Science Solar Power around the KC area ***MEGATHREAD!!!!*** - Page 6

Mephistopheles Janx · 03-08-2022, 03:08 AM

Wondering if anyone here had any first hand experience in getting solar panels installed onto their home, cost, upkeep, value (are you now independent of the energy co or supplemented by), and if there is anyone you would recommend here locally for that kind of work.

I have a beautifully pitched metal roof that looks east and west with nothing to keep the sun from pounding away at the panels on the roof other than clouds. I'd like a system with a battery bank that can handle about 1,500 kWh per month but can draw from the pole if needed.

TIA!

**Lzen** · 05-17-2023, 12:47 PM

Here was my latest Evergy bill.

Review & Pay Your Bill

Your Evergy bill is available for review and payment.

Evergy Account Number
**********

Amount Due
$4.40

Due Date
05-23-2023

**DaFace** · 05-17-2023, 01:00 PM

Granted my experience in Colorado is probably pretty different than those in other areas, but I got my system turned on at the beginning of May. Looks great this time of year - tons of production, and almost no AC usage.

The one big tip I'll give is to at least consider a cash purchase rather than a loan if it's at all something you could make work. For my install, the loan price was $29k vs. $21k for the purchase (and you get 30% back from the feds on either). It's obviously nice to just have the low payments for ~25 years (or however your installer sets it up), but man...~40% origination fees is nuts. We managed to move some things around to make it do-able, but even if you plan to pay it off in a few years (rather than a long-term loan), a personal loan or HELOC will probably work out in your favor.

If by any chance anyone's interested in Blue Raven Solar (which is one of the larger companies out there), hit me up. They do referral credits that'll save you $500 and save me $500 as well.

----

For context, mine is a 5.67 KW system, so it's on the small side. It only covers ~80% of our costs, but unfortunately I don't have enough south-facing roof to do much more than that.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 05-17-2023, 01:07 PM

My array was $52K. I got $9400 back from the city and $15,000 back from the feds on an 18kWh system with an independent controller that works off-grid if necessary. I went net-positive for the year in April and have exported roughly 840kWh this year.

**Lzen** · 05-17-2023, 06:45 PM

I'll have to look at the paperwork but I think my system is a 12-13kWh system, 27 panels. In Kansas, they don't allow you to do off grid with these. Though I'd be curious what they could even do about it if you wanted to go off grid. We paid 34k for it with a loan through Clean Evergy Credit Union in Colorado. Got something like $9200 back on my taxes this year and will claim the other $1000 on next year's taxes. So, the system will end up costing me $25k. The system is guaranteed to still produce at 90% or so after 25 years or they will replace panels.

**Lzen** · 05-17-2023, 06:47 PM

Looking at those numbers, we will definitely come out way ahead by the time all is said and done. And the system will continue producing electricity after we break even on the cost vs energy savings.

**Lzen** · 05-17-2023, 06:49 PM

Oh yeah forgot to mention the company we used. I would recommend getting several bids. We got 4 bids and chose Good Energy Solutions out of Lawrence, KS.

BryanBusby · 05-17-2023, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

My array was $52K. I got $9400 back from the city and $15,000 back from the feds on an 18kWh system with an independent controller that works off-grid if necessary. I went net-positive for the year in April and have exported roughly 840kWh this year.

Damn. I'd probably go solar if I could land a return like that.

**Lzen** · 05-17-2023, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BryanBusby

Damn. I'd probably go solar if I could land a return like that.

Yeah he paid not much more than I did with a system that's about 5kWh larger. That city rebate must be nice.

**HemiEd** · 05-17-2023, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaFace

Not sure where you came to that conclusion. Everyone I know who has done it has done the lease option, and the lease cost + off-hours electric has been less than they were previously paying for electricity.

Interesting, the two links that Lzen provided on common mistakes, both say leasing is a big mistake as you give the tax credit to the leasing company and much of the savings. I believe one, if not both said you would be better off getting a loan to purchase the system.

**DaFace** · 05-17-2023, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lzen

Yeah he paid not much more than I did with a system that's about 5kWh larger. That city rebate must be nice.

Yeah, that's a hell of a bonus. I was surprised that there's nothing else offered by the state (Colorado). Seems like we've got rebates for just about every other green product, so it's a little odd that solar isn't one of them.

**DaFace** · 05-17-2023, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HemiEd

Interesting, the two links that Lzen provided on common mistakes, both say leasing is a big mistake as you give the tax credit to the leasing company and much of the savings. I believe one, if not both said you would be better off getting a loan to purchase the system.

Yeah, note that that post is from a year ago. Seems like the market has definitely shifted away from leases and toward purchases (albeit usually with a loan).

**HemiEd** · 05-17-2023, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BWillie

Damn, my bill is around $400 to $500 in the summer and $275 to $375 in the winter.

Yeah but how much of that is due to you charging your Tesla?

