Benefits of residential solar power

• Rebates from the state
• Tax credits from the federal government
• Very high internal rate of return
• Extremely fast payback
• Financing now available
• Stabilizes energy costs
• Utility company subsidizes its own rates
• Increases equity
• Environmentally beneficial
• Lowers dependency on foreign oil
• Creates jobs and helps our economy
• Gain independence from the utility company
• Helps ensure your lifestyle remains comfortable and consistent
• Interest deductions

How a Solar Power System Works
PV power systems convert sunlight directly into electricity. A residential PV power system enables homeowners to generate some or all of their daily electrical energy demand. Solar-generated electricity powers the home first and then any additional energy is sent to the grid. A grid is a system by which electrical power is distributed to a wide area and the homeowner is the final end user.

When the solar system is not producing enough energy to power the home, energy is extracted from the grid to "help."  Power sent to the grid is normally credited at a very attractive rate for homeowners while energy used from the grid is utilized at substantially low rates.

What Solar Systems Cost
Your price for home solar panels depends on a number of factors, including whether PV is ground mounted or mounted on top of a roof. The price also depends on the PV system rating, manufacturer, retailer and installer. The size of your system is probably the most significant factor in any measurement of costs versus benefits.

Rebates
The California Solar Initiative (CSI) currently gives a rebate that covers 15-25% of the total system cost.

In addition to the rebate, investments in residential solar electricity qualify for a 30% UNLIMITED FEDERAL INCOME TAX CREDIT!  These incentives cover a significant portion of the total cost and result in solar power costing less than utility power.

To learn more about how you can get rebates within the state of California, click here.