I don’t get the tax credit because I live on Social Security. Because I built my system off-grid DIY with easily scalable,bought with cash, equipment,I don’t regret putting solar panels ,batteries,and inverters to power my house. Even with the fact that panels,batteries and inverters have improved in price and quality , I don’t regret starting early.What I have learned in this process is one of the best education investments I have ever made. Signature Solar gave me very good store credit on some older inverters toward a much improved product,the 6000XP off grid inverter.

@danielking2944

2 ай бұрын

Because grid power is so cheap in Texas,for most situations it’s not worth the cost to go completely off grid. We rely on the grid power much like some rely on a backup generator. If the grid is down for an extended period,we can just make some temporary lifestyle changes. I had never seen a clothes dryer until a coin operated laundromat was built in my neighborhood when I was a teenager.

@ajarivas72

Ай бұрын

​@@danielking2944 Grid power is very cheap until the grid goes down.

In South Africa its way too risky not to have solar. You need lights. Crime is too high to sit in the dark.

@zn4634

Ай бұрын

Not crime only, but eskom is going to just rip us off with enegy prices in the years to come

@ajarivas72

Ай бұрын

​@@zn4634 Government will measure your carbon footprint. After some amount of energy consumption, your digital smart meter will shut down your power.

I MAKE 160% of the electricity I need. I'm under NEM 2.0 and grandfathered in for 20 years where the electric company has to buy power from me 1 to 1. Also, I got a 30% Tax Credit. Thanks, Biden.

@RayJohnson1980

2 ай бұрын

Most likely unless you increase output of the inverter and peak solar capacity

@ForbiddTV

Ай бұрын

Then you are completely reliant on the grid.

when I put my solar on way back in 2012, I was only able to use a part of tax credit, but did part over 3 or 4 years

That background music is unnecessary and annoying. Does it help you if people cant hear you as well? Basically solar similar to ev is a ripoff that only "works" given tax credits and 1 for 1 metering maybe. Not mentioned is does insurance cover hail damage? For me having a dedicated inverter to store battery power from just my Honda generator may make the most sense for an emergency to keep a freezer cold and some lights on. Anyway your honesty on this aspect is appreciated.

@marcfruchtman9473

2 ай бұрын

When I research panels, I always double check to make sure that the panel is UL listed for Hail Damage. (I beleive with UL 61730 or IEC 61730 ratings )

There are subprime (no fico/income requirements)TPO options as well. Subprime market will boom in the next 5 years. PACE also in CA and FL are great options too.

Residential and commercial hydropower units are more affordable than pv right now.

This video makes great points, but its unfortunate that is focuses so narrowly on the business case aspects. The world is undergoing huge disruptive change, oil majors slowing down the energy transition and taxing us through climate related disasters and insurance premiums. Utilities trying to hang on to obsolete cost plus models. There has never been a better time to put low cost solar panels with battery storage on your roof, self consume and charge your EV, and tell these guys to get with the show or disappear. Go on one less cruise or trim the lattes. Do it for gipper.

There are more reasons to go solar than just instant savings… Consider the fact that historically the price of basic commodities including electricity has consistently increased year over year. Even if your electricity rate is low now, economics guarantees it won’t remain that way. When you own your power, you control your future.

@ajarivas72

Ай бұрын

Besides economics, off-grid solar power means freedom. Is it expensive? Yes, freedom is not free.

I have two more reasons: 1. The state law granting you "credit" may stop. 2. You will/do have an EV with V-house. No need for a power wall, PV panels, your car's battery will work, especially if it's parked 95%. Do the math on PVs. If your payback is over 7-8 years, go with only batteries. A good financial rule of thumb: If you don't have the money to pay cash, you can't afford it. I bought two houses over 40 years, 2 loans. All other purchases, cash. Buying a car directly from the owner saves $ Thousands, EVERY purchase. Buy it with less than 10K miles. It's work, but well worth it. Buy a book of instructions and study. Or, buy a Tesla (best car), avoiding the "stealership".

