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infamousdx t1_jbks9l4 wrote

Reply to comment by jd3marco in How’s solar power doing in NJ? by Early-Consequence-61

Did the solar company do a break even analysis on the cost of your system?

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jd3marco t1_jbl2ssd wrote

Yes, but i was concerned that they present a rosier picture. I have it…somewhere. I did crude estimates and didn’t really factor in credits earned in my state. I took the cost after fed tax credit and divided by the life of the panels. I estimated my electric at about $100 per month (we have gas too). I assumed that the net metering would average out so that I basically don’t pay for electric. I have to see what summer is like.

The break even, by my estimate is about 11.5yrs. Then, there is 13 years of additional savings, plus whatever the trec credit things are. Minus whatever it costs to move these panels in 15yrs when I need a new roof. I assume energy prices will continue to rise, but I won’t be affected as much. A good deal, I would say, even if I have fuzzy math.

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infamousdx t1_jbljulo wrote

11 years sounds about right if your original electric bill was only $100 per month. Curious as to why you went for solar with such a small bill?

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jd3marco t1_jbloz8k wrote

It’s not the size of the bill… I guess we are efficient. It was just two of us. I will keep the house cooler now that we have solar. We still don’t like to keep the house cold. 76 maybe in summer.

We have a kid now and expect the bill to be higher. I also plan to charge an electric vehicle. Doing what I can since my daughter’s generation is inheriting a pretty fucked up planet.

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