If you are tired of high electric bills and power outages, you may want to consider installing solar panels on your property. Solar panels in Orange County are a great investment because of all the money you can save on not paying the electricity bills, along with the obvious advantage of using clean energy. Continue reading to find out everything you need to know about solar panels in Orange County.
Solar System Installation Costs In Orange County
Installing solar panels can get pricey and there are a lot of factors that affect the total cost. California is on the higher end when it comes to the cost of solar panels, and you can expect to pay $4.3 per watt on average This is a raw price before any reductions, which we will talk about more later.
The size of the property you want to install solar panels on affects the price the most. Here is the table with an estimated total cost of your solar system in Orange County depending on how large your property is.
| Size | Area it covers | Cost before reductions |
|---|---|---|
| 1 kW | 90 sq. ft. | $4,284 |
| 2 kW | 180 sq. ft. | $8,568 |
| 3 kW | 270 sq. ft. | $12,852 |
| 4 kW | 360 sq. ft. | $17,136 |
| 5 kW | 450 sq. ft. | $21,420 |
| 6 kW | 540 sq. ft. | $25,704 |
| 7 kW | 630 sq. ft. | $29,988 |
| 8 kW | 720 sq. ft. | $34,272 |
| 9 kW | 810 sq. ft. | $38,556 |
| 10 kW | 900 sq. ft. | $42,840 |
As you can see, you can plan to pay anywhere between a few thousand and tens of thousands of dollars. Keep in mind that you can always install solar panels that don’t cover the whole roof of your property. Having a smaller system can still satisfy part of your electricity needs and lower the amount on the electricity bill.
Further differences in price can come from the company you choose to do the work. Different contractors use different materials and offer different packages and guarantees. The higher the quality of the system you get, the higher the total cost.
This is one part of the whole process when you shouldn’t try to save as much money as you can. It’s better to pay more as an initial investment because the high-quality solar panels can last longer and save you more money long-term.
Another thing that you should include in the cost you can expect to pay is maintenance. Cleaning and maintaining solar panels can cost $100 to $1000 per year. Some companies include this in price right away so you don’t have to worry about it too much later on.
Incentives, Tax Credits & Rebates For Solar Panels In Orange County
Investment Tax Credit (ITC) is so far the largest solar incentive you can use in Orange County. It is a federal program that takes 30% off of the total cost of your solar panels. To be eligible, you need to be the owner of both the property and the solar system you want to install.
Since this is a tax credit, another requirement is to have taxes to pay because you get 30% through the reduction of your taxes, not in cash. Here is the table with the average prices after this huge reduction.
| Size | Area it covers | Cost after reductions |
|---|---|---|
| 1 kW | 90 sq. ft. | $2,999 |
| 2 kW | 180 sq. ft. | $5,998 |
| 3 kW | 270 sq. ft. | $8,997 |
| 4 kW | 360 sq. ft. | $12,095 |
| 5 kW | 450 sq. ft. | $14,994 |
| 6 kW | 540 sq. ft. | $18,993 |
| 7 kW | 630 sq. ft. | $20,992 |
| 8 kW | 720 sq. ft. | $24,990 |
| 9 kW | 810 sq. ft. | $27,989 |
| 10 kW | 900 sq. ft. | $29,988 |
You should hurry up if you want to take this opportunity. This amount drops to 26% in 2033.
Another incentive that can help you reduce the overall cost of your solar system is the Self-Generation Incentive Program or SGIP. This is a state-wide program that offers rebates for batteries and other solutions for energy storage.
The amount of money you can get depends on a few factors, like how fast you apply, how large is your solar storage system, your income, and where you live. If you want to take advantage of this program you should apply as soon as possible. Having a battery to go with your solar system can come in handy during storms and similar natural events when a power outage can happen.
The Single-Family Affordable Solar Homes or the SASH program is an incentive for low-income families. If you are eligible, you can get 3$ per watt of your solar system, which can cover a significant amount of the total cost.