**HemiEd** · 05-17-2023, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaFace

Yeah, note that that post is from a year ago. Seems like the market has definitely shifted away from leases and toward purchases (albeit usually with a loan).

Thanks, I caught that a few posts later. This thread is real timely for us as we are just beginning the the process. We have a guy scheduled for a presentation later this week.

**DaFace** · 05-17-2023, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HemiEd

Thanks, I caught that a few posts later. This thread is real timely for us as we are just beginning the the process. We have a guy scheduled for a presentation later this week.

Nice, don't hesitate to ask the hive mind here if you run into questions!

**HemiEd** · 05-17-2023, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaFace

Nice, don't hesitate to ask the hive mind here if you run into questions!

Thank you, this thread has been an extreme amount of help already.

03-08-2022, 03:08 AM
Mephistopheles Janx The Demon Preacher Join Date: Jan 2017 Casino cash: $1642400	Solar Power around the KC area *MEGATHREAD!!!!* Wondering if anyone here had any first hand experience in getting solar panels installed onto their home, cost, upkeep, value (are you now independent of the energy co or supplemented by), and if there is anyone you would recommend here locally for that kind of work. I have a beautifully pitched metal roof that looks east and west with nothing to keep the sun from pounding away at the panels on the roof other than clouds. I'd like a system with a battery bank that can handle about 1,500 kWh per month but can draw from the pole if needed. TIA!
Posts: 10,064

05-17-2023, 12:47 PM	#76
Lzen Supporter Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Jan Quadrant Vincent 16 Casino cash: $1990692	Here was my latest Evergy bill. Review & Pay Your Bill Your Evergy bill is available for review and payment. Evergy Account Number ********** Amount Due $4.40 Due Date 05-23-2023 __________________ If at first you don't succeed ...skydiving is not for you.
Posts: 41,437	1 0

05-17-2023, 01:00 PM	#77
DaFace Kind of a mod Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Donkey Land Casino cash: $1686899	Granted my experience in Colorado is probably pretty different than those in other areas, but I got my system turned on at the beginning of May. Looks great this time of year - tons of production, and almost no AC usage. The one big tip I'll give is to at least consider a cash purchase rather than a loan if it's at all something you could make work. For my install, the loan price was $29k vs. $21k for the purchase (and you get 30% back from the feds on either). It's obviously nice to just have the low payments for ~25 years (or however your installer sets it up), but man...~40% origination fees is nuts. We managed to move some things around to make it do-able, but even if you plan to pay it off in a few years (rather than a long-term loan), a personal loan or HELOC will probably work out in your favor. If by any chance anyone's interested in Blue Raven Solar (which is one of the larger companies out there), hit me up. They do referral credits that'll save you $500 and save me $500 as well. ---- For context, mine is a 5.67 KW system, so it's on the small side. It only covers ~80% of our costs, but unfortunately I don't have enough south-facing roof to do much more than that. Last edited by DaFace; 05-17-2023 at 01:41 PM..
Posts: 51,981	1 0

05-17-2023, 01:07 PM	#78
'Hamas' Jenkins Now you've pissed me off! Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $7959572	My array was $52K. I got $9400 back from the city and $15,000 back from the feds on an 18kWh system with an independent controller that works off-grid if necessary. I went net-positive for the year in April and have exported roughly 840kWh this year. __________________ "When the Know-Nothings get control, it will read 'all men are created equal, except negroes, and foreigners, and Catholics.' When it comes to this I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretense of loving liberty – to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocrisy.”--Abraham Lincoln
Posts: 74,849

05-17-2023, 06:45 PM	#79
Lzen Supporter Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Jan Quadrant Vincent 16 Casino cash: $1990692	I'll have to look at the paperwork but I think my system is a 12-13kWh system, 27 panels. In Kansas, they don't allow you to do off grid with these. Though I'd be curious what they could even do about it if you wanted to go off grid. We paid 34k for it with a loan through Clean Evergy Credit Union in Colorado. Got something like $9200 back on my taxes this year and will claim the other $1000 on next year's taxes. So, the system will end up costing me $25k. The system is guaranteed to still produce at 90% or so after 25 years or they will replace panels. __________________ If at first you don't succeed ...skydiving is not for you.
Posts: 41,437	1 0

05-17-2023, 06:47 PM	#80
Lzen Supporter Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Jan Quadrant Vincent 16 Casino cash: $1990692	Looking at those numbers, we will definitely come out way ahead by the time all is said and done. And the system will continue producing electricity after we break even on the cost vs energy savings. __________________ If at first you don't succeed ...skydiving is not for you.
Posts: 41,437

05-17-2023, 06:49 PM	#81
Lzen Supporter Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Jan Quadrant Vincent 16 Casino cash: $1990692	Oh yeah forgot to mention the company we used. I would recommend getting several bids. We got 4 bids and chose Good Energy Solutions out of Lawrence, KS. __________________ If at first you don't succeed ...skydiving is not for you. Last edited by Lzen; 05-18-2023 at 05:58 AM..
Posts: 41,437