Saving With Solar Power In Florence – Customer Interview

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The following interview was conducted with Steve W., recent Southern Current solar customer who had solar power systems installed at both his home and business in Florence, South Carolina. Find out how much money you could be saving on electricity costs by contacting Southern Current today!

Please tell us a little bit about yourself.

I’ve been a South Carolina resident for a little over 16 years, originally moving from Buffalo, NY. The attraction of a new engineering job brought me here in addition to the mild weather as compared to my home town.

Why did you decide to switch to solar energy?

The main reason to start harvesting solar is from an environmental point to view. We all need to try to reduce our carbon impact in order to sustain the earth for future generations. Secondary most certainly was a financial decision. For me, being a Duke Energy customer made it extremely easy with the availability of their solar rebates on top of the state and federal tax credits.

Related Reading: Environmental Benefits Of Solar Power In South Carolina

How much did you know about solar energy?

I had decent knowledge base since I have 4 friends that have already installed solar systems at their homes. It was nice to be able to see how things went for them before I took the plunge.

What kind of system did Southern Current install for your home?

My system is a 18.1 kW ground mount split into 2 arrays of 24 and 30 Trina solar panels with 2 SMA inverters. The incentive of going solar was so good, I had a second system installed on my business property. Click to view more details about this Florence South Carolina solar panel install.

View of racking for ground-mounted solar install in Florence, South Carolina by Southern Current.

 

View of Florence, South Carolina residential solar ground mount installation by Southern Current.

 

View of dual ground-mounts, part of a solar power system in Florence, SC designed & installed by Southern Current.

What made you choose Southern Current for your solar installation?

Whenever I contract out business, I will usually get at least 3 quotes to make things a little competitive. Southern Current stepped up to the plate with competitive pricing and a responsive sales team member that I enjoyed working with.

What was the process of going solar like?

It’s always cool to see a project of this size come together and to pull electricity from the sun. It’s one less bill my family has to face for a couple of decades at least.

What was the most difficult part of the process for you?

It’s a little scary making an investment this large. The great thing is you stand a pretty good chance at recouping a good chunk of that change you sunk into the system once you apply all the incentives.

What benefits have you seen since the installation?

First month’s power bill has been $0 charged from the use of electricity. However, my power company does charge about $11 for a connection fee.

View of Florence, South Carolina customer’s home power bill AFTER solar installation completion.

What would you say to someone who is interested in going solar?

Do your research on tax credits and power company rebates. I think it’s a good investment to offset power bills and to become a little less reliant on the grid.

Learn More About Solar Power In South Carolina!

Southern Current is proud to be one of the leading solar companies in South Carolina, with Residential, Commercial, and Utility-Scale services available throughout the Southeast. Contact us TODAY to schedule a FREE consultation and find out how much you could be saving with solar!

Greenville, South Carolina Homeowner Discusses Going Solar With Southern Current

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The following interview was conducted with Steve V., recent Southern Current residential solar customer who lives in Greenville, South Carolina. Find out how much money you could be saving on electricity costs by contacting Southern Current today!

Please tell us a little bit about yourself.

Our family moved to this location in South Carolina from New England six years ago to get away from the harsh winters and the high cost of living there.

Why did you decide to switch to solar energy?

I like the idea that the cost of the solar project is constant, while commercial power will only go up. Additionally, it’s a solid investment toward the value of the home that can be recouped if we were to sell the property. The federal and state incentives made the decision a bit easier for me.

How much did you know about solar energy?

Before this project, just the basics of consumer solar energy. I’ve seen other homes in the local area go with solar installations and also viewed the nearby Furman University Solar Farm. I got curious and decided to investigate their feasibility.

What kind of system did Southern Current install for your home?

The installation size is 5.32 kW supplied by 19 Jinko 280 watt roof mount panels and a Solar Edge 3800 watt inverter. Click to view more details about this Greenville South Carolina home solar panel install.

View of the Greenville, South Carolina residential solar panel installation.

What made you choose Southern Current for your solar installation?

Actually, the initial contact for the solar project was made by Brio Solar representatives. They highly recommended Southern Current as the in-state solar installation contractor. I guess I got lucky.

What was the process of going solar like?

The initial contract signature was in early June, solar energy production started the end of August. Soon after the initial paperwork was completed, Southern Current staff made an on-site inspection of the roof and electrical services. The Southern Current project manager made the process as seamless as possible and keep us informed via e-mail and phone throughout the process. They initiated all of the required permits with the county, Duke Energy and even the H.O.A for compliance.

Once all of the permits were secured, the installation date was scheduled quickly. Once started, it took two days to complete. The county inspection was completed the next day. The Duke Energy inspection and production meter installation was completed a week later.

What was the most difficult part of the process for you?

I guess the most difficult part was to actually commit to the project.

What benefits have you seen since the installation?

I’ve only seen one complete cycle utility bill since the system was activated. This was Sep – Oct. My bill was 60% lower than the same usage last year. I hope to get enough credits throughout the upcoming year to get a near zero utility cost.

