Advice needed......

Re: Advice needed......

Not sure what the 12 kW monthly usage is... Number and units does not make any sense.

Anyway, a 2.45 kW system in Long Beach California would generate about 3,549 kWhrs per year or an average of 296 kWhrs per month.

I assume you will be on a Time Of Use rate plan (usually required by California)--have you looked at the amount of power you use and will your family be able to avoid the peak times (which in Northern California are about 3x the off peak rates).

If your power usage is somewhere 300 kWhrs per month--you should do OK... However, if you have AC or other heavy loads (such as an irrigation pump) and use much more than 300 kWhrs per month--make sure your installer or your local power company estimates your power bill using the actual utility calculations--There are times that installing a small grid tied power system on a large home/business can actually give you a higher power bill with Time Of Use metering...

I purchased my 3 kW system (3.5 kW of solar panels) almost three years ago for ~$29,000 less ~$9k in rebates and tax credits... Recent inflation may have increased the costs--but $27,000 before Rebates and Credits sounds a bit high for a 2.45kW system (list price should be less than $25,000)... (mine was installed on a 2nd story roof with simple racks and wiring--no major house/electrical modifications were required--included engineering and permits).

-Bill