At Sunline Energy, the most common questions we receive from potential customers all seem to revolve around price.
Homeowners and business owners alike want to know the cost of going solar in San Diego.
And that’s perfectly understandable. Of course you want to know the upfront cost before committing any resources (Just a quick FYI – the average cost of a residential solar installation in San Diego is about $10K after incentives.)
But far more important is the “relative” cost of going solar. What you really want to know is how much a solar installation costs… compared to continued reliance on grid electricity?
Well, the following chart pretty much says it all.
What This Chart Reveals about the Cost of Solar in San Diego
As the chart above illustrates, solar panel prices keep falling. In fact, they’ve already fallen so much that solar installations have become cheaper than utility electricity in many parts of the country.
Where solar prices intersect with utility electricity prices is known as “grid parity.” At that point, the cost of solar and utility power are exactly the same.
But in San Diego, we’ve already passed grid parity.
That’s because we have incredibly expensive utility prices – that keep going up. In 2013 alone, some customers have been hit with an astounding 40% price hike. And by comparison, solar prices have plummeted by 80% over the past 5 years.
In other words, it’s cheaper to install solar panels than it is to remain on the grid.
And every year, this gap will only widen because:
- Utility electricity will continue to become more and more expensive
- Solar technology will get cheaper and cheaper with time
So Should You Postpone Installing Solar Panels?
If something gets cheaper and cheaper with time, it makes sense to postpone buying that something, doesn’t it?
After all, you’ll get a better deal tomorrow than you will today.
But this isn’t the case with solar. Waiting may actually cost you more. That’s because most San Diego solar incentives have expiration dates. They’re here today, but they may not be around tomorrow.
When you install solar panels without net metering or rebates, the installation costs a lot more. So you’re better off taking advantage of these incentives before they expire. Read our earlier article on this very topic.
Have More Questions about San Diego Solar Installation Costs?
If you’re 100% dependent on SDG&E, the situation is already pretty bad. You’re spending tons of money on a power source that is making the planet less livable. And it will only get worse in 2014, 2015, and beyond.
Want to save money, reduce your carbon footprint, and help create local green jobs? It’s time to begin exploring your solar options.
Fortunately, all initial consultations with Sunline Energy are 100% free. You pay absolutely nothing to learn about solar costs, savings, incentives, or installations.
Just request a free appointment, and we’ll take care of the rest.
