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Message
Solar Power Incentives in Louisiana: State & Federal..
Posted on 5/27/13 at 11:01 am
Posted on 5/27/13 at 11:01 am
The current federal rebate is 30%.
The current Louisiana rebate (tax credit) is 50% on systems up to $25,000 installed.
Currently, with both incentives (residential only), you would only be $5,000 out of pocket (on a $25K system) after you get your checks back from the feds and state next tax season.
I've seen some estimates for solar power arrays on roof installations from local NOLA firms and it puts you around about a 5.5 year ROI. They try to maximize the $25K design limits, and the systems they quote are around 6KW-7KW.
At the high end (7KW), you will only see an output back to the utility around 5.6KW due to line losses and slight inverter inefficiencies.
5.6KW (output)
5 hours a day** (average sun to give you rated output of 5.6KW)
365 days
Equals 10,220 kwh (kilowatt hours) per year.
We currently pay around $0.09kwh for our power from either Entergy/DEMCO/CLECO/SLEMCO, etc..
At that power rate, you are saving ~$920/year in power bills.
It would take 5.5 years to generate the initial $5,000 investment. Anything after that is money in your pocket (~$14K over the next 15 years). I also assume that you would keep your $0.09/kwh power costs over the next 5 years, which is conservative as power rates should trickle up over that time.
I went ahead and bit the bullet and registered a website and company name in Louisiana to start designing and installing systems in the region. I know I can reduce that ROI to 4 years or better.
If anyone has more questions you can shoot me an email. (sunpowerdesign@gmail)
**The 5 hours per day to achieve rated output is an average. You be in the low 4s during the winter and high 5s in the summer in Louisiana.
The current Louisiana rebate (tax credit) is 50% on systems up to $25,000 installed.
Currently, with both incentives (residential only), you would only be $5,000 out of pocket (on a $25K system) after you get your checks back from the feds and state next tax season.
I've seen some estimates for solar power arrays on roof installations from local NOLA firms and it puts you around about a 5.5 year ROI. They try to maximize the $25K design limits, and the systems they quote are around 6KW-7KW.
At the high end (7KW), you will only see an output back to the utility around 5.6KW due to line losses and slight inverter inefficiencies.
5.6KW (output)
5 hours a day** (average sun to give you rated output of 5.6KW)
365 days
Equals 10,220 kwh (kilowatt hours) per year.
We currently pay around $0.09kwh for our power from either Entergy/DEMCO/CLECO/SLEMCO, etc..
At that power rate, you are saving ~$920/year in power bills.
It would take 5.5 years to generate the initial $5,000 investment. Anything after that is money in your pocket (~$14K over the next 15 years). I also assume that you would keep your $0.09/kwh power costs over the next 5 years, which is conservative as power rates should trickle up over that time.
I went ahead and bit the bullet and registered a website and company name in Louisiana to start designing and installing systems in the region. I know I can reduce that ROI to 4 years or better.
If anyone has more questions you can shoot me an email. (sunpowerdesign@gmail)
**The 5 hours per day to achieve rated output is an average. You be in the low 4s during the winter and high 5s in the summer in Louisiana.
This post was edited on 5/27/13 at 11:28 am
4
Posted on 5/27/13 at 12:58 pm to Captain Ron
Solar is a joke. It has flopped in the alternative energy segment.
Posted on 5/27/13 at 1:06 pm to theoldwiseone33
quote:Solar is horrible, but with an 80% credit, it is cost effective. I put a system in at my parents and it will pay for itself within five years. It is 6.7kW with a battery backup and transfers automatically so that they don't even know when the electricity (grid) goes out. Put it in two years ago and there are no regrets.
Solar is a joke. It has flopped in the alternative energy segment.
With that said, it isn't that hard to do it yourself, especially if you do one without battery backup. The batteries added a lot of complication.
This post was edited on 5/27/13 at 1:08 pm
Posted on 5/27/13 at 1:34 pm to eelsuee
quote:
The batteries added a lot of complication.
How many batteries did you install? Was it as easy as providing receipts showing proof of installation during tax preparation for the tax credit approvals? Send me an email to the email address above.. TIA
As far as the previous poster is concerned, you would be saving $15,000 total over years 5-20 on an initial investment of $5,000. ..and that is for a modest 7KW system. How is it a joke again?
This post was edited on 5/27/13 at 1:37 pm
Posted on 5/27/13 at 1:51 pm to Captain Ron
What is the cost of replacement or maintenance and repair? With a potentially active hurricane season how would it hold up with high winds and rain?
Posted on 5/27/13 at 1:55 pm to lsulefty5
The roof mounted racks can be designed to sustain winds up to 150mph from what I've read on the subject.
I may add some to my own house..
I may add some to my own house..
This post was edited on 5/27/13 at 1:57 pm
Posted on 5/27/13 at 1:59 pm to LSUAlum2001
He's right.
The roof would fail before you had an issue with the panel installation when designed/installed correctly.
The roof would fail before you had an issue with the panel installation when designed/installed correctly.
This post was edited on 5/27/13 at 2:00 pm
Posted on 5/27/13 at 2:00 pm to LSUAlum2001
How much to replace a worn panel, without subsidies?
