There has been a trend in the residential solar industry to treat solar as if it were a commodity. All solar is not the same. Every home is unique. What may be perfect for one home and one family will not be the best solution for the house next door. Be suspect of anyone who offers pricing before they’ve visited your home. Be suspect of a company that sells solar, but doesn’t install it themselves. What would you think of someone who gave you pricing for a kitchen remodel without ever setting foot in your kitchen?

How to Shop for Solar

Solar is a home improvement that affects your roof, your home electrical system, and the aesthetics of your home — not just your future electric costs. Make sure you choose a contractor who’s experienced, and who isn’t using the cheapest roof attachments, wire management, etc. Make sure you’re only considering options that will work with your actual site conditions. And to make sure your solar is sized properly, you’ll want to work with a consultant who understands how to estimate your future electric usage, and your future solar production. Finally, pay attention to the aesthetics of your solar system design, so that you’re not embarrassed to show it off to your neighbors.

Here are just some variables an experienced solar contractor will consider in the design and pricing of your solar system:

1. Roof:  material, age, condition, dimensions, orientation, pitch, location of vents, spacing of rafters, shading, etc.
2. Main electric panel:  location, brand, amperage of busbar, amperage of main breaker, available breaker space, compatibility with SDG&E’s renewable meter adapter, etc.
3. Electric usage:  historical monthly usage, daily usage patterns, opportunities for energy savings, expected increases or decreases in future electric usage, etc.
4. Aesthetics:  is the solar layout based on actual roof and shading conditions?  will there be gaps left in the solar array for vents?  will the solar panels line up?  will the conduit be hidden in the attic?  will any exposed conduit be painted to blend in?  where will the inverter (or combiner box) be located?

Don’t be fooled into thinking that all solar contractors are the same — they’re not! Would you like to speak with a qualified solar professional who can explain the logic behind their equipment choices, and the reasoning behind the solar system size and design? An established San Diego solar contractor who offers quality materials and workmanship at a fair price? Then contact San Diego County Solar for a free consultation.

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As the market for residential solar power systems grows, so do options for financing.

We work with a variety of loans from local Credit Unions, PACE program providers and other lenders to find the best solution for every homeowner.  In most cases, homeowners can save on their monthly energy expense from day one – with $0 out of pocket!

Should you purchase or lease?

We recommend purchasing over solar leasing programs.  With today’s $0 down payment solar loans, purchasing solar makes more sense than ever before.  When compared with a 20 to 25-year lease, it’s a no-brainer.  A 12-year solar purchase-to-own program will save thousands of dollars for the average homeowner.

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Storing energy generated from your solar power system can be beneficial. While battery storage has been used for decades in off-grid applications, for some homeowners it now makes sense to add energy storage to grid-tied solar power.

There are two primary reasons to add energy storage:

1. To provide backup power in the case of a power outage.
2. To store energy for consumption during peak demand hours when prices are higher.

If you happen to live an area with frequent power outages, having a reliable backup power system can be practical. Adding a battery system can provide power to critical loads during an outage. Most residents in San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) service areas rarely experience an outage, so the cost of adding energy storage may be prohibitive.

SDG&E customers receiving permission to operate their solar power systems prior to March 30, 2018 can take service under tiered rates. Those adding solar power after the deadline will be required to take service under a time of use rate. The financial benefits of adding energy storage will vary greatly depending on your individual circumstances.

We’re seeing the most rapid advancements related to solar power in the area of energy storage components, including inverters, batteries and energy management systems. We are currently installing the RESU10H battery from LG Chem with the StorEdge 7.6kW inverter from SolarEdge.

This energy storage system in rural Fallbrook gets its power from a 10kW ground mounted solar array. The battery discharges daily to maximize self-consumption, and provides power to critical loads in the event of a power outage.

The recent Lilac fire demonstrated how SDG&E can cut power to large populations in the event of a wildfire. While this home was not affected, several nearby residents were without power for several days. For this homeowner, solar power and energy storage provide real value.

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1. Sign on to “My Account”
2. Mouse over the “My Energy” tab and select “My Energy Overview” from the drop-down list.
3. In the dropdown list next to “View” select “My Energy Use”
4. You’ll have the option to view daily or monthly charts.  For the purpose of going solar, select monthly.
5. A bar graph will appear.  You can hover over the bar graph or click on the green “T” just above the right-hand side of the chart to view a list of your monthly kWh consumption.  You’ll also find printer and file icons if you’d like to save the information.

Another option for reviewing your energy history is accessing your “Green Button Data.” This data is critical for modeling time of use rates or incorporating energy storage.  Follow the previous steps 1-3, then:

1. Click on Green Button Data icon.
2. Select your electric meter and date range for the past year.
3. Click on “Export.”
4. Once the report is generated, click on link to “download.”
5. You now have an XML file you could forward to a solar installer for review, or you could analyze the data here: “Center for Sustainable Energy”

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