Best whole home Solar system for montana

Why do you want solar power? Do you have utility power and want solar to be "Green" and/or want emergency backup power?

Does your utility have "good rate plan" for GT/Hybrid connected solar power?

In general, pure Grid Tied solar (no batteries) plus an emergency backup genset is probably "good enough" for folks that have very few power outages and if their power is usually restored in less than a day to a couple weeks (and you have ability to store fuel/run a genet without bothering neighbors).

Full Hybrid solar power systems (GT + Off grid battery based solar+AC hybrid inverter)--While very nice, is also very expensive. The system costs quite a bit of money to install, and you have maintenance--Batteries last 5-8 years (longer if you get forklift or other "expensive" batteries), and electronics (inverters, charge controllers, etc.) need to be replaced every ~10+ years.

Hybrid solar power may cost you ~$0.45+ per kWH (even with inexpensive utility power most of the time). And pure off grid power can cost you $1 to $2 per kWH pretty easily--With pure off grid/backup power (no GT connection). And batteries+electronics still age out--Even if you only use the system for power down situations.

For GT systems--You can get $0.15 to $0.07 per kWH (rough guess) pretty easily--And if your utility has a "solar customer friendly" Net Metering rate plan, you can really save money on your power bill for GT solar.

HOWEVER--Not all utilities offer "good" rate plans for GT solar customers (many smaller USA utilities do not allow GT solar connections).

And, we are reaching a new point in the "green revolution" for solar power. In the big states, there can be enough solar installations that are starting to distort power company cash flow--GT solar customers have been getting government and utility customer paid subsidies.

Now, utilities and state PUCs (like in California) are starting to change the rate plans for new and existing GT solar customers from $4 per month connection charges and $0.10-$$0.30 per kWH pricing (and ability to "sell back to the utility" at retail) to rate plans that are $10 per month connection charge (some places are now over $27-$48+ per month connection charges) and Time of Use plans that run to 9pm at night (no significant solar generation after ~4pm). And some places are "buying" solar power at true costs ($0.025 to $0.07 or so per kWH--Less than your cost to produce).

While you may get a good plan now--Many places over the next few years (maybe with a 10 year "grandfather for old rates") are making it hard to justify GT solar (Nevada's new plan has pretty much caused GT solar to plummet to zero installs in the state at this time).

If you want an emergency backup solar power system--I would suggest you identify the minimum loads (with lots of conservation) and build out a small solar power system for those loads (with backup genset, if needed). And look at GT solar with your utility if you are trying to save money.

And, usually, the first step is conservation (insulation, replacing older appliances/lighting/electronics with modern Energy Star rated devices). Conservation is almost always cheaper than building out a large solar power system (but some of the new utility rate plans with high monthly fees and low per kWH charges can even make some conservation plans questionable/non-cost effective too).

-Bill