How do I benefit from a system installation on my house?

Technically right now you are buying your power from the utility. You basically pay for what you use. But if you own a solar electric solution, you get the benefits that come with ownership. If you generate your own power you use it up first and pay only for any additional power might need from the utility. So the utility is used as a backup.

In case of black-outs would I still have power?

The majority of solar electric systems are designed to shut off during a power failure on the utility side. In case of a fire or other natural disaster this helps prevent associated potential problems. The inverter copies the sine wave of the electricity that is provided from your local electric utility grid. So when there's no power on the utility side of the grid ... there's nothing for your inverter to copy. This is also a safety feature, to protect any technicians working on the line from the power you might be generating.

We can also design a system with battery backup and big enough to run the whole house. The down side of this type of system is that it's a little more expensive and you won't qualify for a rebate unless you are connected to the grid. On the other hand, the benefit of owning your own system is that instead of paying every month your power bill, you'll pay towards your own power generating system. Financing is available.

What is the payback time for a solar system?

There are several ways to estimate the payback time of the system installed. The payback time for an installed system varies from 7 to 12 years approximately, depending on the size of the system, the orientation of the panels, the peak hours of the sun, the inflation rate at which the electricity will rise, etc. Generally speaking it would take a shorter time to pay off the system if you'll sign up right away and lock in your  rebate amount.

What is the life expectancy of a solar PV system?

A solar system is built to last. Think of the solar system as part of your building. Here are the common warranties:

1) Whether on the roof, or in the backyard, or on the patio cover, your solar electric system will be guaranteed for at least ten years.

2) The inverters have also a guarantee of ten years.

3) The solar panels themselves, are guaranteed in most cases to produce at least 90% of their capacity for the first 10-12 years, and 80% of their capacity over a period of 25 years. Solar panels are expected to loose about .5% (one half of one percent) of their efficiency annually. Bottom line is you'd have a solar solution that'll lasts for many-many years before it begins to show signs of wear-and-tear. The typical solar electric solution's life expectancy is at least 30 to 40 years on average.

If you have any other FAQ or suggestions, please contact us at our toll free number. We'd love to have feedback from our website visitors. We'll be happy to assist you with your project.

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