System Pays for itself in 7 Years.

"Our solar electric system was installed in 2003 and has since paid for itself. 
It certainly is one of the best, risk-free investments we have ever made."

-  Kristen Yanker-Hansen

Project name: Hansen Residential Solar System

City & State: Danville, CA

Rated DC Output: 4.5kW

System Output (AC watts): 3.8 kW

Modules: 27 Kyocera 167 watt panels

Inverters: 2 SMA SB2500’s

Monitoring: none

Total installed cost: $33,517

Rebate amount: $15,188

Tax Credit: $2,899

Net Cost: $15,430

Net Cost per Watt: $4.06 AC, $3.42 DC

Date of installation: December, 2003

Designer: Dick Hansen

Installer: Sustainable Technologies

The system was designed in the fall of 2003 when the availability of solar products (capacity of inverters and geometry of panels) was much less than exists in 2010.  In addition, PGE rules at that time required that the solar disconnect switch had to be located within 10 feet of the meter, which necessitated a 150’ conduit run that would not be needed today.  If installed in 2010, about $2,000 could be saved on the installation.

In 2003 the state rebate was $4.00/watt and the state offered a 7.5% tax credit but there was no Federal Tax credit, which today is 30% of the installed cost.

First year savings were calculated to be $1,500 with expected payback in about 9.5 years.  However, since 2003 PGE has raised their tier 4 and tier 5 surcharges by 200%, actual savings have totaled $14,000.  This yields a break even in 2010 or 6.5 years.  If ‘pre-tax’ savings were calculated, the break even point was reached in mid 2008 or in 4.5 years, which is basically a risk-free rate of return of 22%.