Step 1: Research the different types of solar available.
When a solar installer comes to your home to assess your needs and what type of solar product would work best for you, it is always advantageous to know about the different products available before hand. A list of different types of solar products can be found on our website. Determine what type of solar product you are looking for so you can find the best installer to meet your needs.
Step 2: Find an installer
A list of local installers can be found on our web page. Each company has a description of what types of solar they provide along with an example portfolio. Most installers will come to your home and provide a free estimate. It is recommended that you get at least three quotes before making a final decision on an installer.
Step 3: Ask your installer some questions
How many years of experience does the company have installing solar pv or thermal?
The more experience the company has, the better. However, in San Antonio the industry is still growing and there are many companies new to it. Keep in mind that even though a firm may be new, its personnel may have excellent training and experience.
Is the company properly licensed or certified?
PV systems should be installed by an appropriately licensed contractor. This is a requirement to secure CPS Energy’s solar rebate. All work must meet CPS Energy’s Interconnection & Net-Metering Guidelines. Within the City of San Antonio, rebate applicants must use licensed and bonded electrical contractors who are properly registered with the City of San Antonio Development Services Department. If you have any questions about the qualifications of a solar installer, please call 210-353-2641. Installers must be certified by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) within two years of becoming registered with CPS Energy.
What type of warranty or guarantee does the installer offer?
The CPS Energy rebate requires that modules carry at least a 20-year warranty from the manufacturer, that inverters carry a 5-year warranty, and that the system is guaranteed for at least one year by the installer.
Who will be doing the electrical work? Are they insured?
In some cases, the design is done by an installer and the actual electrical work is done by a separate electrical contractor. It is very important that all parties involved have insurance.
Do you have any references so I can look at the work you have done in the past?
See if the installer can give you the name of someone that has already installed a system with the prospective installer. How was their experience?
What type of operation or maintenance training is available?
Be sure that after the installation is compete that you know how the solar panels work and what maintenance is needed.
Step 4: Apply for CPS and Federal rebates
Your solar installer will work with you to apply for the CPS rebate and Federal tax rebate for your solar installation.
Note: The latest information available to Solar San Antonio is that you can either subtract the rebate from the total cost and take the 30% tax credit on the net amount OR you can take the 30% tax credit on the entire cost and pay taxes on the rebate as income. Your tax advisor can help you decide which is preferable for you.
Step 5: Secure a solar loan if you can’t afford the upfront cost
Our office is working closely with lending institutions to create affordable solar loans. Using your CPS Energy rebate and the federal tax credit, you can have a reasonable size solar system on your home and end up with payments as low as $70 per month on a solar loan. The reduction in your energy bill will contribute substantially to making your loan payments. For more information on how to finance solar, please call us at 210-354-0236.
The federal tax credit could be paid to the bank at any time during the tax year. The example assumes that the federal tax credit amount would be paid to the bank one year after the rebate, so the payments on the rebate-reduced loan would continue for 12 months. At the end of the 13 month process, the payments for the remaining life of the reduced loan would begin. If the federal tax credit amount is paid on the loan earlier, the reduced payments would begin earlier.
Below is an example of a loan for a 5 kilowatt system costing $5.50 per watt to install.
This examples assumes that there would be one payment on the initial loan before the CPS rebate is received. The loan would then be reduced by the amount of the rebate.
At today’s rates, your generated solar energy replaces energy purchased from CPS Energy for approximately $.09 per kilowatt hour. In the loan example above, a five kilowatt system will generate about 6900 kilowatt hours per year worth $816 or approximately $68 per month. In the loan example above, your net costs per month would range from approximately $9 per month to $50 per month. CPS rates will almost certainly go up in the years ahead. When those rates do go up, your solar generated electricity is more valuable and your net costs will be even less.