Benefits of Solar Energy
Solar energy offers numerous advantages that will enhance your home for years to come.
- Better energy independence: Adding a battery backup or storage system lets you have dependable energy during storms and grid outages.
- Lowered energy bills: With a solar array, you generate power without paying the tacked-on costs of grid-connected power. Going off-grid can eliminate your bills completely. Plus, a significant number of states have adopted net metering, which permit you to earn money by selling your unused energy back to the grid.
- Reduced carbon footprint: The sun is a highly abundant clean energy source, meaning you can reduce or eliminate your home's dependence on "traditional" sources.
What Solar Incentives Are Available to Yorba Linda Homeowners?
Governments and utilities often incentivize homeowners for embracing solar. Here are some of the rebates, tax credits or other programs you could qualify for.
Incentive Type: Property Tax Incentive
Website: boe.ca.govIncentive Amount:
100% of system value; 75% of system value exemption for dual-use equipment
Incentive Type: PACE Financing
Website: wrcog.usIncentive Amount:
Eligible products can be financed for up to 25 years, depending on the useful life of the eligible product.
Minimum financing: $5,000
The financing may not exceed fifteen percent (15%) of the market value of the property, up to the first seven hundred thousand dollars ($700,000) of the property’s market value, and ten percent (10%) of the remaining value of the Property above seven hundred thousand dollars ($700,000) minus any PACE assessment on the propertyThe total amount of any annual property taxes and assessments shall not exceed five percent (5%) of the property's fair market value, determined at the time program financing is approved.
Incentive Type: PACE Financing
Incentive Amount:
Locally determined
Incentive Type: Rebate Program
Website: selfgenca.comIncentive Amount:
For projects 30 kW or larger, 50% of incentive will be received up-front; 50% will be received based on actual kWh production over the first 5 years. For projects under 30kW, 100% of the incentive will be paid up front.
Incentives will step down over time. See below for incentive amounts.
Incentive Type: Feed-in Tariff
Website: cpuc.ca.govIncentive Type: Feed-in Tariff
Website: ladwp.comIncentive Amount:
$0.17/kWh adjusted by a time of delivery multiplier
Base price will step down over time as certain MW goals are met
Incentive Type: Rebate Program
Website: gosolarcalifornia.ca.govIncentive Amount:
Step 1 Incentive Rates (contact utility to determine current incentive levels):
Single Family Residential Incentives:
Systems that displace natural gas: $29.85 per estimated therm displaced
Systems that displace electricity or propane: Funding has been exhausted
Commercial/Multifamily Incentives:
Systems that displace natural gas: $20.19 per estimated therm displaced
Systems that displace electricity or propane: $0.42 per estimated kWh displaced *** Note, funding has been exhausted in this category for SCE and PG&E
Solar Pool heating: $5.00 per estimated therm displaced
Incentive Type: Personal Tax Credit
Website: ecowatch.comIncentive Amount:
30% federal tax credit for systems placed in service after 12/31/2021 and before 01/01/2033. Good for: solar water heat, solar photovoltaics, biomass, geothermal heat pumps, wind (small), fuel cells using renewable fuels.
How To Choose the Best Solar Company in Yorba Linda
The price and efficacy of solar panels often depend on the provider that mounted them. Here are some crucial criteria to remember while searching for a solar company.
Licensing and Training
California requires solar companies to hold licenses for each type of equipment they install, which can include solar water heaters, HVAC, pool heaters, photovoltaic (PV) systems, and boilers. Contractors must complete a highly comprehensive educational series, gain four years of experience as an apprentice or journeyman, and pass written exams to secure a license. Solar companies can also pursue accreditations from trade groups and standards organizations. The top ones in the industry come from the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners. Most company websites will prominently display earned credentials, but you should also ask your estimator for more information.
Cost of Solar Panels in Yorba Linda
Your solar panels' style will influence how much energy you can generate. Monocrystalline panels are among the highest quality and perform the best but cost the most. Polycrystalline panels generate less, but they're a great traditional option for low budgets. Thin-film panels have a low cost and are excellent for non-traditional roofs, but aren't recommended for large home installations.
If you need to charge an electric vehicle (EV) or use your solar power in dark weather, you can pay extra for add-ons. By choosing the right components, you can make your panel array more productive and convenient to use. Not all solar contractors offer these extras, so look for a contractor that sells them if it's crucial for you.
Most Yorba Linda homeowners select solar systems sized for five kilowatts (kW) of electrical capacity. These systems cost about $17,350 to set up, considering both materials and labor. You can see more specific solar cost information in the table.
Solar Panel Cost | Average Cost |
---|---|
Solar Monocrystalline | $1,235 |
Solar Polycrystalline | $963 |
Thin-Film | $563 |
Solar Battery | $790 |
Solar Home EV Charger | $2,964 |
Financing Solar Energy in Yorba Linda
Solar installers use multiple different financing options to increase your savings and lower your costs. Though some providers offer unique payment plans, the most common are solar leases, solar loans, cash payments and power purchase agreements (PPAs). Most solar experts recommend a cash payment or using a solar loan. Cash payments require a large up-front sum, but they help you avoid paying interest, grant you system ownership, and qualify you for cost-saving solar incentives. Solar loans have the same benefits, though you'll pay more in total due to interest and fees. Similar to a car or home loan, you'll pay a set monthly rate with as little as $0 down. Solar leases involve paying a set monthly rate to use rooftop panels. A PPA (Power Purchase Agreement) permits you to pay a monthly rate based only on the energy you use, like an electric bill. We generally don’t recommend these two options because you won't own the solar system and are disqualified from using solar incentives. We suggest working with a provider that offers multiple financing options. Ask each representative about what's available, and secure more than one estimate for the best odds of keeping within your spending limits.
The table below lists the average payback periods for different capacities of solar systems in Yorba Linda.
A 26% federal solar tax credit applies to new home solar systems purchased through 2032. Extra incentives may be available through city and state governments, usually in the form of rebates and special financing programs.
Solar System Capacity | Estimated Payback period |
---|---|
1 kW | 1.4 years |
2 kW | 2.7 years |
5 kW | 6.8 years |
10 kW | 13.7 years |
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Frequently Asked Questions About Solar in Yorba Linda
How much energy and money could I save per year by switching to solar?
How prevalent is solar energy in Yorba Linda?
Will solar panels raise my Yorba Linda home worth?
How can I assess my site's solar potential?
Is solar panel installation a fast job?
How long does it take to pay back a solar loan in Yorba Linda?
How are a solar lease and PPA different?
You don't own the panels with either option, though you can choose to opt out of the contract for a fee.
Should I get quotes from multiple Yorba Linda solar companies?
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