To qualify, you should be the owner of the home you live in, be a customer of PG&E, SCE, or SDG&E electrical providers, and have a total income that is 80% or lower than AMI (area median income). You can find out more on the Public Utilities Commission of California website.
One more awesome thing that California offers is tax exclusion for raised value of a property. When you install solar panels, the total value of your property increases by up to 5%. While normally you would have to pay taxes, solar systems are excluded from this.
Finally, most of the electricity providers in Orange County offer net metering. This means that you get credit points for any excess energy your solar panels produce. You can use these credits when your solar panels don’t produce enough energy for your property’s needs.
Top 7 Solar Companies In Orange County
1. Infinity Solar
Infinity Solar is a company that has been operating since 1999. They provide custom-designed solar systems and use the newest, high-quality technology. They offer solar systems and batteries that come with a 25-year warranty on manufacture and labor. You can also have financing options.
Location:749 N Main St, Orange, CA 92868
Phone: 714-880-8089
2. Aikyum Solar
Aikyum Solar offers residential and commercial solar systems, as well as solar batteries. They promise quick installation, excellent communication throughout the process, competitive prices, and daily monitoring once the system is installed.
Location:1220 Roosevelt Suite 150, Irvine, CA 92620
Phone: 949-705-6797
3. SunSolar US
SunSolar US is an award-winning company located in Irvine. Their products include residential and commercial solar systems, carports, patio covers, and energy storage solutions. They provide up to 25-year warranties and zero-down financing options.
Location: 16755 Von Karman Ave Suite 200, Irvine, CA 92606
Phone: 949-242-0088
4. OC Solar Panels
OC Solar Panels is a company that offers solar system installation with their guidance and support from the beginning to the end, from designing, financing, permitting, net metering agreement, to the installation itself. You can request a quote on their website.
Location: 24 Executive Park, Irvine, CA 92614
Phone: 949-427-8817
5. Barnes Solar
Barnes Solar is located in Lake Forest. They have more than a thousand happy customers and they promise to take care of every step in the process. They work with financing companies to help you afford investment for your future.
Location: 23201 Orange Ave, Lake Forest, CA 92630
Phone: 949-346-3436
6. Solar 360
Solar 360 is a company that offers both residential and commercial solar systems. They claim to use top-notch technology and settle only for the best. Their average installation time is around 60 days. You can get a free quote on their website.
Location: 1586 N Batavia St, Orange, CA 92867
Phone: 714-202-4835
7. Orange County Solar
Orange County Solar is located in Irvine. You can get a free quote on their website or by calling their number. They have a $1000 dollars discount for homeowners in Orange County.
Location: 24 Executive Park, Irvine, CA 92614
Phone: 949-427-8817
Things To Know When Installing Solar Panels In Orange County
The thing that affects the efficiency of your solar panels the most is the climate of the area you live in. Luckily, Orange County is sunny for most of the year – 278 days on average! What’s more, Orange County receives more than six peak hours per day – hours when every square meter of your solar panels produces at least 1000 watts of energy.
This means that Orange County is as good a place as it gets to have solar panels. You won’t have to worry about not having enough energy at all times, and if you decide to equip your property with a battery, you won’t have to worry even during storms or wildfires.
Another thing that is crucial when it comes to solar panels is their position and direction. If you live in Orange County, your solar panels should be facing south with a tilt angle of around 33 degrees. The specific angle is determined by the latitude of the place you live in, this is just an approximate number. [Find the Best Angle for Your Solar Panels]
You can choose to have your solar panels fixed at one position throughout the whole year or to change their position twice or four times a year. Fixed solar panels are a good choice for Orange County because this area gets a lot of sunlight during the whole year. Tracking solar panels are much more expensive and they are a good choice for areas that don’t get enough sunlight regularly.
Summary
Installing solar panels in Orange County is a great choice for more than one reason – you contribute to the planet using renewable energy and you save a lot of money. Considering the rising electricity bills, you should seriously consider installing solar panels on your property.