The dollars and cents of going solar

by Michael Garofalo, News 4 San Antonio

SAN ANTONIO – With our triple digit temperatures air conditioners are working overtime this summer. That means next month when we open our power bills it’s going to hurt.

But some Texans who have opted to go with solar energy are likely smiling all the way to the bank.

Take Alex Mercado and Victoria Mendez for example. The couple bought

their house about 6 months ago. Three months after that they decided to invest in solar.

They say since then their $200 to $250 dollar a month CPS Energy bill has gone down to less than $30.

As for the cost of the system, they say the price before the CPS rebate and a federal tax credit was close to $30,000. After those two discounts kicked in, the final cost was closer to $15,000.

They chose to finance it over 5 years with a zero interest rate offer.

For those that aren’t ready for a payment like that other financing options are available like 10, 12 and 20 year loans.

So how to do you know if you are a good candidate for solar?

Industry experts say your power bill should be at least $100 a month and your roof should ideally face south although it doesn’t have to.

If you are thinking about going solar CPS Energy professionals suggest doing some homework and checking out the companies you are considering using.

They also suggest getting two to three quotes from different companies.