Question 1

How much does a residential solar system cost

Accepted Answer

On average most residential solar systems will be between $10,000- $40,000

Question 2

When will I break even on Solar?

Accepted Answer

It's different for everyone. It also depends how you look at it. For 99% of people who take the interest free loan, if your payments come under your average electric bill then in a sense you could say day 1 because you're saving money right away. If your payment is over your bill typically around the 3-7 year range. If you paid cash for it, typically 7-10 years accounting for a %3.5 increase in our electric rates. Please check out Solar 101 video on our home page that explains this in detail.

Question 3

Do I need a battery?

Accepted Answer

No unless you are doing an off grid system. Battery's are very expensive and need to be replaced every ten years. Instead you should consider a grid tied system where the electrical grid will store your power.

Question 4

What to look for in reputable solar companies?

Accepted Answer

Time in business. Number of installs. Consistent positive consumer reviews. In-house installation crew. Operates locally. Uses high end equipment. Don’t use a company with overly pushy salespeople or prices that are too good to be true.

Question 5

How to avoid a bad solar deal?

Accepted Answer

The easiest quickest way is to look at your last 12 months of usage history and compare that to the solar systems quoted production. At the end of the day nothing else matters besides the quoted production. If your expectation is to get rid of your whole electric bill this can only be done if the quoted production meets or exceeds your previous years consumption. Having too small of a solar system is the biggest problem most people run into.

Question 6

When should I not do solar?

Accepted Answer

If you're planning on moving in within 2 years. Not to say it would be bad but it's a long term solution and you would likely not get very much benefit from it. It's kind of like buying a house to stay at while you're on vacation only having to sell it a few weeks later. You absolutely could but a lot of hassle for what you get.

Question 7

How long does it take to have a project completed?

Accepted Answer

The actual installation will take 1-3 days, but the actual process of getting solar is about 4-8 months if you opt for the government incentives which you should.

Question 8

What if I move before its paid off?

Accepted Answer

If you opted for the ten year government interest free loan you would be required to pay off the difference before you move. If you received a long term loan that was 20 years, likely the payment is transferable however the new owners would have to have a credit check done to take over the remainder of the payments.

Question 9

My friends purchased a home that was built with solar and they still have an electric bill

Accepted Answer

There is a big difference having solar built with a home and having one customized to your home while you're living in it. A lot of homes that come with solar are typically small systems being only 6-10 panels. For the majority of homes, this would not be close to enough panels and likely they wouldn't be able to partake in solar clubs which would make it even harder for them to cover their bill. Solar clubs are only advantageous when you have net positive months of production. In short they would likely have to add more panels. Where if you purchased a system custom to your usage, that's when you can expect it to get rid of most of your bill if not all your bill.

Question 10

Can my solar credits go towards my gas bill as well?

Accepted Answer

No unfortunately micro gen credits can only go towards the electric portion of your bill

Question 11

If I can sell my electricity back to the grid does that mean I can make money off of my solar system?

Accepted Answer

The potential is there however its extremely unlikely. There are limits to the amount of panels you can have on your home while participating in the microgeneration program. Calgary is on Enmax's grid where you can only put on a system on that will produce a max of 100% of what you used in the last 12 moths where Fortis, ATCO, and EPCOR are sitting at 110%. So you may have some extra credits at the end of the year that you can cash out but it certainly won't be a second income.

Question 12

How we choose our solar installers?

Accepted Answer

We only work with solar companies that have been specifically registered with solaralberta.ca. 
Every Installer we work with has a proven track record, we know personally and trust their work. At the end of the day none of the solar installers we work with are bad choices.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions