As an Arkansas resident, have you taken a peek at the solar panels popping up on rooftops and fields lately? With sunny skies above and electricity rates below the national average, you may be wondering if home solar power makes sense in The Natural State.
Well, just between you and me, I moved down here five years ago and asked the same question. Being a former solar analyst and longtime data junkie, I decided to run the numbers myself. Initially hesitant based on high installment costs alone, what I found surprised me – solar can absolutely pay dividends over the long run even here!
Curious to learn more? As your local solar expert, I‘ve prepared this comprehensive guide just for Arkansas homeowners considering going solar. We‘ll dive into everything from average system pricing and savings estimates to available incentives and beyond. I‘ll highlight key consumer concerns I‘ve fielded over the years and arm you with stats and facts so you can determine if solar works for your home.
Sound good? Let‘s get started!
The Current Solar Landscape in Arkansas
Before looking at system costs, it helps to understand where Arkansas stands in utilizing its solar potential. Here are a few fast facts:
- Over 90% of Arkansas‘s electricity comes from fossil fuels
- Average home uses 1,060 kWh per month costing ~$123
- Just 0.1% of power supplied by solar compared to 4.3% nationally
- 172 megawatts (MW) of solar installed capacity to date
- Ranks #36 nationally in installed solar capacity
So while we have ample free sunshine, legislation supporting renewable growth severely lags behind other states. But some positive momentum is building…
A 2021 law now guarantees net metering until 2023. Proposed policy changes aim to increase compensation rates for excess solar power sent to the grid. And federal tax credits make systems more affordable upfront.
So while payback periods aren‘t as fast as sunnier states out west, solar is viable in Arkansas. Stick with me to see how!
What Factors Determine Solar System Pricing?
Now, let‘s explore what goes into the cost when looking at installing solar panels on your home here in Arkansas:
As you can see, major factors like equipment needs and labor hours impact pricing significantly. Let‘s break down these variables further:
System Size
Required solar array size depends on your average monthly electricity usage and available sun exposure. Using these inputs, we right-size your system to offset either 100% of your needs or a portion if wanting to minimize spending.
Equipment Efficiency
Panels with higher efficiency ratings produce more power. So you need fewer panels overall, saving space and money. New tech is pushing limits past 25%!
Mounting & Orientation
Rooftop installs run simplest but ground mounts allow custom panel placement to maximize production.
Crew Experience & Labor
Firms doing this for decades earn their higher rates through specialized skills. Never sacrifice safety or code compliance to save bucks short term!
Permits, Taxes & Fees
Miscellaneous costs pay for legally approved grid connection and system oversight.
Warranties & Service
Reputable equipment comes with 20-30 year production guarantees. Plus many firms provide complementary maintenance to keep system running peak.
Now you see solar pricing depends greatly on your property specifics and personal preferences. Next let‘s explore available incentives…
Incentives Cut Arkansas Solar Costs Significantly
While upfront prices may cause sticker shock initially, taking advantage of incentives brings overall outlay way down.
On the federal level, the solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) allows you to deduct 26% of total system cost from federal income taxes when filing. For a $15,000 installation for example, that saves nearly $4,000! This credit remains available at current value through 2034.
Some Arkansas utilities also offer solar incentives to customers:
- Entergy Arkansas – Compensates for net excess generation monthly
- OG&E Arkansas – Up to $450 per kW installed capped at 50% total cost
Between the ITC and additional programs, you could reduce effective expenditures 30-40%!
Every little bit helps shorten the payback period. Speaking of which…
Solar Electric Bill Savings Add Up Over Time
You: "Yeah but how long until it pays for itself?"
The real motivating factor behind going solar — saving money!
As you know, residential electricity rates have risen nearly 40% nationally over the last 10 years. By locking in solar pricing today, you shield yourself from future spikes.
To demonstrate potential savings, let‘s walk through an example…
For a moderately sized home, we‘ll install a 6 kilowatt (6,000 Watt) rooftop system with 18 panels.
- Pre-ITC System Cost: $15,780
- Annual Output Estimate: 8,424 kWh
Figuring your average electric rate around 11 cents per kWh, conventional power would cost about $1,388 per year.
By offsetting usage with solar, you slash this by an estimated $927 (8,424 kWh x $0.11) in Year 1 utility purchases.
- Year 1 Savings = $927
- Breakeven Period = roughly 13 years
Across the 30 year lifespan, you‘d save over $16,000!
