The Solar Deal Gets Better Every Day

Cost of solar energy falls every time the sun rises

Audrey Hoffer, April 21, 2016 (Washington Post)

“…The increasing ease of the process and the financial returns have made going solar practically mainstream…Nationwide, [solar] grew 10 times between 2008 and 2015…[With net metering, the power from a solar owner’s system that isn’t used onsite goes into the grid and the owner gets bill credit for it. Whatever the amount of credit,] your household remains connected to the grid and you receive an electric bill from the utility…Eventually, the savings on the electric bill will add up to what you paid for the system, which means from then on you’re basically getting free electricity…Tax breaks and other incentives reduce the cost of electricity and cover a large portion of a system’s cost…[The average $16,000 system installed in Washington, D.C., last year was five kilowatts, with 20 panels…After a 30 percent tax credit of $4,800 and [another upfront credit of $5,500, the] cost would be $5,700. This size system typically provides an electric savings of $950 per year at today’s rates…[You can also lease. Solar providers] own the system, so you don’t pay for installation. You pay for the electricity, but at cheaper rate than the utility charges…” click here for more

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