FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
FAQ
In the past solar was expensive. Very expensive. But times have changed! Gone are the days of outrageous prices and confusing options. We offer a variety of affordable plans and financing options, most with $0 down.
Yes, every Cascade Power customer has been set up with a program that saves them money. In your initial consultation, we take a look at your home’s energy needs and past energy consumption to see how much you can save. If we evaluate your energy needs and realize we can’t save you money, we won’t waste your time and money by trying to sell you a system. It’s that simple. When you consider how much you’ll save on your electricity bill, you’re actually losing money by not going solar!
Our solar engineers are experts at designing solar systems. Prior to designing your system, we will do a comprehensive evaluation of your home’s energy usage to make sure we design a system that is capable of delivering all the electricity your home will need. Keep in mind, even though we can guarantee your system’s energy production, we can’t make any energy consumption guarantees. There’s a possibility that you’ll have a month of exceptionally heavy energy consumption (for instance, if it’s an extra hot summer and you need to run your AC day & night). If this happens, you may have to use some extra electricity from your local power company, resulting in a slight increase in your energy bill for that month. For more information about this process, see our in-depth article here.
When you purchase a solar system, it typically increases your home’s value and marketability. A recent study by the US Department of Energy at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found that homes with installed solar sold for 17% higher than comparable homes without solar and 20% faster. If you choose a solar PPA option, the solar package can easily be transferred to your buyers.
The government provides considerable incentives to homeowners to install solar panels as an alternative source of energy. For instance, a residential tax credit allows taxpayers to claim 26% of their costs for systems installed by Dec. 31, 2020. The credit decreases to 22% in 2021, and expires after Dec. 31, 2021.
Additional credits vary from state to state. Depending on your state of residence, you may obtain additional incentives such as rebates, property tax credits, fee reduction and expedited permits. Because the great government incentives are being reduced, it doesn’t pay to wait. There is no guarantee that the incentives will last. As solar gains momentum, governments and utilities may continue to decrease the incentives available.