bobm
Garden Master
There is a big push to install solar panels to generate electricity by the Clark County Utilities here. So I called them and they looked up our electric usage ( we also have natural gas provided by another company as CCU only provides electric power ) and the guy said that with our electisity usage of average $30 / mo. and the size of our home being 1820 sq. ft. ... to install the solar panels it would cost $40,000 +/- depending on our particular home. He also said that the company would buy any extra power at the same rate that they charge a customer , which is $ 0. 08 /kilowhat. He gave me a list of approved Solar contractors. I called the first one on the list ... they NO LONGER do solar installations. The second one, who says they install 80% of solar systems in our county sends out a salesman. The salesman , based on our situation and power needs, it would cost $18,600. Then he states that we would receive a Federal tax credit of $5,580. ( The Federal tax credit is limited to $5,000. Then what one will receive in a tax credit is based on what one is to receive as a refund and/ or what amount you still owe. Could be up to $5,000 or $0.00 ) Then he states that the power company will pay us $ 0.54/ kwt that the panels generate including what we use. So he calculates an annual payment of $1,640. Then he says that within 10 years the solar panels will have more than payed for themselves as we would get $ 16,040 from the utility. ( This State of Washington program expires within 2 years ). Then he says that his company negotiated with a bank for loans at 3.49% up to 30 years. Our payments would be $54.09/mo for up to 30 years. Sounds great , ha ? What about the huge difference between the $0.08 and $0.54 / kwt , buyback program expires within 2 years and I have a 2nd mortgage at $ 54/ mo. Hmmm! 