Thats when the ROI gets blown out of the water
And what about dismantling and reassembly due to the need for a new roof?
Thats when the ROI gets blown out of the water
And what about dismantling and reassembly due to the need for a new roof?
Posted on 5/27/13 at 2:06 pm to League Champs
quote:
How much to replace a worn panel, without subsidies?
Panels have a 20-25+ year life expectancy and are relatively cheap should one fail. The new en-phase microinverters now carry a 25 year warranty as well.
If you have to replace the roof? It depends on the roofer, but I doubt it would reduce your overall savings over a 20 year period if you need someone to remove and reinstall the array.
ETA: A much better investment than bitcoins.
This post was edited on 5/27/13 at 2:08 pm
Posted on 5/27/13 at 2:12 pm to Captain Ron
Posted on 5/27/13 at 2:20 pm to fatboydave
I believe that failed in a vote.
..and this isn't accurate.
$6,000 in solar panels would not drop a utility bill from $500 to $200. A drop that large would require a system in the 20KW+ range. If they had someone install it, the cost would be closer to $60,000.
quote:
The proposed changes would increase utility bills for solar power consumers. Tracy Hebert and his family invested about six thousand dollars into solar panels, and it's cut their utility bills by about half.
"My utilities bill now is just under two hundred dollars a month. But prior to the solar panels it was almost five hundred dollars a month," Tracy Hebert said.
..and this isn't accurate.
$6,000 in solar panels would not drop a utility bill from $500 to $200. A drop that large would require a system in the 20KW+ range. If they had someone install it, the cost would be closer to $60,000.
This post was edited on 5/27/13 at 2:21 pm
Posted on 5/27/13 at 2:57 pm to Captain Ron
Roofs have a 10-15 year warranty meaning 2 roofs over the life of the panels
Posted on 5/27/13 at 3:17 pm to Captain Ron
total life is about 20-25 yeas so without the tax credits the system would not pay itself back. also, the panels lose 2-4% efficiency each year with regular cleaning. if you dont get up there and clean off dirt/pollen/debris, they are even less effective
not to mention, the look horrible
not to mention, the look horrible
Posted on 5/27/13 at 5:40 pm to fatboydave
quote:
PSC Commissioner Cylde Holloway says it's about fairness, and having solar energy customers start paying more to cover costs.
"They get so many advantages that people on regular electricity don't get. So I'm trying to even the playing field a little bit because when we have to provide their back up power, meaning like it's cloudy like today they're not producing any electricity so they're have to provide power. So when they're producing, the person on electricity has to supply the back up power for them, we pay for it. So I'm trying to even the playing field for them a little bit."
Jesus. Only a government can think like this. What kind of drivel is that?
Posted on 5/27/13 at 5:41 pm to Captain Ron
quote:
..and this isn't accurate.
$6,000 in solar panels would not drop a utility bill from $500 to $200. A drop that large would require a system in the 20KW+ range. If they had someone install it, the cost would be closer to $60,000.
Are you arguing for or against installing solar because now I'm confused.
This post was edited on 5/27/13 at 5:42 pm
Posted on 5/27/13 at 6:01 pm to Meauxjeaux
quote:
Jesus. Only a government can think like this. What kind of drivel is that?
No, I get his point
When there's no sun, you get to jump back on the grid with $20,000 of my tax dollars in your back pocket while enjoying the power at the same price that I am, without the tax money in my pocket to pay for it
Its having your cake and eating it too
At the tune of 20k
Posted on 5/27/13 at 6:06 pm to Meauxjeaux
quote:
Are you arguing for or against installing solar because now I'm confused.
Meh. I read the article as well. They should at least be accurate.
If people were saving $3600 per year for a mere $6,000 worth of solar panels, people would have them installed everywhere.
I'm moving soon so I doubt I add any panels to my existing house, but I've read up on solar costs and I know I can install much more than 7KW for $25K and get a ROI much better than 5 years with current rebates/credits.
Posted on 5/27/13 at 6:17 pm to League Champs
solar works best you take all the steps to reduce your power consumption. such as using LED lighting as it can save you 90% on your bill. and proper insulation. also appliances factor in as the hot water heater and washer and dryer and fridge are the big main energy consumptions.
Posted on 5/27/13 at 10:46 pm to League Champs
Geez, league.
Since when has purchasing a product at full price been viewed as screwing the citizens over?
What is this 'jump back on the grid' shanola?
You're already on the grid. Only not buying as much as you were before. Then on a cloudy day you buy more electricity.
That exact same scenario happens every winter/summer. Don't buy much in the winter, buy a lot more in the summer.
Since when has purchasing a product at full price been viewed as screwing the citizens over?
What is this 'jump back on the grid' shanola?
You're already on the grid. Only not buying as much as you were before. Then on a cloudy day you buy more electricity.
That exact same scenario happens every winter/summer. Don't buy much in the winter, buy a lot more in the summer.
Posted on 5/27/13 at 10:52 pm to Meauxjeaux
quote:
Since when has purchasing a product at full price been viewed as screwing the citizens over?
But you aren't buying it at full price...hence his point.
You're buying it with a substantial tax credit.
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