What did you pay per watt DC for solar?

[davewill]

Well, wish me luck. The installers just started my install this morning. They expect to finish by tomorrow afternoon.

[lipower]

My out of pocket costs were $11,192 for my 5.74kw system which puts me at $1.95 per watt. It would have been cheaper if I put it on my roof but I did not want to cut all my trees down. The system covers all my home power requirements and 20,000+ miles per year in the Leaf.

28 205w Panels = $4329 with free shipping
28 190 inverters = $3847 purchased on ebay
Balance of items were purchased on ebay, craigs list, and Home Depot

$11,192 to self install
$3,730 deduction of my federal taxes
$3,730 grant from state of Illinois
Savings of $1,200 per year in electricity costs
Savings of $800 per year in natural gas costs
Estimated income of about $2,000 every year from power company to purchase my SREC’s
$20,000+ increase in home value

Payback = Day I flipped the switch

No brainer even without the incentives.

[Hedge74]

But being able to depreciate something doesn't make money come out of thin air. Normal business expenses can be deducted in the year the the money is spent but things that have multi-year life spans have to be deducted (depreciated) over their lifespan. The only way I see this game working is if they are "paying" way more than they should be which lets them get way more local/federal money.

That is not entirely true, certain real property as described in code section 179 of the tax code allows depreciation of the full value the year the property is put into service. However there is a limit, $500,000, per year. Leased solar panels happen to be one such property. Read about it here.


Hedge

[QueenBee]

That is not entirely true, certain real property as described in code section 179 of the tax code allows depreciation of the full value the year the property is put into service. However there is a limit, $500,000, per year. Leased solar panels happen to be one such property. Read about it here.


Hedge

But being able to depreciate the full value the year the property when it is put into service ultimately doesn't save them money on their taxes per say. It just means they have less profit now vs having less profit over the life of the asset. Tax accountants obviously like that as their goal is to pay as little taxes now since then you can use the money for other things now and you never know what the tax rates/rules will do in the future.

[shrink]

But being able to depreciate the full value the year the property when it is put into service ultimately doesn't save them money on their taxes per say. It just means they have less profit now vs having less profit over the life of the asset. Tax accountants obviously like that as their goal is to pay as little taxes now since then you can use the money for other things now and you never know what the tax rates/rules will do in the future.

Maybe this had something to do with those low leases that are no longer offered:

http://www.azcentral.com/business/artic ... lurch.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[QueenBee]

But being able to depreciate the full value the year the property when it is put into service ultimately doesn't save them money on their taxes per say. It just means they have less profit now vs having less profit over the life of the asset. Tax accountants obviously like that as their goal is to pay as little taxes now since then you can use the money for other things now and you never know what the tax rates/rules will do in the future.

Maybe this had something to do with those low leases that are no longer offered:

http://www.azcentral.com/business/artic ... lurch.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

"On May 8, administrators requested more information about the system and asked for a cost breakdown. Treasury officials indicated the system appeared to come in above market cost.

Flinn said in an e-mail that the company had never before been questioned about costs. Federal guidelines allow $7 per kilowatt on systems of the project size. She said Perfect Power's price was $6.96 per kilowatt."

So I wonder what their actual cost on this example system was. Say it was a 3,800 watt system and they claim the retail price is $26,448 so they want a $7934 government check. Then the customer pays $4,500 so they've received $3.27 a watt. Then with some more incentives from AZ/utilities there is enough money to make a profit. Maybe the customer has to pay more monthly as well?

[Batikikik]

Hello Guys,
I have my solar pv system done by LA Solar Group. And I did pay $3.95 per watt. I have installed 6.7kW system in Chatsworth.
I will recommend they 100%!!!

[GaslessInSeattle]

we paid about $4 a Watt.

[mrradon]

After 30% rebate (2010) its was $1.95. Including all permits and hardware.

https://enlighten.enphaseenergy.com/pub ... s/4D3y8464" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[madbrain]

Two years ago, did 28 x 235W at about $6/Watt DC before incentives, about $4/W after federal & CA incentives.
This year, added 12 x 240W at about $3/Watt DC before incentives, $2/W after federal & CA incentives.