I'm a loyal watcher of your channel. It's obvious to anyone watching your content that you know what you're talking about. Having said that, I hope you make some of the thumbnails and titles of your future episodes less click-baity. For instance, while the substance of this episode was well-argued and nuanced, I can't say the same about the thumbnail. I understand how many additional clicks certain thumbnails and titles generate. But I believe yours is one of those channels that I believe will grow based on the strength of your content alone. In closing, thanks for all that you do. I've learned a lot from you.

@BobPritchard

2 ай бұрын

Agreed, titles are click bait. But still strong channel.

You failed to mention if you have really cheap rates with your power company. With my current time-of-use rates, I average .095/kWh for the past 12 months and that's with charging 2 EVs every night. Net metering overages fall into the bucket they were generated in so that makes my payback over 10 years on an 6Kw system.

All five of these are good points. The shading models seem to be less than spot-on. I've had my system in operation for three months. We knew there would be some shading from trees. Installer did a drone survey before quoting late last summer. So far, we've exceeded their production estimates by 48% in March, 32% in April, and 16% in May (and the weather in May was not great). Needless to say, I'm not upset with this, but I wonder how often they're off in the opposite direction leaving the customer disappointed?

In Virginia, it's a credit rollover situ, but no payout. Also need to use credits in 12 months. Think like T-mobile rollover minutes.

@TheUweRoss

2 ай бұрын

With a system that's sized "right", that's not really a problem. Look at your usage for the past year or two and size the system to make between 90 and 100% of your annual usage.

Love your channel! What is that watch you have on, looks great.

Is there a option with battery to do wholesale feed in via intermediary suppler?

As I see the future is of grid,poor country are ahead in solar , less BS gob regulations, industrial used is taking a good used, normally they work 8 to 5 ....

Thanks for the video, I found it informative! Also, I believe you accidentally swapped the wrong word here: @2:51, I believe you meant that the program only works if your Income Is HIGH ENOUGH to have a Federal Income Tax liability, otherwise if it is too low, you can't take advantage of the Tax Credit. getting a tax credit not very helpful for that year. However, ask your Tax professional to be sure, but I believe you can "carry the unused portion forward" and thus possibly take advantage of the tax credit at a future time? (I will agree with some of the others, Background music should be very limited, it's just an added distraction to try to listen to you and hear it playing).

None of this applies to real solar enthusiasts who simply want to be free of the grid. I have been doing solar/wind/EV's for more than 40 years and never hooked to the grid or applied for any tax credit.

Really informative!

Another time where Solar might not make sense is if you have a low average electricity bill.

Buying a solar system that's financed for 25 years is never a good plan.

Sure would be nice to ditch the background music. That is almost as annoying as a “one sit close” solar salesperson.

Honestly , to be so smart about a lot of things , you sure do miss a lot of important parts… SOLAR BUY BACK is the last thing that should be considered when deciding about solar…. Money is not the main driving force in solar…

Is solar worth it.? That’s a complicated question and it really depends on state, county and your financial situation. These thumbnails are getting old. Just keep it real!

The base deduction also plays into the tax credit!!! If you already use the $24,000 auto deduct then the credit for solar is useless as it just falls into the base deduction!!!If you tax structure is such that you have your own base deductions then the solar becomes useable!!! This is the dirtiest game that is played with solar tax credits. NEVER finance Solar with a GC they are allowing YOU to pay interest on their PROFIT!!! Never do this!!!

If your electric company doesn't have net-metering or buyback options that allow you to shift more of the cost for maintaining the grid to those less fortunate. If you can't get a bribe from the Federal government, increasing the national debt by another couple hundred billion dollars. If it's not sunny where you want to put solar panels. If you can't go into a lot more debt, yourself. If you run into a very typical solar salesman. Truth: If you are paying a reasonable rate for electricity and it is quite reliable in your area, going "solar" is a poor financial decision. If you are the DIY type who is willing to learn and work to create value and equity that isn't predicated on the government or the disadvantaged, then you can realize a return-on-investment much faster than any kind of "sales" process.

These situations are sooooooo specific it makes the entire video devoid of value. Enjoy your gas n oil $$ payback sir..ugh!