Model 3 lover
Member
I had one SolarCity quote in October 2015. I didn't sign the contract at that time, because I saw some bad reviews online. However I would like to have some feedback from this club. Thank you.
I suggest you compare the efficiency and longevity of Sunpower to Solar City.
I was originally signed up for Solar City...
But in the middle of the process (in 2012), found out that I needed a new roof, and did my opt-out to renegotiate and pitted them off against Real Goods Solar. Real Goods gave me a better deal, so I went with them. Blogpost about my experiences from 2012. Several other posts on Solar here.
There are a lot of choices for solar and I suggest that you get several competing bids.
It was a wash my first year, paid on my second year, and a small payment on the third year. A lot of solar has to do with what you're allowed to do in your part of the country. In California, we do net metering, which means that the utility credits us for the same tariff as the kWh during production. In our first few years the peak rate was from 10AM to 6PM, which corresponded to the same time that a solar array is normally producing, so there were massive credits created by the panels. This has been shifted to 2PM to 8PM, which means that between 6PM and 8PM, we're typically paying at peak. Additionally, the power produced during 10AM to 2PM are at off-peak rates which are less. Additionally, any credits at the end of the year is only offset against consumption. Pay-outs are for ACTUAL Overproduction of energy and not credits, and this is at the wholesale rate of energy, which is very low.
So, best deal is to shop around.
Getting several quotes from different companies is ALWAYS a good idea
However, imo I would pay a bit more for SolarCity for two reasons. For one, Elon Musk is the CEO, and I believe in his dream for the future. Furthermore, SolarCity is by far the biggest residential solar installer in the USA. I would pay a bit more know to know the company is still going to be around in 5 years.
BTW, SunEdison was a pretty big solar installer, and they are currently bankrupt. Just my thoughts
That's a lot of shade on the picture @teslaliving, later in the day, I presume.I also have @SolarCity with a 69 panel system of about 17.5kW. At 100 miles of driving per day its generating double the power I need for my Tesla most of the time.
I didnt shop around much for a solar system. With SolarCity the math was simple -- no money down and savings from the day I turned on the system. After plunking down a lot of money on the Tesla I didnt want to make a big solar investment too.
I've had it on for over a year and its saved me a bunch of money already. Very happy with the company and the system.
What else would you like to know?
Also, i'd be remiss if I didnt share a referral code
http://share.solarcity.com/teslaliving
Takes a while to get things installed and you house has to qualify etc as people mentioned above. View attachment 73
Yup... I get the Twitter updates for your production! ;-)Yes, afternoon shot. I get decent generation. I auto-tweet my generation and have it available here too:
http://pvoutput.org/list.jsp?userid=48753
View attachment 74
Nice house and blog. My most concern is winter snow and roof leaking water damage. I think you don't have that kind of problems.I also have @SolarCity with a 69 panel system of about 17.5kW. At 100 miles of driving per day its generating double the power I need for my Tesla most of the time.
I didnt shop around much for a solar system. With SolarCity the math was simple -- no money down and savings from the day I turned on the system. After plunking down a lot of money on the Tesla I didnt want to make a big solar investment too.
I've had it on for over a year and its saved me a bunch of money already. Very happy with the company and the system.
What else would you like to know?
Also, i'd be remiss if I didnt share a referral code
http://share.solarcity.com/teslaliving
Takes a while to get things installed and you house has to qualify etc as people mentioned above. View attachment 73
SolarCity doesn't seem to negotiate on the price. Current NJ pricing (doing an install with my dad) is 13.1c variable, 16.4c fixed.