Solar Panels Tulsa – Costs and Company Reviews
How Much do Solar Panels Cost in Tulsa?
Currently solar panels in Tulsa sell for about $2.52-$2.72 per watt, which is a little on the high side but still below the national average of around $3.00. Typical solar panels are 250 watts, which means you’re going to pay between $630 and $680 per panel, which is not at all unreasonable. To be most self-sufficient, you’re going to need something like between 20 and 28 panels, which means your cost for the panels could be as high as $19,000- However, be not dismayed, as there are numerous programs, incentives and rebates out there that will cut that initial cost down significantly as well as help pay you back for your initial investment.
What are the benefits of going solar?
Oklahoma does not lead the nation in reasons to go solar, but there are a couple of incentives in place to help the decision be an easier one.
- State Net Metering Laws- Oklahoma has net metering laws, which are a very good thing for homeowners with solar power systems. I’ll explain more further down, but just know that net metering is an absolute must in order for your system to help pay for itself.
- Federal Tax Credit- Anyone installing a new solar power system is eligible to claim up to 26% of the cost of the system as a deduction on your federal income taxes. This can naturally save you thousands of dollars all by itself.
How much will the addition of solar panels increase my home’s value?
It is normal for sellers to tack on an extra 10 to 20 thousand dollars to their asking price for a home that has a working solar panel system. However, as with most things, solar panels are only worth what a buyer will pay for them- in other words, if a potential buyer isn’t concerned with whether or not your home has solar panels, then they won’t be motivated to pay extra for them. That being said, homes with solar panels are known to sell faster, so there’s a good chance you will be able to get that extra money you’re asking for. Your realtor will probably be able to give you more detailed information on how much value your solar panels add to your home.
What are the Effects of Net Metering on a Solar System?
Net metering is the process of measuring not only the production of your solar power system but also the process of measuring how much power you feed back into “the grid”. Most utilities will credit you for the energy you feed back into the grid, thereby reducing your electric bills or giving you credits toward future months. This is the primary method by which your solar panels will eventually pay for themselves, whether through credits toward future electric bills or cash payments.
How much solar power do I need to power my home?
Every home is unique, and a lot depends on the size of your home, the number of residents, etc. Your average power usage is best determined by examining your past electric bills and taking the average of the last 12 months. Most homes use something around 11,000 kilowatt hours of power per year, which means you’re going to need something like 6 to 8 kilowatts of solar panels to be mostly self sufficient. Your solar company will be able to give you a much better idea of how many panels you will need.
What is the “Payback” period for Solar Panels in Tulsa?
Tulsa’s payback period is one of the longer ones at something like 17 years. However, what you have to remember is that your solar panels will eventually pay for themselves, and once they do, you will be getting free electricity for the remainder of their life. This could rack up to thousands of dollars in savings for you eventually.
Things to look for in a solar company:
Whether you know much about solar power or not, there are a few simple things you can look for to give you an idea of which company may be the one you want to go with.
Time in industry- The longer the better! Not only do companies with a longer history have more experience, but if they’ve been in the business for a long time it probably means they’re reliable and do good work.
Types of panels- There are different kinds of solar panels out there (see the section below about solar panels), but just know that not all companies are comfortable with working with every kind of solar panel. If you have a specific kind in mind to fit your needs, make sure the company you choose is one that is able to work with those kinds of panels.
Payment options- Solar panels are quite expensive and not every company offers payment options. Obviously, not many of us have the money on hand to shell out for a solar installation on hand, so either make sure the company you work with has payment options or be prepared to get a loan on your own.
Warranties- Almost every company offers a warranty of some kind, but some warranties are not so great. Some companies will only guarantee their work and will not repair future damage or any defects with the equipment. This means that if your solar panels are defective, you may be on your own trying to get them replaced or fixed. So make sure you get a full explanation – in writing- of what kind of warranty you can expect when dealing with a company.
Reviews- And maybe the most important thing to look for in the age of the internet, the reviews of past customers can tell you a lot about a company. They may make a lot of claims, but if their customers say those claims are false then there’s a good chance they are. So if at all possible, make sure you look at as many customer reviews about a company as you can before making such a big investment. You will not regret it.
Types of Solar Panels & Inverters
There are basically two types of solar panels you need to know about- Monocrystalline Solar Panels and Polycrystalline Solar Panels. Monocrystalline panels are the most efficient kind of panels, meaning they will convert more of the sunlight they receive into electricity than other kinds. Furthermore they are smaller, allowing you to fit more into a smaller amount of space and they perform better in low-light situations. The drawback is, as you probably guessed, they are also the most expensive kind of solar panels. Polycrystalline panels, on the other hand, are less efficient, tend to be much bigger, and need more direct sunlight to work at capacity. However, they are your cheaper option, so many homeowners with plenty of space for solar panels will go for this option.
An inverter is the device that converts the electricity generated by your solar panels from DC to AC power. The three major types of inverters are:
- String Inverters- These are the standard inverters, they’re the most common and lowest cost of inverters, but your panels need to all be facing the same direction and you need no shade interference for them to work well.
- Micro Inverters- These are more expensive than string inverters, but won’t be affected by shade from a nearby tree. You can also monitor the output of individual solar panels with these inverters, and these inverters work well with panels that don’t all face the same direction.
- Power Optimizers- These are more efficient than string inverters, and less expensive than micro inverters, and also offer individual panel monitoring the way micro inverters do.
How does weather affect solar panels?
