ivanbell•1mo agoProlific Poster

I finally get why people are so into solar after my electric bill hit $340 last month

For years I rolled my eyes at neighbors putting panels on their roof thinking it was just a status thing but after that bill I did the math and realized I could cut it by more than half in under 8 years here in Phoenix, has anyone else had that moment where the numbers just forced you to change your mind?

3 comments

3 Comments

lily_torres311mo ago

Hate to be that person but net metering rules changed here in late 2023, so new customers don't get the old 1:1 rate anymore. Still worth it just the payback period is a little longer now.

alicemurphy1mo ago

My neighbor in Tempe just had a 7.2 kW system put in and his summer bills went from $380 to about $90, and that was enough for me to call three installers the same day. Phoenix sun is basically free money sitting on your roof, I kick myself for waiting three years after my first $300 bill hit. The math works out even faster here because of net metering and the 30% federal tax credit, plus APS rates keep climbing every year. I saw a guy on Nextdoor say he broke even in under six years because his system was sized right and he shifted heavy usage to daytime when the panels are cranking. The real surprise was how much cooler my attic got after the panels went up, that alone saved me on AC wear and tear.

anna4911mo ago

Adding to what you said about the attic cooling - that's actually a bigger deal than people think. My HOA tried to fight my install and I'm kind of glad they did because it forced me to get a full energy audit first, which turned up all sorts of leaks I never would've found otherwise.