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Your Solar Electric Estimate
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You may want to change some of the information to better match your situation.
| If you agree this is a smart investment, we encourage you to work with a Professional to help you install your very own system. |
Click on the  buttons to learn about our assumptions and other important information used to generate your estimate. Also, please review the Notes below. |
| Help us improve. We rely on feedback from our users to help keep our service accurate and useful: » Send us your Feedback |
Your Solar Electric Estimate by the Numbers |
Printable |
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| Building Type: | Residential | ||
| State & County: | - | ||
| Utility: | Salt River Project | ||
| Utility Type: | Municipal Utility | ||
| Your Average Monthly Electricity Bill: (Assumed rate x average monthly useage) |
$ 0 / Month | ||
| Tiered Rates Apply: |
Yes - See Notes, below! | ||
| Time-of-Use Metering Offered: | Yes - See Notes, below! | ||
| Net-Metering Available: | Yes - See Notes, below! | |
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| ESTIMATED SYSTEM SIZE | |||
| The system size best for your situation will vary based upon product, building, geographic and other variables. We encourage you to work with a Solar Pro who can better estimate the system size best for your situation. We estimate your building will need a system sized between 0.00 kW and 0.00 kW of peak power. This estimate assumes the mid-point of this range. | |||
| Solar Rating: |
kWh/sq-m/day |
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| Solar System Capacity Required: |
0.00 kW of peak power (DC watts) |
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| Roof Area Needed: | 0 sq-ft | |
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| Equivalent Annual Production: | 0 | ||
| ESTIMATED SYSTEM COST |
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| This is only an estimate based upon many assumptions. Installation costs can vary considerably. We encourage you to work with a Solar Pro who can provide you with a more detailed cost estimate. We estimate that a 0 kW peak DC power system will cost between $0 and $0. This estimate assumes the mid-point of this cost range. | |||
| Assumed Installation Gross Cost: "Gross Cost" is the cost before any rebates, incentives, tax credits, etc. are applied. See the Cost Notes, below! |
$0 assuming $4 per watt DC |
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| FINANCIAL INCENTIVES | |||
| Financial incentives shown are totals across all years. So, if an incentive spans multiple years then the value shown is the total of all years. For details, please refer to the table below "Cash Flow by Year and Cumulative Across Years" | |||
| No financial incentives found | $0 | ||
| ESTIMATED NET COST: | $ 0 | |
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| Cash & Loan Amounts: | $ 0 Cash $ 0 Borrowed |
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| Loan Monthly Payment (0% apr, years): | $ 0 | ||
| CASH FLOW | |||
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| Cash Flow Breakeven is where the chart crosses the $0 point - this is when your investment has paid itself back in cash.
The chart above is a summary of the net cash flow you can expect over time. Net Cash Flow is the total cash after all costs (out-flows of cash) are reduced by financial incentives, annual utility savings and tax effects (in-flows of cash). Average values are used together with your assumed income tax rate (0%). Any property appreciation has not been included, as this is generally not a cash flow (it's an investment). The loan modeled, if any, is included. Because individual tax situations vary, we have not included Federal income tax liabilities that may result from having received non-federal incentives, if any (e.g. state rebate programs) as they are usually not taxed as earned income. |
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| SAVINGS & BENEFITS | |||
| Greenhouse Gas (CO2) Saved: over -year system life |
0 tons 0 auto miles |
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Cash Flow by Year and Cumulative Across Years
This cash flow table includes tax effects applied to utility savings and loan interest payments (if any). You have elected (above) to show utility savings in Pre-Tax (Gross Income) dollars ("pre-tax" or what you earned). Therefore for every dollar saved on utility bills, the pre-tax savings will be higher: Pre-tax Utility Savings = ($'s saved on utility bill) / (1 - Income Tax Rate). You may also earn compounding interest tax free (not shown). Because individual tax situations vary, we have not included Federal income tax liabilities that may result from having received non-federal incentives, if any (e.g. state rebate programs) as they are usually not taxed as earned income. Any income from your system (e.g. performance-based incentives and "SREC's") may be taxed as income (also not shown).