PS: The Solar Edge phone app is cool; I can get the system’s production status anytime I wish from anywhere.

What would you say to someone who is interested in going solar?

If you are considering solar, do it now while any federal and state incentives are still in place as makes the entire project more affordable. Make your final decision on the return of investment of 7 – 10 years. Also keep in mind any contractor you work with should be around for the duration of the installation and product’s 10 – 20 year warranty.

Based upon my present experience with Southern Current, I would definitely work with them once again. They were easy to work with, the on-site crew were professional and kept me informed throughout the installation.

Learn More About Solar Power In South Carolina!

Southern Current is proud to be one of the leading solar companies in South Carolina, with Residential, Commercial, and Utility-Scale services available throughout the Southeast. Contact us TODAY to schedule a FREE consultation and find out how much you could be saving with solar!

Summerville, South Carolina Homeowner Discusses Going Solar With Southern Current

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The following interview was conducted with Jeff H., recent Southern Current residential solar customer who lives in Summerville, South Carolina. Find out how much money you could be saving on electricity costs by contacting Southern Current today!

Please tell us a little bit about yourself.

Born & raised in Southeast Michigan. Moved to Summerville, SC in 2010. I miss my Detroit sports and my family & friends in “the D”, but I don’t miss the cold or the snow and ice. The climate & number of sunny days in South Carolina make it easy to live down here!

Why did you decide to switch to solar energy?

Primarily for financial reasons.

How much did you know about solar energy?

I have a lot of stock in solar companies and have educated myself on the industry. I’ve been studying solar energy since 2011.

What kind of system did Southern Current install for your home?

It’s a roof-mounted 12.32 kW system using 44 Trina Solar 280W panels and a SolarEdge inverter. Click to view more details about this Summerville South Carolina home solar panel install.

Aerial view of the home solar panel install in Summerville, South Carolina.

Side view, Summerville South Carolina home solar panel install.

What made you choose Southern Current for your solar installation?

I did a lot of research, read a lot of reviews, and talked to a few friends who had gone with Southern Current and others who went with another company. Based on my due diligence, the reviews of others, the price comparison, and my sales woman (Sheri), who was excellent, I went with Southern Current.

What was the process of going solar like?

The sales, design, and installation process was very good on Southern Current’s part and very professional. The neighborhood HOA was very accommodating and Southern Current helped extensively with that procedure as well. My electric company’s net metering and approval process took longer than I would’ve liked.

What was the most difficult part of the process for you?

There was the initial “sticker shock” of shelling out all of the money up front. That was my decision – I wanted to avoid paying all of the interest on a loan. I think most people who do this set up a financing plan.

Having a cloudy, rainy summer season was also difficult and unfortunate.

What benefits have you seen since the installation?

I’ve realized energy usage savings from a little more than $100 to about $250 per month over the past 4 months.

What would you say to someone who is interested in going solar?

South Carolina certainly is a state where going solar makes financial sense. Just make sure you do all of your homework, get everything in writing and understand it all completely, including your power company’s billing structure, net metering riders and whether they set your bank to $0 if you over-produce in the spring.

Also, understand that the total cost of a system can vary greatly from installer to installer. Southern Current’s costs are very much lower than their competitors that I compared them to, and their customer service and professionalism rank at the top. I’m glad I went with the highly reputable company that I did.

Learn More About Solar Power In South Carolina!

Southern Current is proud to be one of the leading solar companies in South Carolina, with Residential, Commercial, and Utility-Scale services available throughout the Southeast. Contact us TODAY to schedule a FREE consultation and find out how much you could be saving with solar!

Solar Panels For Your Home: Does It Make Sense In South Carolina?

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When most people think about solar panel installations on homes, images of hippies and environmental movements come to mind. While it may be true that California leads the nation for the amount of installed solar capacity, the solar power movement is gaining momentum all across America. So the question that is often asked is, “Does it make sense to add solar to my home in South Carolina?”

Becoming energy independent, saving money, and improving the environment are all common reasons for adding solar panels to a home. The limiting factor that prevents many people from actually going solar at home is cost. But, South Carolina residents are fortunate to have access to some of the lowest cost home solar panel installations in the nation thanks to some awesome local solar incentives and rebate programs. We’re talking solar power installations that pay for themselves in 6 years, followed by 20+ years of maintenance-free clean energy and savings!

Here’s How To Get Solar Panels On Your Home In South Carolina

So the answer to the above question about whether or not it makes sense to power your South Carolina home with solar energy is, “Yes!” But before you get too excited and run to the local home improvement store, there are a few things you should understand about the process of going solar at home.

Step 1: Understand your power bill

How much is your average power bill? $100 dollars? $150? $200? Sure, you can probably rattle off how much money you paid for power last month, but do you know how many kilowatt-hours (kWh) you use in an average month?

Power is measured in watts, and you are charged for the amount of power you use at home in 1,000 watt-hour units. 1,000 watts burned for an hour is the same as 1 kilowatt-hour (1,000Wh = 1 kWh).

It’s important to keep track of not just your power bill in dollars, but the amount of kWh you use each month and throughout the year. Knowing specific kWh figures will help you understand how to correctly size a home solar panel installation, and companies from which you receive solar quotes will ask for these numbers.

Step 2: Know what you’re working with

The next important consideration for determining whether or not you should add solar panels to your home is knowing what space is most suitable for solar, and how much space is available.

Since South Carolina is in the northern hemisphere, the best way for a home solar panel installation to be oriented for year-round energy production is facing due south.

Since you can’t rotate your home to give you a south-facing roof, you may be limited to only certain portions of your roof, but east and west-facing roofs are better than north-facing.

Recommended Reading: Do You Need To Replace Your Roof Before Going Solar?

Sunlight is a solar panel’s best friend, and darkness is an enemy. When determining where on your home your solar panels will be installed, be sure to take into account shading from nearby chimneys, roof vents, and trees. You should also keep in mind that if your roof is not suitable for solar, you can always have panels installed via pole and ground mounts. You can even have a solar canopy or carport designed to shade your deck or automobile from heat!

Step 3: Contact local solar installers

Getting started with a solar consultation is as easy as doing a quick Google search or contacting your local Chamber of Commerce. Solar installers in South Carolina will provide you with a free solar consultation, and many of them will even inspect your home for areas where you can improve your energy efficiency. You should NEVER pay for a solar consultation!

Step 4: Compare quotes

Once you’ve scheduled meetings from your favorite companies, put all of the quotes side by side and give them an honest comparison. Questions to ask yourself are:

What is my total cost or cost per watt ($/W) on each quote?

How much energy (kWh) will each system produce monthly, quarterly, and annually? What does that equate to in financial savings?

What type of equipment is being installed and what is the warranty for each installation?

Which company has the best references, or local customers?

Does the install crew get sub-contracted or are they in-house?

After you’ve compared quotes and selected your preferred solar company, it’s time to get the installation started! Depending on their inventory levels and number of customers scheduled ahead of you, solar companies in South Carolina should be able to get started with powering your home with solar in a couple weeks or a few months.

About Southern Current

Southern Current is proud to be one of the largest solar installers in South Carolina, with customers from the Charleston area up to Columbia and beyond.

Contact Southern Current to learn about $0 Down solar financing options and how you can save instantly on your monthly power costs with a solar panel installation!

Comparing Quotes For Solar Panels In South Carolina

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You are probably aware of the rising popularity of solar power – homeowners everywhere are taking advantage of the financial and environmental benefits of green energy. And let’s be clear, the cost has come down immensely in the past few decades, and even more so in recent years. But that doesn’t mean the cheapest route of solar installation will provide you with the maximum return in savings & benefits.

As more home improvement contractors are getting into solar, not all are equipped with the proper knowledge or training to provide you with the product you deserve for your home. To prevent yourself from getting scammed, here are some things to look out for when comparing quotes from different home improvement companies or solar installers in the state of South Carolina.

How To Compare Quotes For Home Solar Panel Design & Installation Services

For your specific needs and concerns, the installer should be able to explain the different brands of solar panels they install, along with the benefits and downfalls of each. Their recommendation should fit best with your lifestyle, budget, aesthetic requirements and desired electric output. Comparing the knowledge-base and experience of each provider will help you derive the quality you deserve.

You will also want to make sure you are covered by panel and inverter warranties. Solar panel “output” warranty often lasts between 25 and 35 years. This will cover repairs of the actual silicon cells, if their performance falls below a certain guaranteed percentage. To prevent issues down the road, find out if the company’s employees are on staff or subcontracted, as you will have less control of the quality of work and installation when dealing with subcontractors.

Getting multiple quotes from contractors will shed some light on issues that may come about in regards to your home’s potential for maximizing the benefits of solar energy. You can even find online quotes just to expand your knowledge base. Online quote request forms take into account your local electricity rates and your energy usage (based on your utility bill) so you can decide how much energy you wish to offset.

Price-Quality Trade Off: You Get What You Pay For!

There is a reason an installer gives you a super low or cheap quote: You get what you pay for. Saving a couple bucks on a solar investment is probably not worth it. While much of the country, and world, is switching to green energy, the cheap route in the solar industry can come at a larger cost in the long run. Because there are many benefits, you’ll want to make sure you are maximizing the returns from solar energy by turning your home into an asset.  

Don’t fall into a trap! If a quote looks too good to be true, it generally is. This is a long term investment for your home, so take the time to get the details in order.

Want to learn more about solar power in South Carolina?

Southern Current is proud to be one of the top solar installers in the Southeast. Thanks to the numerous South Carolina solar rebates & incentives that are currently available, there’s never been a more affordable time to create your own energy! View the Southern Current Solar Panel Installation Portfolio to see projects we’ve completed in your area, or Contact Us to request information about a solar panel installation for your home or business and see how much you can save with solar.