In the past few weeks, several pool owners have contacted Infinite Sun Energy about installing solar arrays to offset their high electricity bills.
The smallest of the bills belongs to homeowners who have a 2,500 sq. ft. home and bills that average $150 per month. Since they have a solar pool water heater, electricity bills are actually lower in the summer than in the winter. They economize on electricity in a variety of other ways, including bypassing the use of their electric clothes dryer in favor of air-drying laundry in the backyard.
#2 on our pool hit-parade belongs to a customer who has done everything he can in the way of energy efficiency in the rest of his home, but still suffers monthly bills over $350 per month on average. Summer electricity bills are over $500. He expects energy rates in the future to continue to skyrocket in California as they have since 1970. Annual rate increases since then have been an average of 6.7% per year, well over the rate of inflation. An engineer by trade, this homeowner wonders what the price of electricity will do when the additional demand caused by plug-in electric cars starts to kick in.
The third pool owner who is looking at a solar energy system is in a large home over 5,000 sq. ft., and pays summer electricity bills approaching $1,000 per month.
What do all three have in common?
Their projected rewards for a photovoltaic solar energy system are always very strong, since they are currently paying the bulk of their electricity bills in the premium charge ranges. That is, they pay $.26 or more per kWh for the majority of the power they use. Much of their consumption is charged in the top $.44/kWh range. When they install solar electricity systems, they’ll enjoy a variety of benefits:
§ Their solar systems will shave off the most expensive power they currently buy. Even if the solar system they install only generates 20% of their current kWh consumption, it’s likely they’ll be cutting their bill by as much as 33% or more. Even the smallest consumers of the three discussed above would save 57% of his electricity bill, even though his solar arrays generate only 44% of his current need.
§ Each of these homeowners can be sure they’re in a more stable financial position in the future. The power company can continue raise rates, but they will have locked in the price of electricity production at rates below what they currently pay. That’s a big advantage, considering the 25 year expected service life of a photovoltaic solar system.
§ Their investments in solar are secure. Not only does a solar system increase their homes’ values by a factor greater than their current cash outlay, the system makes their homes more desirable properties if and when they should decide to sell.
§ All three of these solar buyers will be "striking while the iron is hot". California is currently among the solar-friendliest states in the U.S. allowing a state rebate against the purchase price of the solar system in addition to 30% federal tax credit. No one is sure whether either or both incentives will continue or for how long. Couple that with savings on solar panels because demand in Japan and Europe has declined for the moment. Able to take advantage of all three incentives, Californians are in a unique position to make the solar decision now and avoid the competition for solar that will happen as global economies rebound and as additional U.S. states get more aggressive about solar adoption incentives.
Don’t have a pool? Make no mistake, if your electric bill makes you uncomfortable each month, there’s a solar solution that will make sense. Getting the answers is simple.
Gather your electric bills, and contact Infinite Sun Energy.
