Is My Electricity Bill High Enough to Justify Going Solar?
Electric bill savings are one of the main benefits of installing solar panels at your Massachusetts home. Installing home solar panels and battery storage can significantly reduce your monthly electricity costs, and in some cases, solar can eliminate electricity bills entirely.
Before making the switch to solar, you may be wondering whether your electric bill is high enough to warrant going solar. In most cases, the answer is yes. If you’re using an average amount of electricity ($132.18 a month in Massachusetts in 2020), solar is worth it for your home. If you fall below the $50 a month mark, however, going solar may not be the most cost-advantageous solution for your home—unless you are planning to electrify your home, that is.
You’ll start saving on your electricity bills right away when you install solar panels, and Massachusetts solar incentives like SMART, net metering, and ConnectedSolutions can help speed up your payback period.
Solar Panel Installation Is More Affordable than Ever
When solar panels were first introduced, they were an expensive technology that the average homeowner could not afford. Times have changed, however, and solar panel costs have gone down significantly. Today, solar panel installation is much more accessible.
Solar incentives, like the federal solar investment tax credit (ITC), help to reduce the upfront cost of a solar installation. With the solar tax credit in 2022, you can reduce your federal tax liability by 26% of your solar installation costs. This can make your upfront installation costs much more manageable and make the investment worth it even if your electricity bills are on the lower side. To take full advantage of the ITC, though, you’ll need to act fast—the tax credit for residential solar projects drops to 22% in 2023 before ending entirely in 2024.
How Long Will It Take to Pay Off a Solar Installation?
The amount of time it takes to pay off a solar system installation will be different for everyone. Factors like the size of your system, your energy consumption, the financing plan you used, and the incentives you qualify for will all affect your payback period.
To calculate the amount of time it will take to pay off your solar installation, follow these steps:
Calculate your total solar installation costs and subtract the value of any up-front incentives, like the federal solar tax credit.
Add up your estimated electric bill savings and payments from monthly incentives like SMART.
Divide your estimated costs by your estimated savings.
The result of this calculation will be the number of years it will take for you to recoup your investment. After that, you’ll be making money off your solar panels!
Not sure what your estimated costs will be, or what your average electric bill with solar panels will look like? Boston Solar can help you estimate your solar costs and savings during your complimentary solar consultation.
Tips to Reduce Energy Usage Before Solar
If you can reduce your energy usage before you install solar panels, you’ll be able to reduce the size of the system you need to meet your electricity needs, leading to lower upfront costs and a faster payback period. You can reduce your electricity usage by making small changes, like switching to LED lightbulbs and using ceiling fans instead of air conditioning whenever possible, as well as more significant upgrades, like installing new insulation or upgrading to energy-efficient appliances.
Learn More About How Solar Panels Affect Electric Bills
At the end of the day, deciding whether solar panels are worth it for you is a very personal decision. No two homes use energy the same way, and everyone’s budgets are different—what one person sees as a quick payback period, another might consider too long.
Boston Solar can help you make the best decision for your home and needs. We are the leading solar installer near you in MA, and we’ve been empowering Massachusetts homeowners to take control of their energy usage and production for over 10 years. We’ve helped thousands of homeowners go solar in a way that works for them, and we can help you do the same.
Have questions about solar electric bill savings? Call 617-858-1645 or contact us to schedule a free consultation with the best solar provider near you in Massachusetts—Boston Solar.
If you are wondering whether solar panels still produce electricity during a...
