Is Solar A Ripoff?
The answer is no. Installing a solar panel system for your home should be an easy decision to lower your electric bills and reduce your carbon footprint. Tax incentives and Net energy metering make it more affordable than ever for California homeowners to take advantage of the financial benefits of going green.
Unfortunately, some homeowners have been sold bad solar systems by inexperienced solar salespeople because they design systems incorrectly or use outright deceptive tactics. This has left those homeowners with high bills, making them wonder if solar power is just a ripoff.
How can you avoid inexperienced or deceptive practices that lead to a solar ripoff?
Leasing Vs. Owning Solar Panels For Homes
A key consideration in choosing a solar energy system is the question of ownership. Owning your solar panels allows you to benefit from tax credits and government-backed incentives. On the other hand, if you opt for a lease or a PPA, these financial incentives are typically claimed by the third-party company that owns the system.
Solar Leases & PPAs In a solar panel lease arrangement, you lease your solar panels, you essentially exchange your utility bill for a lease payment, which may include an annual increase of about 3%, similar to traditional utility rate increases. And as homeowners, you enjoy lower costs than traditional utilities.
When you as a homeowner, own your solar panels, you own the benefits and replace your electric bills with a home investment that becomes an asset and adds value to your home. Go a step further and invest solar savings into a growth fund!
Many large solar companies and brokers often recommend solar leases as an option. The focus is generally on offering a lower initial payment, making leases appealing to potential customers.
EPC Solar Companies rely on their expertise and customer service. Companies like us at Option One Solar have thrived by providing real value to each customer and getting referrals through word-of-mouth.
Read More:
What are Solar PPA and Solar Lease?
Is It Still A Good Time To Get Solar In 2023?
What is a Solar Broker?
Solar brokers are simply middlemen, meaning they are not contractors, they can only sell solar to licensed contractors if they are licensed with associated solar contractors.
For the middleman to be paid, they add their share on top of normal installation costs. Many customers see unreasonable and sometimes pervasive commissions from most solar brokers.
Keep in mind — brokers have no legal responsibility for quality, warranty, aftercare, or performance. Once they get paid, they can walk away. Brokers have “no skin in the game”.
Go directly to the licensed solar contractors. Contractors provide high-quality installations, honor their warranties, and save you money by cutting out the middleman.
As stated, solar brokers are simply middlemen who exist to increase your solar price for their own profit.
Once the deal is done, so is the solar broker. They are not the guys you will allow into your home for the real work. Solar brokers only sell to the contractor doing the installation work. And, they are most definitely not the guys you will call for support if something goes wrong.
What is an EPC Solar Company?
EPC stands for Engineering, Procurement, & Construction. They are both an experienced sales team as well as the contractors that install your system.
That means you're dealing with the same company for the entire process of going green and living with solar power.
From sales to installation and support, each person comes from the same place and they all work together as a team to provide top-notch service to their customers.
EPC companies rarely work with solar brokers because they have their own in-house sales team and installation crews that don’t rely on commission for a living.
At Option One Solar, our sales teams are employees of the company and highly trained energy experts who collaborate and guide our customers through the solar process. We want to help you decide if solar energy will work for you. If solar doesn’t make sense for our customers, we won’t sell it.
Is Solar A Good Investment?
Going solar for your home is a great investment! Solar panel systems for homes can provide numbers of benefits.
Solar power will increase your home’s value while providing renewable energy for a low and predictable price. You can avoid inflation and electricity rates that climb every year. As stated above, you can even invest the savings for greater returns.
Opting for a solar lease or a PPA can offer immediate cost savings on electricity bills, but they may not provide the same long-term financial benefits as owning a solar system.
If you're considering selling your home, having a lease or PPA could complicate the process and impact your property's value.
At the end of the lease or PPA term, you won't own the solar system despite the payments made over the years. It's important to carefully evaluate these aspects when considering PPAs and Solar Leases as options for going solar.
Have question? Give us a call and speak with one of our solar experts.
Option One, Take Your Solar To The MAX!
How To Avoid Solar Scams
There are so many solar companies out there pushing misleading ads, fake promises, and actual scams. Some companies go so far as changing their name to avoid dealing with the consequences of their lies and angry customers.
How do you avoid solar scammers? Research.
No company can escape its past. Spending a few minutes researching any company you want to work with can give you all the necessary information. You can also ask the salespeople direct questions, such as:
- Do you have a license? / May I see your license?
- Who is going to install my solar panel system?
By law, the solar broker must disclose the contractor they represent during the sale!
- Can I take a look at the contract?
Make sure your contract discloses the contractor on record that will install your solar. Otherwise, it is illegal!
- Will I own my solar panels?
Make sure you own your panels!
- What kind of guarantees and/or warranties do you provide?
Make sure your solar contractor has been in business long enough to prove they can honor your warranties. Read their reviews.
Information and education is your best weapon when shopping for solar or any other financial investment. That’s why this website exists, and we want to keep you informed so you know that you’ve made a good decision when you go solar with us!
When you’re ready to go solar, give us a call: 760-646-8444