| Year of Operation: | at Install | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Cost | ($0) | |||||
| Utility Savings | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| ANNUAL CASH FLOW | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Cumulative Cash Flow | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Year of Operation: | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Cost | ||||||
| Utility Savings | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| ANNUAL CASH FLOW | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Cumulative Cash Flow | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Year of Operation: |
|---|
| Gross Cost |
| Utility Savings |
| ANNUAL CASH FLOW |
| Cumulative Cash Flow |
FAQ's: Frequently Asked Questions for :
- Is there a direct conversion from therms to cubic feet of natural gas?
- About Price Estimates
- Do I need a building permit to install renewable energy?
- For net metering, can I use my current electric meter?
- How did you calculate my energy usage
- How do you calculate estimated system cost?
- How do you calculate fuel saved by solar water heating?
- How do you calculate Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS) and Capital Cost Allowance (CCA) Depreciation?
- How do you calculate my first-year utility savings?
- How do you calculate renewable energy credit (REC) value?
- How do you calculate Solar Collector size for pool/spa heating?
- How do you calculate Solar Collector size for water heating?
- How do you calculate tax on incentives?
- How do you calculate the expected incentive or rebate?
- How do you calculate the Federal tax credit?
- How do you calculate the increase in property value?
- How do you calculate the net cost?
- How do you calculate the payback time?
- How do you calculate the solar system capacity?
- How do you calculate the state tax credit (deduction)?
- How do you calculate typical solar-electric installation cost?
- How do you determine accelerated depreciation?
- How do you determine utility rates?
- How does Net Metering work?
- How does PV angle affect output?
- How does renewable energy improve national security?
- How does the USDA Renewable Energy Systems Grant Program work?
- How is CO2 savings calculated?
- How is Lifetime Savings from a renewable energy system calculated?
- How is solar energy calculated for Water or Spa/Pool Heating?
- How much hot water do you use?
- How should I select a Renewable Energy Professional?
- How will I be billed under Net Metering?
- What are the benefits of Net Metering?
- What are the environmental benefits?
- What are the Federal Tax Credits for Residential Energy Efficiency & Solar?
- What do you mean by roof area needed?
- What does "Business Verified" mean?
- What federal and state incentives are available?
- What if I live in a condominium or have a homeowner's association?
- What incentives do you use in the Solar Estimator?
- What is a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA)?
- What is a Pre-Screened Professional Listing?
- What is a Risk Level Indicator (RLI) score?
- What is a solar rating?
- What is a wind rating?
- What is concentrating solar power (CSP) and Solar Thermal Electric power?
- What is concentrating solar power?
- What is Internal Rate of Return?
- What is Levelized Cost?
- What is Net Present Value?
- What is Net-Metering?
- What is Passive Solar Heating, Cooling and Daylighting?
- What is photovoltaics (PV)?
- What is renewable energy?
- What is Return on Investment (ROI)?
- What is Solar Hot Water and Space Heating and Cooling?
- What is the Profitability Index?
- What kind of warranty is typical with renewable energy?
- What mainentance is required?
- Where can I download brochures, guidebooks, forms and other information
- Where can I learn more about Solar energy?
- Where would I find firms working in the areas of renewable energy?
- Why is energy efficiency important?
- Why is renewable energy important?
Notes & Assumptions: Solar Electric (PV) Systems
* HOW TO REDUCE THE SYSTEM SIZE NEEDED & INCREASE SAVINGS
The estimate provided above assumes "base" electric rates apply. Other taxes and surcharges may be applied to your utility bill. We suggest you review a recent utility bill and change the "Assumed Electric Rate", above, as needed to better match your situation.
You may have other metered-rate options with your utility. Options such as Tiered billing rates, Time-Of-Use (TOU) metering, and Net-Metering, if available, can help reduce the system size you need to provide a "net-zero" energy bill. Sometimes people also reduce the size of their solar system to accommodate planned improvements in their building's energy efficiency, or to match a budget and/or the available space for installing a solar system.
