a home solar system in your area, click here.

Solar Leasing

Solar leasing has changed the solar equation, offering opportunities for many more homeowners to go solar for little or no money down. With a solar lease, the solar provider purchases the system, and then arranges for it to be installed on your roof. The solar provider insures the PV system and maintains it. You pay for the electricity that the PV system generates. Since solar electricity generally costs less than conventional power, your electric bills are reduced by 10-30%.

Leasing solar panels is an easy way to cut home energy costs, and allows homeowners to participate in the movement to wean the country off fossil fuels. Going solar lessens the need to use taxpayer money to build more power plants. Leasing also offers opportunities to increase the number of green jobs, keeping Americans working towards a sustainable future.

Leasing keeps the solar industry growing, too, providing the funds needed to continue to develop technological innovations that are driving down the costs of components and manufacturing. Investors are betting on the benefits of leasing. Utility companies are increasingly investing in solar leasing programs.

This year Google invested $75 million in leasing as well, in a program operated by the Clean Power Finance investment firm. Google’s goal is to add 3,000 leased residential PV systems.

Low-Income Incentives

Several states offer grant programs for low-income homeowners, some from the states themselves, others from public utilities. Low-income qualifications are typically established by measuring the area’s median-family income, as determined by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Funding for some of these popular programs has been exhausted for this year, such as those for Pennsylvania, but may become available again next year.

Those states still offering generous incentive programs for low-income homeowners include Vermont, which offers a rebate up to $7,500, and California. Low-income homeowners who are served by California’s three major public utilities, and whose incomes fall between 50- to 80-percent range of median-family incomes, may receive rebates between $4.75 to $7.00 per watt (essentially a free solar system in California).

Chances are that if you own a home, you can afford to go solar, either by leasing or by taking advantage of all the incentive programs that can greatly reduce upfront costs. Almost every homeowner who invests in a residential PV energy system will see a significant return on the investment.

Savings begin immediately, through lower monthly electric bills, and once the initial investment has been recouped, electricity is virtually free for years to come.

Click here for a free contractor referral in your area.

Bright and sunny most of the year, it’s no wonder that Murrieta, California is one of the top 10 solar cities in the state for photovoltaic (PV) systems. Most homes in Murrieta soak up plenty of sunshine year-round.

Solar rebates make home solar systems in Murrieta affordable, too, but you need to act quickly to get the most out of them. Using averages to calculate data specific to Murrieta, here is an estimate of solar costs and savings for a typical Murrieta residential solar system.

For pricing on a solar system in your area, click here.

Average Solar Costs in Murrieta

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) gathers data about electrical usage throughout the nation. According to the EIA, in 2009, the average American home used 908 kilowatt hours of electricity each month. In Murrieta, that amount results in a $150 monthly electrical bill. An average-sized solar system for Murrieta homes is between 2.96 and 4.44 kilowatts. The solar panels for the system would cover about 370 square feet of roofing. Before California rebates, the cost for the system would be $29,600.

The Federal Incentive Program

The federal government’s generous tax credit program is intended to help the nation become less dependent on non-renewable energy. Through a tax credit, the federal rebate pays for up to 30 percent of the costs for installing a residential solar energy system. In the Murrieta sample system, the rebate would be $8,880, lowering the gross cost to $20,720.

Utility Rebates

California runs a program in conjunction with the state’s public utilities to meet mandates to invest in renewable energy. The program offers per-watt rebates to Californians who go solar. As participation in the program increases, the rebates are reduced, making early adopters the ones to pay least for their systems.

Murrieta’s Southern California Edison (SCE) utility is currently offering $0.65 per watt. SCE is in the seventh step of the ten-step program, so Murrieta homeowners need to act soon to lock in this substantial rebate. In the sample Murrieta system, the SCE rebate would total $2,405, resulting in a net cost for the system of $18,315.

Through monthly savings on electrical bills, the $18,315 PV system would be paid off in 10 years.

• Average Monthly Utility Savings: $126 to $265
• Average Annual Utility Savings: $1,509 to $3,185
• 25-year Utility Savings: $37,723 to $79,613
• Property Value Increase: $17,980 to $37,946
• Greenhouse Gas Saved over Life of System: 112 tons

Additional Savings for Murrieta

SCE tiered rates start at a base rate for the amount of electricity that SCE estimates that the building needs. When customers use more than that amount, the rates enter a higher “tier.” Residential solar systems can help prevent higher-tiered charges.

