True or False? Solar Is Too Expensive

Despite the fact that you can see people signing up to have solar power systems installed at their homes and businesses all over Australia, there are some individuals who labour under the presumption that solar is just too expensive. But when you look at the total costs to own a system over a long period, you can see that solar is actually affordable.

The key is to do your research and work with a trusted provider and installer of solar power equipment. As is the case with any major upgrade to your home, you get what you pay for.

This is true because in many cases, cheap solar can be of very poor quality, ineffective or even dangerous. The cheapest installations often come with no warranty to protect the customer. When you look at the facts, solar is not too expensive when you have the peace of mind that you are purchasing quality products.

Before you invest in and install a solar power system, it would be in your own best interest to understand the difference between cheap and unreliable solar products and safe quality products which may comparably have a higher cost.

Cheap Products Often Have no Safety Guarantee or Regulations

You get what you pay for: the epidemic of poor quality solar means often the cheapest panels don’t last their life time. In many cases, customers do not even reach the end of their payback period. For example, an expose by ABC’s 7:30 Report highlighted an investigation into the rising number of solar power installations in Australia that are of sub-par quality. One homeowner was forced to remove a 20-panel installation after it had been on the roof for a mere 4 and half years, even though the installer had given a 10-year warranty.

The ABC report noted that a main reason for low-quality solar panels is that some installers are buying the cheapest equipment they can find from overseas manufacturers with a poor record of quality control inspections. It leads consumers to wonder why they should bother going to the expense of installing a solar system, only to learn that the equipment will need to be removed well before it’s targeted end of use date a decade or more hence.

Quality Products Give You Peace of Mind

Prudent customers know that they can achieve greater peace of mind if they take the time to find and research a reputable company that stands by its solar products. The best solar panel systems will often come with warrantees. This means that if there is an issue, your money hasn’t gone down the drain.

You Can Often Discuss Payment Options With Your Solar Installer

Homeowners may not realise that installing solar power can actually make money. The payback period will show you how you make money back on the investment. Electricity that your family doesn’t need can go to the utility, providing power to others who are connected to the grid. Speak with the installer of your solar system to learn specific details of how you’ll do this to save money in the long run.

Speak to Your Installer About Rebates

There’s one other thing you should check to bring down the price of your solar system even further. Discuss the long-term costs of owning a solar panel setup with your installer. It’s also a good idea to ask about the latest rebates and other programs, such as the Small-scale Technology Certificate and feed-in-tariffs, that can help with the long-term costs of having solar. The government is motivated to encourage solar power system adoption to curb pollution and to help us all be more self sufficient.

Are You Ready for Solar?

Now that you have had a chance to evaluate the most common concerns and considerations about solar power and whether it is too expensive, you may be ready for more insight into how a solar system can benefit your family. To that end, we have put together a free ebook to help you understand why we value quality solar products. For more information, please click here to download our Beginner Guide to Solar ebook today.