Energy production from a solar electric (PV) system is a function of several factors, including the following. Our assumptions are:
| Factor | Assumption |
|---|---|
| Solar resources | Assumed solar availability: As per Solar Radiance chart |
| Soiling or contamination of the PV panels | Clean, washed frequently: 100% design sunlight transmission |
| Temperature | 25C, calm wind |
| System configuration (battery or non-battery) | Non-battery |
| Orientation to the sun | South facing, tilted at latitude, full sun |
| Shading | None |
| PV Energy delivered as % of manufacturer's rating | 95% |
| Soiling, wiring & power point tracking losses | 9% (91% delivered) |
| Inverter Efficiency | 90% |
| Total Energy Delivered | 95% x 91% x 90% = 78% |
Energy Efficiency: Improving your building's energy efficiency will reduce the system size you need to attain a "net-zero" energy bill.
Tiered Rates: Often people are paying a "Tiered" rate for their electricity. This is a higher rate (higher than the "Base" rate) for electricity charged when a home or building uses more that a "Base" amount allocated for the building. Installing a solar system will reduce your electrical demand from the utility. This can result in a lower utility rate because you stay within the "Base" rate level. In this case, the more expensive "Tiered" rate electricity is eliminated, reducing your average electricity rate.
TOU Metering: Many utilities offer Time-of-Use (TOU) meters. This allows the price of electricity to vary by time of day (called "Peak" or "Off-Peak" periods) and by season (usually "Winter" versus "Summer" rates). If TOU metering is offered by your utility, a solar system may result in additional savings. This is because peak (more expensive electricity) rates often occur during the daytime. This is usually when a solar system is producing the most output, thus reducing your demand for peak-rate electricity from the utility.
Most utilities do charge for the purchase and installation of a time-of-use meter (normally a few hundred dollars). We have assumed the cost for this is part of the "Estimated Installation cost" shown above.
Net-Metering: With Net-Metering, surplus electricity generated by your renewable energy system will be credited back to your utility account. So if your solar system makes more electricity than you are using, the "meter spins backwards". You are not actually "selling" electricity, since in most states the utility will not reimburse you for excess electricity. But, if your utility offers "Net-Metering" you may be able to get credit for electricity provided back to the grid during peak periods. Combined with TOU metering, Net-Metering can result in multiplied savings since your electricity account may be gaining electricity credits during the time of peak utility rates -- Think of a hot, sunny summer day ... your solar system is producing power, spinning your electric meter backwards, and supplying the grid with electricity to run other people's air conditioners -- you're "spinning back" cost at peak rates! That's the savings power of Net-metering, combined with TOU rates.
Solar Power "Fixes" Energy Costs: The cost of sunshine is free. While the sun rises every morning, the cost of sunshine does not. Utility rates, on the other hand, tend to rise steadily in cost. So, the value of your savings from a solar system are likely to increase as time goes on. If you are on a fixed income (e.g. nearing or in retirement) this may be of particular interest to you.
THE COST TO GO SOLAR
This is only an estimate based upon many assumptions and limited data entered by you: Installation costs can vary considerably. The cost to purchase and install a complete grid-tied solar photovoltaic (PV) system on a residential home is typically as further defined in the table, below. This includes the PV array, inverter and associated balance of system costs. It does not include the cost of options you may select, such as battery backup power storage, or the costs of building preparation work, like new shingles. Costs can also be higher if you add other features or have special installation needs (such as application over tile roofing) or you choose to use special mounting systems (such as sun tracking systems). Other factors may also affect price, including, but not limited to, your location, the building condition, type and location, its wiring, and warrantees offered.
| Assumed Cost, per Watt DC | ||
| Item | System Size 1 kW | System Size kW |
| Assumed Total | $7 per watt DC (+/- 20%) |
$5 per watt DC (+/- 20%) |
OTHER ASSUMPTIONS
This summary is based upon many assumptions and the limited data you entered. An actual site assessment by a qualified solar system retailer or contractor will be needed to determine the actual costs and benefits of installing a solar electric system.
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