SCE also charges more during periods of the day when electricity is in high demand. Fortunately, the most expensive “peak demand period” is during the afternoon, when solar panels in Murrieta are most efficient. Whenever a home solar system produces more energy than the home is using, SCE credits the customer on monthly bills. In sunny Murrieta, this can add up to substantial savings.

To check savings in your area, it’s best to get a few estimates.

Click here to get started.

While there continues to be debate about just how much tax incentives have influenced consumer decisions to go green, the fact that they have contributed to the country’s gradual trend towards renewable energy and energy conservation is indisputable. Yet in today’s political climate, even the most positive proof of the benefits of solar rebate programs may not be enough to guarantee their continuance.

In 2009 and 2010, the federal government offered up to a $1,500 tax credit for energy-efficient window installation. Industry analysts reported a 10-15% jump in sales for those two years. Window contractors were able to both save jobs and add them, keeping paychecks in the pockets of hard-working Americans.

In 2011, Congress cut the credit for energy-efficient window installation to just $200, covering only the cost of materials. According to the Windows and Doors Manufacturers Association, sales of windows for the first half of the year have since declined by 16 percent. The $200 credit is set to expire at the end of this year.

Replacing old windows with energy-efficient windows can reduce a homeowner’s cooling and heating costs by up to 30%. For homeowners struggling to make it through this tough economy, cutting energy bills by nearly one-third provides significant savings. Replacing windows also raises the resale value of your home, an important consideration for those trying to sell in today’s downturned housing market.

Solar Rebates are Still Available — for Now

If you have investigated adding a residential solar photovoltaic (PV) system to your home, you most likely already know about the generous federal tax credit incentive program available to homeowners who go solar. The program covers up to 30% of the upfront costs for installing solar panels, and is set to expire at the end of 2016.

(For pricing on a home solar system in your area, click here).

Yet Congress has the power to change that deadline. Should those who oppose renewable energy take control of the House and Senate in the coming elections, chances are likely that the incentive program will end. Indeed, several conservative presidential candidates have already gone on record saying that they will seek to eliminate tax credits for renewable energy.

Since the federal tax credit first became available in 2006, solar energy system installations have increased 800%. While some of the industry’s growth can be credited to declining solar costs – module prices have fallen 12 percent over the last year – it’s clear that incentive programs have played a major role in the success of solar.

Other incentive programs are available for home solar systems, some quite generous, from rebates offered by states, to those from public utilities. But many of these have seen reductions over the last year. Some have even been eliminated.

The innovations in solar technology that have helped reduce component and installation costs have been fueled by industry growth. Should that growth slow, so will the pace of money-saving, innovative improvements. Now may very well be the most affordable time to go green and go solar.

Click here to get pricing on a system of your own.

In scenic Santa Rosa, California, residents can save money by doing their part for the environment. And if they act soon, they can save even more.

Incentive programs can significantly reduce the cost of a residential solar photovoltaic (PV) system, but to make the most of those savings, Santa Rosa homeowners will want to start planning now.

To get pricing on solar panels in your area, click here.

Below is an estimated breakdown of solar costs and savings in Santa Rosa.

Average Santa Rosa Home Solar Costs

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the national average home electrical usage in 2009 was 908 kilowatt hours per month. In Santa Rosa, that amount of electricity costs $150 each month. An average home solar system in Santa Rosa is sized between 3.07 and 4.61 kilowatts. We’ll use a 3.84-kW system for this sample system. The system would need about 384 square feet of roof area for the panels, and would cost about $30,720.

Cost Reductions and Incentive Programs

The federal incentive program pays you back for up to 30 percent of upfront installation costs in the form of a tax credit. In this sample PV system, that would amount to about $9,220, reducing your system cost to $21,500.

Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) offers a rebate of $0.25 per system watt, through a program overseen by the California Public Utility Commission. As more Californians install residential solar systems, the per-watt rate is decreased. PG&E is already in the ninth step of the ten-step program. Santa Rosa residents need to act soon before PG&E’s rebates completely disappear.

The PG&E rebate for this sample solar system would be $960, bringing the total installation cost down to $20,540. This investment would be returned in 11 years through savings in monthly energy bills.

Total Savings for Santa Rosa Residents

• Average Monthly Utility Savings: $126 to $265
• Average Annual Utility Savings: $1,509 to $3,185
• 25-year Utility Savings: $37,723 to $79,613
• Property Value Increase: $17,980 to $37,946
• Greenhouse Gas Saved over Life of System: 112 tons

Tiered Rates

A home with a solar energy system will always draw electricity first before tapping into conventional electricity. PG&E increases rates in “tiers,” as a structure’s electrical usage increases. A solar system can keep rates in the lowest base rate.

