Solar panels can save you hundreds of dollars a year on your energy bills, but sometimes it can be hard to visualize. Yet one homeowner addressed that and shared their results after switching to solar energy, providing a great reminder that solar is worth the upgrade.
In the r/solar subreddit, they shared they had been paying $500 per month on utility bills in the winter and anywhere from $800 to $1,000 in the summer for AC needs before adding in a small 3 kW off-grid solar set a year ago and more recently a 14 kW grid-tied set of panels this year.
With that combo, they can generate about 70 kWh of energy per day. That covered so much of their high energy needs that they said their electric bill reported they only used 500 kWh from the grid for the entire first month with the full set of panels, or about 17 kWh per day compared to the roughly 70 kWh from the panels. Their final bill for the month went way down to about $100.
"I was expecting my bill to go down, and was pleasantly surprised when I saw just how far down it went," they wrote. They said they're so happy with the results, they're looking to add more panels next year and get their bill as close to zero as they can.
Switching to solar is one of the best ways to save money on your energy bills. Forbes estimated you can save between $25,500 and $33,000 over a typical set of panels' lifetime. They also add to your property values, adding up to $15,000 in resale value, per the Berkeley Lab. And platforms like EnergySage can help homeowners save up to $10,000 on installation by finding the best possible quotes from trusted local installers.
The homeowner mentioned in their post that they acquired a five-year loan to pay $42,000 for their grid-tied panels, but there are opportunities for savings through 2025 thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act. The IRA offers a 30% tax credit for rooftop solar, but that credit expires at the end of this year, so the time to act is now.
If you are interested in making the switch, EnergySage has a free and easy tool to help you get started.
People in the comments of the post were wowed by the savings touted by the homeowner.
Save $10,000 on solar panels without even sharing your phone number Want to go solar but not sure who to trust? EnergySage has your back with free and transparent quotes from fully vetted providers that can help you save as much as $10k on installation. To get started, just answer a few questions about your home — no phone number required. Within a day or two, EnergySage will email you the best local options for your needs, and their expert advisers can help you compare quotes and pick a winner. |
"Utility operators are going to be faced with a customer revolt in the next few years; as people realize just how cheap solar power is, they're going to seriously question why they're paying so much." one person wrote.
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