<p>A neighbor just had solar panels put on and now we are considering it. He financed the purchase and will pay the loan by the reduced electric bill. My electric bill averages $270 a month but I guess I can use electric heaters and cut my gas bill in the winter. We are lucky in that the panels would go on the back of the house. </p>
<p>Can anyone share their experience with going to solar.</p>
<p>Good luck to you with your project. I have a friend that is very proud of his August (late 90s) forty seven cents due bill from the electric co. Besides solar, he conserves energy with a high efficiency fridge and who knows whatall.</p>
<p>First thing to do is to do everything possible to cut back on how much electricity you use. It’s going to be cheaper to first use weatherstripping and efficient lightbulbs instead of just getting lots of panels. Sometimes it’s a better investment to install high-efficiency windows, which is a more boring investment but may get you more bang for your buck.</p>
<p>We used a highly recommended local company after comparing several bids. We did not end up using the cheapest bid, but we had the most faith that the company we chose was going to do the best job and be the most reliable. They were very upfront with us about various options of which panels to install, the tax ramifications, what kind of savings we would see on our utility bill, and how much we’d be paying monthly. They did a site analysis where they could plot the amount of solar exposure we’d have over the course of the year. That allowed the installers to optimize the panel placement for maximum production. We also got advice from the company about what trees should be pruned, or even removed. We talked to them for hours over the course of a month or two before proceeding. </p>
<p>Different power companies have different rules for working with solar. We now pay $10 a month to cover being connected to the grid (necessary unless you invest in a massive and expensive battery system). We overproduce in the summer and underproduce in the winter. The overproduction gets sold back to our local utility–it goes back out to the grid, and we receive credits. That pretty much covers costs for what we draw from the grid in the winter. </p>
<p>Be aware that there may be other costs associated with the job. Our electric panel needed to be replaced. We decided to upgrade it, in anticipation of eventually having to charge an electric car. Cheaper to do that now instead of going with the smaller panel now and then ripping it out within the decade.</p>
<p>We’re really happy with the system. In the long run it’ll save us money, but in the shorter run we’re delighted about not needing to pull electricity from our utility company, since its power is primarily produced by coal burning.</p>
<p>It’s going to be cheaper to first use weatherstripping and efficient lightbulbs instead of just getting lots of panels. Sometimes it’s a better investment to install high-efficiency windows, which is a more boring investment but may get you more bang for your buck.</p>
<p>Good advice</p>
<p>THis site has lots of how to info
[BuildItSolar:</a> Solar energy projects for Do It Yourselfers to save money and reduce pollution](<a href=“http://www.builditsolar.com/]BuildItSolar:”>http://www.builditsolar.com/)</p>
<p>and this one
[Residential</a> Energy Kit Blog](<a href=“http://www.residentialenergykit.com/blog/]Residential”>http://www.residentialenergykit.com/blog/)</p>
<p>And I have to put a plug in for trees 
<a href=“http://www.arborday.org/trees/benefits.cfm[/url]”>http://www.arborday.org/trees/benefits.cfm</a></p>
<p>We have had solar for almost 5 years and benefitted from some incentives by the local electrical company. </p>
<p>Our bill for the year (we just paid it) - was $435 for 12 months of usage. We have a 5.5 volt system.</p>
<p>When we first bought it, our bill for electricity was running anywhere from $75 - $275 a month.</p>
<p>We also live in an area with a lot of sunshine. Last year, we upgraded to good windows and the savings from the double panel windows has further increased our savings.</p>
<p>I have absolutely no regrets on getting this system. If we sell, it will be a good selling point for a buyer. If we stay here, it will keep our electrical bills low. It has a 25 year warranty on the panels. </p>
<p>I would urge anyone who is thinking about remodeling and adding a second floor to do that first, before installing panels.</p>
<p>My in laws had solar installed in a home that they built in 1980. They heated a 10,000 square foot home (seven bathrooms) and a swimming pool on an average bill of $27 per pay cycle. They sold the home and the new owners removed the solar. I can’t imagine what their bill is now.</p>
<p>I don’t have solar panels for electricity–I’m considering it, but probably won’t do it (the ROI is too high around here at this point–but I do have all-solar landscape lighting. I love it… really easy to install, just push the post in! I’m planning on solar outside Christmas decorations as well. The low-voltage system I was considering would have cost three or four times as much plus installation and timers.</p>