Time-of-Use Metering

PG&E also charges more for electricity used during peak demand periods, the time of day when solar panels are generating the most electricity. Time-of-use metering helps you save even more.

Net Metering

Whenever a home solar system produces more electricity than the home is currently using, the excess energy goes back into the electrical grid. You will be credited for this surplus electricity on your monthly electrical bills. It’s yet another way to earn cash from your utility.

Home Energy Analysis

In conjunction with the California Energy Commission, the Sonoma County Energy Independence Program (SCEIP) offers a rebate of up to $2,500 for Santa Rosa residents who participate in the Energy Upgrade California program. All Californians are eligible for the first phase of the program, which consists of a rebate of up to $500 for a home energy analysis. SCEIP offers an additional $2,000 for homeowners who follow through on the energy analysis with energy-efficient home improvements.

Good news, residents of sunny Simi Valley, CA: you’re in a prime location for home solar systems. And if you start planning now, you can take advantage of programs that significantly reduce installation costs — by as much as 40%.

Here’s an estimate of how much residential solar may cost you, based on average solar costs and expenses in Simi Valley.

To get pricing on home solar in your area, click here.

Average Simi Valley Solar Costs

The U.S. Energy Information Administration reports that in 2009, the average home consumed 908 kilowatt hours of electricity per month. In Simi Valley, that means a monthly electrical bill of $150. The average Simi Valley residential solar energy system is sized between 2.88 kilowatts and 4.32 kilowatts. About 360 square feet of roof area would be needed for a typical Simi Valley system. The gross cost to install the system: $28,800.

The Federal Incentive Program

To encourage uptake of renewable energy, the federal government’s solar energy incentive program reimburses homeowners for 30 percent of the installation costs for residential PV systems. The rebate is distributed as a tax credit. For the Simi Valley example PV system, the rebate would be $8,640, reducing your upfront cost to $20,160.

Southern California Edison (SCE) Rebate

The State of California’s goal is to gradually reduce incentive programs for solar energy as more residents go solar. Through a program overseen by the California Public Utility Commission, public utilities offer per-watt rebates that “step down” in price as participation increases.

SCE is in the seventh step of the ten-step program. They currently offer a solar rebate of $0.65 per watt. Simi Valley residents will want to lock in this rate, before the per-watt rebate is reduced further.

For the average Simi Valley 3.6 kilowatt size system, the SCE rebate would be $2,340, bringing the total cost down to $17,820. That’s a savings of $10,980, or roughly 38%. Your overall investment that would be returned in 10 years, through savings on monthly energy bills.

Average Savings for Simi Valley Residents

• Average Monthly Utility Savings: $126 to $265
• Average Annual Utility Savings: $1,509 to $3,185
• 25-year Utility Savings: $37,723 to $79,613
• Property Value Increase: $17,980 to $37,946
• Greenhouse Gas Saved Over Life of System: 112 tons

Base Rate

SCE delivers electricity to its customers on a tiered-rate system, increasing the cost for buildings that consume more than the base amount. A residential solar system can allow homeowners to stay within the lower, base rate.

Time of Use Metering

SCE also allows customers to use time-of-use (TOU) metering, offering further opportunities for Simi Valley residents to save money. The utility charges more for electricity used in peak demand periods, specifically during the afternoon, the time when solar panels are operating at their peak efficiency.

Net Metering

Homes with solar panels always use energy generated by their solar system first, then use conventional energy, if needed. Any time that the PV system is producing more power than the home is using, the excess energy is returned to the electrical grid. SCE credits homeowners for this energy.

With an average summer temperature of 90 degrees, Corona, California, is a great candidate for solar energy. Sunny summers and mild winters aren’t the only reasons Corona homeowners should look into residential photovoltaic (PV) systems. The City of Corona’s Department of Water and Power (DWP) offers a terrific rebate program that makes home solar panels in Corona highly affordable.

For pricing on a solar system in your area, click here.

The Average Corona PV System

Conventional rates for electricity run higher than in other parts of California, about $180 per month for an average 908 kilowatt hours each month. An average home solar system in Corona would be sized between 2.83 kilowatts and 4.25 kilowatts, covering about 350 square feet of roof area with solar panels. Before solar rebates, the cost for the system would be about $28,000.

