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If you’ve driven down I-15 recently, you’ve probably noticed a handful of solar companies vying for your attention on billboards. This is due, in part, that from 2014 to 2015, Utah moved up from being 23rd to 7th in the nation of homes and businesses going solar. It’s no wonder that there are more solar companies in the area than there were five years ago.
With that increase comes a plethora of information about installing a solar system onto your home, with equal amounts of arguments against it. We often look to the experts to tell us all the “whys” of making the switch to solar, but what about the actual customers themselves? If we gave them the mic, what would they tell the rest of the world about solar? Would they suggest making the switch?
We got in touch with a few customers of Solaroo Energy and asked them what they would share with others considering going solar. These people willingly gave their opinions and were not paid or compensated in any way.
Making the decision
If you ask five different people why they decided to go solar, you’re probably going to get a handful of different reasons: saving money, saving the environment and being energy independent, to name a few.
Ed St. Louis in Riverton, Utah had been looking for quite a while and researched five different solar companies. He said, “it was the long-term lower cost of my power, the tax credits that would help offset the total cost, and the longevity of the panels and micro inverters that did it for me. Once I was armed with knowledge, it became an easy financial decision.”
Lensie Fensler in Lake Shore, Utah researched six different solar companies before making her decision but said her final choice came down to the sales person with whom she met. “It was [his] honest approach and follow-through when he made a promise, that did it for me,” she said.
All of the people we spoke with had done a tremendous amount of homework before making their decision. Unanimously, they all agreed that it is key to research several solar companies to make sure that you are contracting with a company that does good, clean work, offers a good product and has solid warranties on those products as well as the services they provide.
One of the Solaroo Energy customers we spoke with said they used Solar Reviews, a third-party trusted source that gives company ratings and customer reviews. This helped them narrow down their choices and get the real scoop on whether companies were doing what they promised.
Additionally, both Ed and Lensie suggested asking the solar companies to show you how long it will take for you to start seeing the savings. More than likely you’ll need to finance your solar system, which means you’ll be trading your power bill each month for a monthly payment on your system. But once it’s completely paid off, you can sit back and enjoy all the savings.
The process
Those we interviewed had already been through the entire process and had their systems up and running for at least three months, offering great insights into how the process really worked for them.
First and foremost, you need to go into this process with realistic expectations. Realize, that there is a lot of work that goes into it, from designing your system and permitting, to the installation, to your local municipality signing off on the work and giving approval.
Some cities have permit processes that can take weeks, while for others, just days. Solaroo has had projects permitted and installed as quickly as two weeks, whereas some cities will add weeks on that, time permitting.
The results
When all was said and done, those who are now enjoying their solar systems tell us they are glad they made the switch. They say it’s exciting to see their power bill go from around $200 a month to the standard power bill connection fee of around $8 a month.
When asked if they would recommend going solar to their friends, both Ed and Lensie had plenty to say. Lensie said, “It’s a no brainer for anyone with all the days of sunshine we enjoy in Utah. Don’t delay.” Ed took the more practical approach saying, “As long as you are planning on staying in your home long-term and you have the means to wisely pay for the installation, then yes, it finally makes sense to go solar!”
If you would like more information about making the switch to solar, contact Solaroo Energy at 801-826-4888 or you can visit them online at solarooenergy.com
