It’s important to understand that solar systems involve a lot more than just the solar panels alone. The panels are only one part of the overall system, and the other parts will also contribute to the total cost of the build. The panels and all other components are vital for a high functioning, quality system. At Diamond Solar, we are structured to have the lowest costs while providing you with the best solutions possible. Depending on the amount of energy you need, roof space available, and type of panels / inverters used, you can most likely still expect to pay less in solar system payments than you would for your electric bill. Financing options are also available with zero down.

The federal residential solar energy credit is a tax credit that can be claimed on federal income taxes for a percentage of the cost of a solar photovoltaic (PV) system. (Other types of renewable energy are also eligible for similar credits but are beyond the scope of this guidance.)

The system must be placed in service during the tax year and generate electricity for a home located in the United States. There is no bright-line test from the IRS on what constitutes “placed in service,” but the IRS has equated it with completed installation.

In December 2020, Congress passed an extension of the ITC, which provides a 26% tax credit for systems installed in 2020-2022, and 22% for systems installed in 2023. (Systems installed before December 31, 2019 were eligible for a 30% tax credit.) The tax credit expires starting in 2024 unless Congress renews it.

There is no maximum amount that can be claimed.

To Learn more about the Federal Solar Tax Credit visit Energy.gov https://www.energy.gov/eere/solar/homeowners-guide-federal-tax-credit-solar-photovoltaics

With electricity prices on the rise, you may be looking for new ways to save money on your utility bills. If you invest in solar energy properly, you can definitely expect to save money. When your solar power system generates more electricity than you need, the excess is fed into your electric utility’s grid, and your meter actually runs in reverse. Your utility bill shows a credit based on the net number of kilowatt-hours you contributed to the grid. On the other hand, if/when you experience a power deficit, you can draw the difference from the utility company. So whenever you use energy from the grid, you won’t have to pay extra as long as it’s the same amount or less than what you provided to the grid. This is called net metering.

Keep in mind that the rate you receive for credits is slightly less than the retail price of the electricity you generally pay. Even if your contribution is large, the utility provider isn’t likely to pay cash for the credits. However, some will allow you to donate them to someone else.

Yes, solar panels will increase the market value of your home / office by at least the cost of the system. Per the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, every $1 of savings generated from a solar energy system will add $20 to your home’s market value when you decide to sell. A solar energy system could even help sell your home 20% faster than a residence without solar panels.

Once you find an installer, there are several steps in the process which ensure you get a safe and reliable installation. First, you can expect a site evaluation in which a Diamond Solar installer comes to your home to verify the planned system design. Then there will be an approval of the design followed by a permit approval. Once the permit is approved, the fun begins and installation takes place usually taking only a few days. Expect the city inspector to come out to make sure everything has been completed and then your system will be connected with your local utility company.

The amount of solar panels and power will be determined by your power usage and usable space on your roof. A 10kW system can produce $150-$200 per month. We would like to use the latest technology to determine your usable sun hours to give you a better idea of how much you can save.

Solar panels are fairly maintenance free. Rainfall will typically keep them clean and in full working order. During drier periods when pollen and dust are accumulating they need to be hosed down and blown off whenever there are leaves or other large debris items on top.

Manufacturers’ warranties for Solar Panels and equipment is 25 years for most components. Although, most systems will last well beyond this time frame.

During bad weather, cloud cover or rain, the panels will still produce a small amount of power but nowhere near what the peak performance is. This is taken into account when determining the size of the system and the usable sun-hours each year.

Your solar system will generate power during an outage if you have a battery backup system or the new IQ8 microinverter (equiped with IQ System Controller 2). Without these your system will shut down in order to not back feed the grid while technicians are fixing downed wires or other issues.

Yes, an average sized 10kW system will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 8.6 metric tons over a year or the equivalent of taking 1.8 vehicles off the road each year.