Can we talk about how my neighbor changed my view on solar panels?

Had a chat with Bob from two doors down last week, he said his 6 kW system paid for itself in 4 years with net metering credits. Has anyone else seen their ROI hit that fast in a northern state like Minnesota?

3 comments

3 Comments

hunt.nora11d ago

Bob up in Duluth got a 5 kW system three years ago and he's still waiting to break even. I think your neighbor's numbers sound real good, but Minnesota winters are no joke with snow covering panels half the year. My cousin in St. Cloud says his system takes more like 6-7 years to pay off because the utility company here doesn't give as generous credits as some places. Still, anything under 10 years is pretty solid for solar up north, so Bob's situation might be a lucky one.

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sandraflores11d ago

Add on to what Nora said though - even if Bob's panel payoff takes forever, the real win for him is probably in the price stability. My folks got solar back in 2019 and their monthly payment hasn't budged while everyone else's rates jumped like 15% after that big storm last year. Plus there's those community solar gardens popping up around the cities where you don't even need panels on your roof, just subscribe and get credits. My buddy in Woodbury signed up for one and his bill dropped by like 30 bucks a month right away, no snow shoveling needed lol.

cole3566d ago

Bob's just been unlucky with timing and placement.