Big Solar Savings for Anaheim Residents: The Anaheim Public Utility – Solar Advantage Program
July 12, 2010
Anaheim Public Utilities’ commitment to help customers install new solar electric residential systems has been brought forth via their “Solar Advantage” program. This program was initiated in 2008 and since is responsible for thousands of Anaheim residents going solar and saving thousands of dollars off the purchase price of their solar systems. The Anaheim Solar Advantage program has one of the largest cash rebates in California (currently $3.46/w AC CEC).
How does that translate into savings? For a typical 1600 sqft. home a 3.8 kW system would offset nearly 100% of the energy usage. The gross cost of this size system could cost anywhere from $21,000-$23,000. With the Anaheim Public Utilities Solar Advantage the homeowner would get a cash rebate of approximately $12,000. Over 50% of the retail gross system cost is subsidized by the Anaheim Solar Advantage program.
But wait, theres more… The homeowner is also eligible for the 30% Federal clean energy tax credit. If we take the original gross cost ($23,000) and subtract the Solar Advantage incentive ($12,000) it leaves us with a net solar system cost of $11,000 which we can apply the 30% Federal tax credit to. That is an additional $3,300 incentive that is realized in the form of a tax credit at year end. The two incentives combined lowers the gross cost of the $23,000, 3.8 kW solar system to $7,700 after tax season.
Let’s take this case study one step further… Based upon the California Energy Commission rating of the referenced 3.8 kW solar system it would be expected to generate 5,626 kWh of electricity per year. A typical Anaheim Public Utilities customer would be buying electricity for $0.14 per kWh. If we multiply 5,626 kWh of electricity by the current cost of of $0.14 per kWh we arrive at an annual energy savings of $787 per year. The solar system would pay for itself in less than 10 years while offering power output warranties that exceed 20 years.
As you can see Anaheim residents that purchase a solar system for their home and participate the Solar Advantage program are saving thousands of dollars in utility expenses over the life of their solar systems and helping the environment by powering their home with 100% clean and renewable solar energy. Good job Anaheim Public Utilities and participating residents!
For more information visit: http://www.solarsourcepower.com/anaheim.html
