About the Costs & Savings
How will it affect the value of my house?
What is the payback?
- If you pay cash for your system using today’s rates, you will recover your entire investment within the next 12-14 years. As rates increase, so will the time it takes to reap a return on your investment. There has never been a better time to purchase solar.
Are there still tax credits and rebates?
- Yes, the 30% Federal Tax Credit and State Rebates are available, and now is the perfect time to have your solar system installed. Solar electric systems are also exempt from property tax assessments, so you will never pay higher property taxes on the value added to your home.
What will it cost to get rid of my electric bill?
- There are a variety of factors that determine the cost of reducing your electric bill; Your electric usage, type of roof, location, and how much you want to reduce your bill. As an example the average size of a solar system in the San Joaquin Valley is 5kW. This will reduce a monthly utility bill of $350 down to $80. Over a 25 year period, the system will save you over $120,000 in utility costs. The net cost of a 5 kW system is under $23,000.
When is the best time to install solar?
- With the current Rebates and Tax Incentives, now is the best time to purchase solar. The sooner you install a solar system, the sooner you start saving!
How do I know if my system is producing what it is supposed to?
- Pure Energy Solar is one of the few companies that make it easy to monitor your system performance. We are conservative in our approach when estimating the production of your solar system, and use 20 year historical sun data from NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory). Our solar inverters have an LCD display that will provide you with a readout showing how your system is producing, which makes it simple to compare our estimated production and your actual usage. You can also view your production from your computer or i-phone. And the new SunPower Energy Assurance program guarantees that your home solar system performs as promised or we will pay you the difference!
About Rebates
How long can I reserve the rebate before installing the solar system?
- In California, the California Solar Initiative(CSI) provides you with a 12-month window in which to install the system. For new construction homes, an 18-month reservation period is given. If you do not install the system within that time frame, the reserved rebate money is lost. There is no penalty if you decide not to install. You may also reapply for the rebate at the current rebate level if you allowed the 12 month or 18 month new construction window to elapse.
What is the current rebate amount and how long will it last?
- Rebates constantly change. They are affected by the number of people applying for the rebate and the local utility provider. We recommend allowing one of our Design Consultants to answer this question for you. Call us today to schedule your FREE consultation at 661-716-7500.
Who fills out my rebate forms?
- Pure Energy Solar takes care of your rebate forms, every step of the way.
About Financing
What financing options are available?
- At Pure Energy Solar, we have many financing options for you to choose from. You can review all of our financing options by visiting the Financing tab of our website.
About the System
How long will my solar system last?
- Most solar panels come with a 25 year power output guarantee and are expected to last at least twice that long. Solar Panels installed in the 1960’s are still producing today. The power output guarantee on the solar panels is provided by the manufacturers and states that at the end of the 25th year, the panels will still produce a minimum of 80% of their original power output. Pure Energy Solar only installs panels that carry a 25 year output guarantee.
How much space will the solar electric system take up on my roof?
- Depending on the efficiency of the solar panel, a good rule of thumb is to allow from 75 to 100 square feet for every kilowatt of electricity the system produces. A solar electric system for a typical home will require 37 to 500 square feet.
If I move can I take my solar electric system?
- Although you can take your solar electric system with you, there may be some restrictions. It is usually better to leave it on the original house because it increases the resale value of a home.
I have a xxxx sq. ft. home. How much will a system cost?
- The size of your home isn't the issue, but rather what your average electricity bills are and how much of that average bill you would like to offset. How much you want to offset will dictate the system size and cost.
What can a panel power in my home?
- A grid-tied solar electric system is going to work to offset the electricity used by the entire home, not a specific device. The solar electricity from the panels will help to offset whatever is currently using electricity in your home.
My roof gets sun for most of the day; that would be enough for a solar system, right?
- Even though your roof gets sun for most of the day, it may or may not be enough to make a solar electric installation cost-effective. During a site evaluation we will be able to determine this for you. If there is not full access to the sun, year-round, it may take longer for the system to pay for itself, which would increase your return on investment. Removing or trimming back some trees around your property could help with better access to the sun. Call us today to schedule your FREE consultation at 661-716-7500.
Should I switch to a Time of Use meter once I get a system?
- Time of use rates benefit customers who can produce power during the peak summer hours of 12p.m. to 6p.m. Monday thru Friday and use power during off-peak times. We will look at each customer’s lifestyle to determine if this can be beneficial or not.
About Inverters
What is an inverter?
- An inverter converts the DC (direct current) power produced by solar panels to common household AC (alternating current) power.
About Net-Metering
What is net-metering?
- Net-metering measures the difference between the electricity you buy from your utility and the electricity you produce with your solar energy system. Under net-metering any excess electricity produced by your solar energy system spins your existing meter backwards, effectively storing the electricity until it is needed. Your meter than spins forward when your solar energy system is not producing all the electricity you are currently using. Your electric meter keeps track of this difference as you generate electricity and take electricity from the utility grid.
Why is net-metering important?
- Because solar energy is an intermittent resource you may not be using the power when it is generated, and net-metering allows you to receive full value for the electricity you produce without installing and investing in a battery storage system.
About the Weather
How will the weather affect my solar electric system?
- Solar electric systems are designed to withstand all weather conditions. Lightning, wind up to 80 miles per hour, and extreme temperatures are all things your solar system can handle. However, these conditions will temporarily reduce its energy production. When PURE ENERGY SOLAR designs your solar electric system, we use a method based on national data that takes these weather conditions into consideration.
What happens if there's a utility power outage?
- With grid-connected solar electric systems, you will experience loss of power when the utility grid is down. This is intentional, because when there is an electricity outage, there are people working on the power lines. If your system were allowed to stay active during the outage, the people working would run the risk of being electrocuted by the live wire. Once power is restored your system will automatically restart.
What's the effect of rain and fog?
- During foggy or rainy days, your system will still produce 25-30% of normal. A steady rain cuts production but is great for cleaning your panels.
Is snow covering the panels going to reduce production?
- You're absolutely right that during the time immediately following a snowstorm when the panels are covered the system production will be minimal. However, we place solar systems in the exact spot where sunshine is greatest. The first area to melt will be where the solar panels are located. Plus, the panels are tilted with a surface made of tempered glass allowing snow to easily slide off.
financing options are available?
