October 11, 2026
Key takeaways: Federal solar tax credit: The 30% Section 25D residential credit ended for systems installed after December 31, 2025, killed by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (P.L. 119-21). A homeowner-owned system installed in 2026 gets no federal credit. The deadline follows the installation completion date, not the contract date: The Section 48E commercial […]
October 11, 2026
Key takeaways: Do solar panels work on cloudy days: Yes: panels run on daylight, not direct sunshine. Bright overcast delivers about 30 to 50 percent of peak output, while heavy rain or dark skies drop it to about 10 to 20 percent (study range: 23 to 67 percent reduction, University of Port Harcourt). Rain washes […]
October 11, 2026
Key takeaways: Solar panel maintenance cost: Professional cleaning costs $150–$500 per visit (1–2 times a year); a full system inspection runs $150–$300 every 1–3 years. The big one-off cost is the string inverter: budget $1,500–$2,500 for a replacement around year 10–15. Enphase IQ8 microinverters carry a 25-year warranty and may never need replacing. Panel replacement […]
October 11, 2026
Key takeaways: Is solar worth it in Arizona: Yes, for most homeowners, but payback is now 10 to 13 years on a cash purchase (EnergySage 2026 city data: 10.7-13 years; about 11.9 years for a typical Phoenix system). Installed cost runs $2.17 to $2.40 per watt (about $10,800-$12,000 for 5 kW), while Phoenix quotes average […]
October 11, 2026
Key takeaways: Is solar worth it in Florida: Yes, for most homeowners who own their roof and plan to stay: payback is 8 to 12 years (Lunex Power 2026), then 13-17 years of nearly free electricity, with 25-year net savings of $20,000-$40,000. Installed cost averages $2.12 per watt (about $30,694 for Florida’s average 14.47 kW […]
October 11, 2026
Key takeaways: NEM 3 battery rules: NEM 3.0 (Net Billing Tariff, CPUC Decision D.22-12-056) applies to interconnection applications from April 15, 2023 onward: export credits fell from about $0.30 to $0.08/kWh (a ~75% cut) while retail rates run 33-46 cents, so the savings now come from self-consumption, not exports. No law requires a battery, but […]