Federal Rebate Program

The federal incentive program pays for 30 percent of the installation costs of a residential solar system, in the form of a tax credit. For the Corona solar energy system, this would be $8,400, taking your upfront costs down to $19,600.

Corona DWP Rebate

As part of a statewide program, California utilities are mandated to offer per-watt rebates. As more customers participate in the program, the California rebates can decrease. In municipality-operated utilities, where the programs aren’t as widely publicized, rebates can still be quite generous. Corona DWP currently offers $1.86 for residential solar energy systems, with a maximum of 3 kilowatts.

The maximum rebate that Corona customers can receive is $5,580. Customers must hire a contractor and have an installation planned before they are deemed eligible for the rebate. The $5,580 DWP rebate reduces the Corona solar system down to $14,020.

The reduction in monthly energy bills would pay for the $14,020 PV system in just seven years.

Here’s what your total savings would look like:

• Average Monthly Utility Savings: $152
• Average Annual Utility Savings: $1,827
• 25-year Utility Savings: $45,675
• Property Value Increase: $21,770
• Greenhouse Gas Saved Over Life of System: 110 tons

Net Metering

Corona DWP also offers net metering. With net metering, the home’s meter spins backwards whenever more solar energy is generated than the home is using. The surplus energy is sent back into the electrical grid. Corona DWP credits customers for the power that their home solar systems produce. The utility will check the meter each month, crediting excess energy to the customer’s account.

Resale Value

During the first 15 years of use, the presence of a solar system increases the resale value of your home. In the Corona example, the value added is far more than the initial investment, after rebates. For homeowners trying to sell a home in Corona’s current housing market, adding a solar system may not only provide a strong selling point, but may be profitable.

Fresno, California residents are in a prime location for powering their homes with clean, renewable solar energy.

Fresno has an annual total of 3,550 hours of sunshine. While the cost of a residential photovoltaic (PV) system can vary according to factors such as the home’s orientation to the sun, the brand, model and how many solar panels are needed, low average costs should encourage Fresno residents to investigate further.

For pricing on a solar system in your area, click here.

Here’s how the largest inland city in California shapes up for solar.

The Average System

The average residence in the United States consumes 908 kilowatt hours of electricity every month. In Fresno, that costs about $150 each month. An average residential solar system for Fresno would be sized between 3 to 4.5 kilowatts. About 375 square feet of roof area would be required for the solar panels. Before rebates from incentive programs, the cost for the system would be about $30,000.

Rebates and Tax Incentives

In an effort to meet nationwide clean energy goals, the federal government offers a tax credit to homeowners who install residential PV systems. The credits pays for up to 30 percent of the upfront costs of installation. For the Fresno example, the credit would cover $10,000, bringing the system’s cost down to $20,000.

As is the case in most states, California requires public utilities to invest in renewable energy. Utilities are allowed to partially meet that mandate by offering per-watt rebates to customers who install PV systems. The California Public Utility Commission oversees the current utility rebate program, which is set up to step down the per-watt rebate amount as participation in the program grows.

Fresno is served by Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), and that program is currently in the ninth step of the ten-step program, offering $.25 per system size watt. For the Fresno solar system, that’s about $1,000, reducing the system cost to $19,000.

The system would meet much of the home’s electrical needs, with monthly savings that would pay for the installation cost in around 11 years.

Here’s how home solar typically adds up:

• Average Monthly Utility Savings: $126 to $265
• Average Annual Utility Savings: $1,509 to $3,185
• 25-year Utility Savings: $37,723 to $79,613
• Property Value Increase: $28,000
• Greenhouse Gas Saved over Life of System: 110 tons

Additional Savings

Fresno residents can take advantage of tiered rates, time-of-use (TOU) metering and net-metering to save even more. For more on property value increases, check out the Lawrence Berkeley report on how solar panels increase the selling price of your home.

Tiered Rates

Utilities estimate how much electricity a customer will use, known as the base rate. When customers use more, they move into a more expensive tier. Residential PV systems can keep customers in the base rate tier, saving money.

TOU Metering.

Utilities like PG&E also charge more for electricity during peak demand periods. Fortunately, peak demand periods typically occur during the afternoon, when solar panels are usually operating at top efficiency.

Net Metering.

Whenever a residential solar system is generating more electricity than the home is using, the electricity is fed back into the electrical grid. In California, electrical utilities generally credit the homeowner’s electril bill.