Solar panels on my garage roof cut my electric bill by 60% in 3 months flat

I installed a 5kW system from a local company in Denver last October and my monthly bill dropped from $180 to $72. Has anyone else seen bigger savings with a different setup in a colder climate?

2 comments

2 Comments

ruby2905d ago

Wow, that is really impressive for a Denver winter! I have a similar 5.2kW setup here in Minnesota and my savings were closer to 45% over the first three months, but that was during some really cloudy stretches. I think a lot depends on how many panels face south and if you have any shading. Your 60% cut makes me wonder if I should angle my panels a bit more toward the west for the afternoon sun. My system is ground mounted so I have some flexibility there. Either way, it feels good to see those lower bills, especially when the weather gets cold.

mila_reed5d ago

Does your ground mount let you tilt them seasonally too? I have roof mounted panels here in Denver and I always wonder if I'm missing out by not being able to adjust the angle for winter sun. What I found is that even a little bit of snow build up on the bottom edge of my panels actually helped reflect more light onto them somehow, like it bounced extra sunlight up from the ground. My neighbor with ground mounts said he just brushes his off completely and now I'm thinking maybe I should leave some snow on purpose next time. But then again, maybe it's just me but I've noticed my production actually goes up a little on those really clear cold days after a storm, like the cold air makes the panels more efficient or something. I'd say try angling them a few degrees west just for December through February and see if your afternoon spike changes anything.