If you’re in Tucson, Arizona (or the surrounding areas like Flowing Wells, Catalina Foothills, Drexel Heights, Casas Adobes, Oro Valley, Marana, Green Valley, Eloy, and even Phoenix) and thinking about getting solar for your home, you’ve come to the right place.
In this short article, we’ll break down everything you need to know about how to get the best solar panels in Tucson for the most affordable price. And we’ll walk you through a real-life example of what the costs and savings look like on an actual customer’s project we installed earlier this year.
Why Go Solar?
In Tucson, it makes perfect sense because the sun is almost always out. In fact, there are around 350+ sunny days [1] every year, so harnessing the power of this clean energy source is a no-brainer.
And what’s even better is you get to control your energy costs. We know that, on average, the electric rates increase about 3-4% every year to keep up with inflation. However TEP (Tucson Electric Power) is on part to increase rates over 11% in 2023 [2]
👆 See that? It’s taken directly from their website. And we know that over time this is only going to go up. Imagine, just for a moment, that you could have control of your electricity costs, especially right now during some of the worst inflation we’ve seen since the 80’s.
One way to take back control of your costs is to hedge yourself against the rising electric rates with solar panels here in Tucson, Arizona.
What’s It Going To Cost You?
This varies depending on your needs. Every house and system we design is unique. The smallest solar panel system we install is typically around 5kW in size. And we’ve routinely done installations over 15kW.
Based on data, the average sized system is around 8-10kW and will range from $19,000 to $30,000. The prices will vary based on the type of panels you want, warranties, labor costs, federal and state tax incentives, and the individual company you buy from.
In general, most of our customers end up going with a solar system only. But some want more energy independence, so they opt for a Tesla Powerwall or Generac battery storage. If you’re wanting to add a battery to your home, you’ll be spending considerably more, so it’s best to schedule a free consultation and we can go over your options.
Tucson Solar Panel Installation
The installation process is pretty straightforward. Once you’ve moved forward and ordered your system, it takes anywhere from 60-90 days to flip the switch.
The timeline will vary depending on how many jobs we have scheduled, equipment availability, and your unique installation needs.
All of our crew are highly trained and experts at what they do. All certified by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners.
We also do installations in the entire Sierra Vista area, Phoenix, and most of Arizona. So if you’re outside of Tucson, we can still help.
Are Solar Panels Worth It?
Yes, they’re absolutely worth it and here’s why. 👇
Recently, we put together some data on a system that is slightly bigger than average. This one came in at just under 15kW. For a full breakdown on the numbers, check out our Solar ROI article to go more in-depth with the numbers.
This customer has a large home with a pool and they charge their electric vehicles at night. As a result, their average monthly bill as of June 2022 is around $282/month.
Here’s a quick glance of their bill from the last 12 months:
Now here’s what’s important to pay attention to.
You have absolutely zero control over how much you pay for electricity unless you want to keep your AC turned off and never turn your lights on.
That’s because companies like TEP and APS continually raise the rate, and they do every year. This is mostly in line with inflation, which happens to be about 3-4% each year.
And if you’re not getting a 4% raise every year, or you haven’t planned for this cost inflation during retirement, knowing that these rates will go up is daunting.
Plus, if you’ve paid attention to the costs of everything since 2020, we’re all feeling the effects of inflation.
Here’s where it gets interesting.
If this customer does nothing, their electricity costs are only going up. Here’s what it looks like in just 5 years:
This is only in 5 years. What about 20 years from now? Just take a look for yourself. 👇
When you look at it this way, their monthly bill has gone up 94%. And we’re being conservative because we’re assuming it’s only increasing by 3.4% year over year.
Here’s where getting solar panels makes all the sense.
This particular system was larger than average, and their original quote came out to $54,000 as the total with a 2.99% loan over a 20 year period.
This customer qualified for the Arizona Solar Incentives, which is 26% off the cost of their system for the federal tax rebate, and $1,000 from the state. After their rebates, their total system cost came down to about $39,000.
💡 By choosing to go solar today, they have saved themselves in excess $124,000 over the next 20 years because they would’ve easily spent over $176,000 in electricity costs alone. Read their actual case study to see how much you could possible save.
Making The Right Choice: Which Company Do You Go With?
This isn’t an easy decision.
When you have solar panels installed, you need to take into consideration the following concerns:
- What is the company’s reputation?
- Are they following the highest standard of construction codes for installation?
- Can you easily add panels if you need to in the future?
- Will they be there when you need help or have questions?
- Do they guarantee their work?
- How much experience do they have?
- Will they be in business for the longterm?
- Do you feel they have your best interest in mind?
- Do you feel educated after a meeting, or feel like you’ve been hardsold?
We’ve been in this business for long enough to know that all of these things matter a great deal. And you should feel 100% comfortable moving forward with such a large purchase.
You have the potential to lock in your savings and keep your energy bill at a fixed cost over the next 20 years, or you can save even more if you want to pay cash.
Either way, it’s important to have a conversation with a reputable company and someone that cares about you getting the best product and absolute best service.
To have an educational conversation and get a 100% risk-free quote, start with your zip code below and then fill out the rest of the form. We’ll reach out to schedule a call and go over all the details to see if going solar is the right move for you.
Take this 60-second survey to get your free quote. 👇
🔒 Your info is safe with us. We will never sell it or rent it out to anyone.
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