In recent years, the solar power industry has been attracting some bad rep, and sometimes, justifiably so! The industry has its share of rotten apples – solar companies that prioritize a few quick bucks over customer satisfaction with their solar systems. Unsuspecting customers are misled into buying a solar system that costs too much, doesn’t meet their power needs, or just doesn’t deliver promised savings.
The good news is that it’s not really difficult to identify and avoid such companies. You should just know their lies. Keep reading to find out the common lies CT solar companies tell.
- The Flat 26% Discount
This is one of the most common lies perpetuated by solar installers. The “discount” they are referring to is the Federal Income Tax Credit (ITC). As the name indicates, it’s a credit, not a discount.
What this means is that if your ITC comes to $1,000 and your annual income taxes are $5,000, you only have to pay $4,000. But what if your annual taxes are just $500? In that case, you don’t get to enjoy the full ITC benefit in that taxable year. The good news, is that does roll over to the following years allowing you to take advantage of the credit when you need the tax break
- Downplay The Costs
Despite the unbelievable drop in prices of solar panels over the past few years, solar installations can still require an upfront investment. There is no death of solar companies offering very low quotes via online quote generators to get you to notice them.
Once you sign the contract, you find out that the actual costs are higher, there are hidden costs, or that the installer used low-quality products to cut corners.
Only you can save yourself from such companies. Get solar quotes from a reputable solar company. Go through the solar quote in detail, understand why the company is quoting the price and program, and find the most suitable option for you. Ideally, it should include products from reputed brands, and the installer must be an established player in the industry.
- Exaggerating the Savings
One of the common ways of attracting the attention of customers is to exaggerate the savings from residential solar power. Buying a solar system is not the time to be lazy when it comes to research.
The various incentives available for CT homeowners are well-publicized. We’ve covered them extensively too. You can use official sources to calculate these incentives and the net revenue they generate for you. Also, you can use your monthly utility bill to calculate your savings for the next 25-30 years.
With a bit of groundwork, you can make fairly accurate estimates of your potential savings, and you won’t have to rely on the solar company to provide you with those figures.
To reiterate, a small amount of research goes a long way in protecting your investment and solar dreams from being derailed by an opportunistic solar company. Trust reviews and established companies with reputable brands.