So as a general rule, anything that blocks sunlight and any temperature above 77 degrees fahrenheit is bad for your solar panels. A little more detail below-
- Fog / Cloud cover- Anything that obscures your solar panels is going to cause them to produce less electricity. During times of heavy fog or cloud cover, your panels may only produce 10 to 30% as much electricity as on a sunny day.
- Rain- Aside from the cloud cover, rain is actually a positive for solar panels, as it helps clean off the dust and grime that can accumulate on solar panels.
- Snow- Snow presents a major problem for solar panels, because when snow covers them they can’t produce electricity.
- Temperature- Studies show that solar panels lose 1% efficiency at each degree of temperature above 77 fahrenheit, and gain 1% at each degree below 77.
How do I get solar panels installed in Tulsa?
Company: Francis Solar
Address: 1924 E 6th St, Tulsa, OK 74104
Years in Business: 7
Website: francissolar.com
Reviews: 5 / 5 Yelp (3 reviews), 4.1 / 5 Birdseye (13 reviews)
Business Quote:
The Good: The few reviews that are out there are good
The Bad: One complaint on the BBB website, only 7 years in business, B- rating from the BBB
Summary: Can’t give a lot of info on this company, as there isn’t a ton out there about them. Their reviews look solid for the most part and aside from one complaint with the BBB (which they did not respond to), I don’t see a lot of negatives out there about them. So give these guys a look see.
Company: Harvest Solar and Wind Power
Address: 4128 E Admiral Pl, Tulsa, OK 74115
Years in Business: Unclear, claims “over 20 years” in the solar business
Website: harvestsolar.net
Reviews: 4.1 / 5 Birdseye (7 reviews)
Business Quote: “One by one we will work together to make the future of our world be a better place. Let’s start today.”
The Good: Very nice looking website; No visible red flags, no 1 star reviews
The Bad: Not much out there about them outside of their own website
Summary: Another company that it’s hard to tell a whole lot about because there simply isn’t a ton of information out there about them aside from their own website, which is very nice. The BBB website only confirms that they exist, so not much help there. They have a great number of pictures on their site of their past projects, so everything looks good. I say give them a try.
Company: Sun City Solar
Address: 6709 E 81st St, Tulsa, OK 74133
Years in Business: 37
Website: suncityenergy.com
Reviews: None to speak of
Business Quote: “or over 35 years, Sun City Solar has been designing, installing, and repairing solar systems in the Mid-South U.S. From Arkansas to Oklahoma, Missouri, Texas, and Kansas we’ve worked on everything from solar hot water and pool heaters to whole-home solar.”
The Good: 37 years in business is impressive
The Bad: Existing this long and doing this much work with no customer reviews on the entire internet is also impressive
Summary: I don’t know what to say about this company; They look to have done hundreds of installations, cover an expansive territory and have been around for nearly 40 years- Yet outside of their own website they’re virtually a ghost on the internet. Even the BBB has barely heard of them (no complaints, no reviews, no accreditation). Their website looks good though, and I can’t say anything bad about them, so this looks like a company you can definitely take a chance on.
Company: Sunpro Solar
Address: 8211 E Regal Blvd Ste 215, Tulsa, OK
Years in Business: 11
Website: tulsasolarco.com
Reviews: 3.9 / 5 (263 reviews)
Business Quote: “Homes with Tulsa, Oklahoma solar panels are becoming a common sight, and when you think of all the benefits, it’s no wonder why!”
The Good: National brand, lots of experience
The Bad: Lot of complaints on the BBB website against the company in general hard to tell which are focused on the Tulsa office
Summary: Sunpro is a national brand run through ADT that has offices in a number of cities in the U.S. When you deal with a national brand there are certain things you can expect, and sometimes you’re better off with the wider range of resources they have available. So if that’s the kind of thing you’re interested in, contact Sunpro.
Company: Radical Solar Energy LLC
Address: 14060 s Peoria Ave ste 108, Bixby, OK 74008
Years in Business: 3
Website: radicalsolarenergy.com
Reviews: 4.3 / 5 Solarreviews (6 reviews)
Business Quote: Radical as an adjective is defined as “very different from the usual or traditional.” After years of seeing both home and business owners being overcharged for a product that underproduces, we decided to do things our way.
The Good: Nice website, no complaints with the BBB
The Bad: Only 3 years in business, not a lot out there about them
Summary: This looks like a promising young company, and though they only have three years in the industry they might be a good one to check out. Their website gives all the right information and says all the right things, so I’m going to give a tentative recommendation to check them out.
Other Companies to Consider:
Company: Solar power of Oklahoma
Address: 7801 N Robinson Ave Ste J-8, Oklahoma City, OK 73116
Years in Business: Unclear
Website: www.solarpowerok.com
Reviews: 4.4 / 5 Birdeye (70 reviews), 5 / 5 Facebook (1 review), 4.8 / 6 Homeadvisor
Company: Green Power Solar Energy
Address: 4515 NE 55th St, Oklahoma City, OK 73121
Years in Business: Unclear
Website: facebook.com/Green-Power-Solar-Energy–134320423311634/
Reviews: 3.5 / 5 Facebook (6 reviews)
Company: Hometown Roofing & Solar Providers Tulsa
Address: 1239 S Florence Pl, Tulsa, OK
Years in Business: Unclear
Website: https://hometown-roofing-solar-providers-tulsa.business.site/
Reviews: –
Final Word:
Though best known for its musicals and its wind, Oklahoma is a great place to go solar too. The climate is favorable, the businesses to do the work are there, and you have nothing but money to save. So reach out to your local solar company today and get the ball rolling!