Top
electricity cost with solar panels, average electric bill in ma, solar savings on electricity bills, solar panels bill, how much do solar panels save on electricity bills, how much will my electricity bill be with solar panels, how much can i lower my electric bill with solar, do solar panels lower your electric bill, how much does solar reduce your electric bill, average electric bill ma, do solar panels lower electric bill, is solar electricity worth it, solar energy bill, how much does solar panels reduce electricity bills, why is my electric bill so high with solar panels, what is the average electric bill in massachusetts, massachusetts average electric bill, high electric bill with solar panels, how much is the average electric bill with solar panels, average monthly electric bill massachusetts, solar panels not reducing bill, solar energy billing, reduce electric bill with solar panels, average electric bill with solar, average monthly electric bill in massachusetts, solar solutions for high utility bills, average residential electricity consumption massachusetts, average electricity bill in massachusetts, how much does solar reduce your bill, do solar panels reduce electricity bills, electric bill after solar panels, solar panels reduce electricity bill, average monthly electric bill with solar panels, electric bill boston, how much do solar panels reduce electricity bills, average electric bill in massachusetts, how much does solar save on electricity bills, solar power bill, reduce my electric bills solar, solar energy reduces electricity bills, how does solar energy reduce electricity bills, average electricity bill massachusetts, average electricity bill with solar panels, average electric bill massachusetts, cost of going solar, solar reduce electricity bills, do you still have an electric bill with solar panels, why is my electricity bill so high with solar panels, boston average electric bill, how much is justify worth, solar panels lower electric bill, how is solar power bill calculated, average electricity bill boston, why is my electric bill so high when i have solar panels, solar panel bill, why do solar companies need my electric bill, why is my electric bill higher with solar panels, electricity bill with solar panels, solar panels and electricity bills, comanche peak, do you have to pay an electric bill with solar panels, is it worth it to go solar, cost of solar panels illinois, solar in las vegas, solar electricity bill, solar power is it worth it, i have solar panels but my electric bill is high, solar panels cost, what is the average electric bill with solar panels, how much does solar reduce electric bill, how to use solar panels to reduce electricity bill, how much does solar panels save on electric bill, average electric bill in jamaica, what is the size of a solar panel, how do solar panels work with your electric bill, do you still need electricity if you have solar panels, solar bill vs electricity, average electric bill with solar panels, is it worth going solar, energy bill after getting solar, are solar panels worth it, solar worth it, solar power cost, sunnova solar, solar power vs electricity cost, how much is your electric bill with solar panels, is solar energy worth it, is residential solar power worth it, is solar worth getting, how much do you pay for electricity with solar panels, how much do solar panels save on energy bills, cost of switching to solar energy, solar energy electricity bill, ohio solar incentives 2024, solar panel electricity cost, electric bill before and after solar panels, is getting solar worth it, is going solar worth it, solar electricity residential, lower my utility bill solar, do you pay electric bill with solar panels, is getting solar power worth it, how much is electric bill with solar panels, can solar panels eliminate electric bill, do solar panels save you money, how much money do solar panels save per month, colorado solar incentives, electric bill with solar panels, behind the meter bill savings, is home solar power worth it, how do solar panels reduce my electricity bills, solar energy definition, when is solar worth it, solar drops electricity costs, i have solar panels but still pay for electricity, solar panels energy bill, solar panel for apartments, if you have solar panels do you pay for electricity, how much is solar panels, are solar panels worth it in boston, solar electric for my home, high solar, is it worthwhile getting solar panels, is it worth getting solar panels for your home, is residential solar worth it, does solar reduce electric bill, solar energy for my home, how much does a solar system cost, using solar panels to reduce electricity bill, is home solar worth it, electric bill with solar, does solar save money, monthly electric bill with solar panels, average electric bill in boston, how much does solar save you per month, solar power worth it, how much can i save on my electric bill with solar panels, cost to add solar panels, cost of solar, cost of electricity with solar panels, pros and cons of solar power, solar panels vs electricity cost, solar energy, electric bill after solar, boston electric bill, is solar power cheaper, how much are solar panels in georgia, do you still pay electricity bills with solar panels, boston electricity cost, solar is it worth it, solar vs electricity bill, going solar cost, is solar cheaper, solar panels no electricity bill, is solar worth it in california, florida solar incentives, solar bill, solar electric costs, do solar panels eliminate electric bill, average electric bill boston, why do i have an electric bill with solar panels, massachusetts solar panel incentives, solar power meter price, is solar installation worth it, do solar panels increase home value, solar energy vs electricity cost, what is the average cost for solar panels, will solar panels reduce my electric bill, electricity bill after solar installation, is it cheaper to have solar panels, solar panel electricity bill, high electricity bill, solar energy vs electricity, how much does solar save you a month, electricity bill after solar, how much does solar cost, whole house solar system, is installing solar panels worth it, how much do solar panels cost in california, are solar panels worth it in illinois, are residential solar panels worth it, how much does going solar cost, do solar panels save electricity, solar meter, electricity bill solar panels, how much is a monthly solar bill, does solar panel worth it, how much does it cost to switch to solar power, electricity bills with solar panels, electric bill ma, mass solar rebates, solarize my bill, solar panel cost, how much is solar, how to reduce energy bills with solar, pge solar, is solar panels worth it, evergreen solar reviews, how much is it to buy solar panels for a house, why is my electric bill so high in massachusetts, is solar worth it, are solar panels worth it in massachusetts
Determining the Viability of Solar Energy for Your Home
Is your electricity bill high enough to justify the switch to solar? Solar panel installation has become more affordable than ever, thanks to various incentives and the decreasing costs of the technology. Analyzing your current energy usage and understanding the payback period of a solar installation can help you decide whether going solar is the right choice for your home.
Before investing in solar, it's important to consider reducing your energy usage first. By making energy-efficient upgrades, you can decrease the size of the solar system required, leading to lower upfront costs and a faster payback period. The specific payback period will depend on factors like the size of your system, your energy consumption, and the incentives you qualify for.