Savings accelerate as utility rates rise 2-5% yearly but solar production stays steady thanks to warrantied equipment. And considering system prices continue falling 5-10% annually, returns will only get better over time.
Ultimately by going solar now, you guarantee electricity cost savings for decades to come!
And hey, you‘d be helping the environment too by ditching dirty power generation!
Finding the Best Solar Company for You
With the basics covered, let‘s shift gears to arguably the most critical decision – selecting your installer.
Vetting solar firms thoroughly protects your investment and ensures smooth operations for years to come.
Here are key attributes to look for:
- Experience completing 500+ installs
- Strong equipment & labor warranties
- Usage of Tier 1 solar components
- Established service department
- Online monitoring portal & performance guarantee
- Local permit office familiarity
- Competitive pricing packages
Conduct interviews using this checklist. My top Arkansas recommendations based on these criteria include:
- Sun Pro Solar
- Natural State Solar
- Ozark Solar & Electric
Sun Pro stands out for outstanding customer service, their 25 year labor warranty, and free biannual cleanings. While not the cheapest, you certainly get what you pay for. Their $100 per kW savings guarantee also assures your satisfaction.
Ultimately solar comes down to trust between customer, equipment, and installer. So take time selecting who you hand the reins too!
Home Solar Cases From Around Arkansas
Still unsure about solar viability closer to home? Hearing first-hand from neighbors just like you who took the solar leap can help build confidence.
Let me introduce you to two local families I helped go solar and share snippets of their experiences:
Lisa & James, Faulkner County
"Being environmentally conscious led us to solar and we haven’t looked back! Year Two we offset nearly 100% of energy use. Very liberating not stressing monthly bills anymore knowing adoption will only accelerate.”
Ashley & Chris, Washington County
“With two young kids at home during summer, our bills jumped 50% annually. Solar locks in affordable rates that keep more money available for what really matters!”
Solar empowered them to budget easier and focus less on fluctuating utility costs.
Hopefully these anecdotes reinforce solar as a practical solution rather than some futuristic tech not ready for primetime. If they took the leap, so can you!
Emerging Solar Technologies Expand Possibilities
While traditional fixed rooftop panels work perfectly for most, expanding offerings cater to unique needs:
Batteries
By coupling solar with batteries, you save more of that sunshine for use when the sun sets. Tesla‘s Powerwall leads the way.
Trackers
Panels mounted on trackers orient towards the sun throughout the day, boosting energy harvesting by 25%+.
Smart Modules
Integrated microinverters tailor current flow panel-by-panel for next-level optimization.
Solar Roof Tiles
Tesla, RGS Energy, and others embed cells directly into durable glass tiles with integrated weather sealing. Eliminates standalone panels altogether!
And in the coming years, expect continued innovation delivering higher efficiency ratings and lower $/Watt metrics. The future looks bright for solar!
Arkansas Net Metering In Flux
Before wrapping up, let‘s briefly discuss net metering since potential policy shifts in 2023 proposed by the Arkansas Public Service Commission (PSC) directly impact solar economics.
What is net metering?
This billing mechanism credits residential solar customers for excess power sent to the grid typically at full retail rates. This helps balance production variances across seasons and drive adoption.
The PSC aims to scale back credit rates to avoided energy costs based on real-time wholesale market values. They believe buyers of solar energy should pay rates closer reflecting its value.
While the intent makes logical sense on its face, greatly reducing compensation discourages renewable growth. Out west, locked in higher legacy rates will sustain growth for decades already in motion.
So if eyeing solar, move fast to grandfather into current net metering terms before changes hit!
Let‘s Break Down Your Solar Numbers!
Still with me? Fantastic! By now you‘ve got all the core concepts down and see solar in Arkansas holds tremendous potential.
Hopefully I‘ve demonstrated how incentives bring the steadily declining costs into "pull the trigger" range while locking in savings on future electricity for minimal upfront premium.
If you made it this far and own a home in The Natural State, I invite you to request a custom solar assessment using the link below.
I‘ll provide a detailed analysis mapping out a system sized and priced specifically for your roof with all available incentives baked in. And remember, consulting is and will always remain 100% free!
You have nothing to lose by exploring your solar prospects further. Who knows, going solar could prove easier than expected boosting property value while achieving energy independence!
So don‘t hesitate – click below to get started and let‘s talk solar!
[Link to Custom Analysis Sign-Up Page]All my best,
Julian
Your Arkansas Solar Expert
