We do face one obstacle: our house sits in a “red zone” according to the local utility company. That said, a highly rated solar company (4.9 out of 5 stars) assured us they’ll do everything they can to make this work. They explained that a red zone doesn’t automatically mean “no”—it just means extra effort on everyone’s part.
If it all comes together, our return on investment will be about eight years when comparing the cost of solar to what we currently spend on utilities. The benefits for Joe and me are worth it:
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We can live our values by supporting renewable energy and helping the environment.
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Even though we’re careful with resources, solar lets us use what we need (like Joe’s shop equipment) without guilt.
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It increases our home’s value by 4–6%, which means at just 4% we’d recoup our investment when we eventually sell.
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We’ll enjoy tiny electric bills—about $10 a month.
I know some people choose to lease solar, but that’s never made sense to me. Leases often aren’t transferable, and in California, friends who sold their homes had to either pay off the lease in full or pay to have the panels removed. Since Joe and I plan for this to be our last home, buying outright just feels right. Especially as our utility company (much like Pacific Gas and Electric in California) is already asking for more rate hikes to cover grid updates.
Even Google’s AI admits that Xcel Energy, our provider, is under scrutiny for a host of issues—rate increases, grid reliability, wildfire liability, solar delays, and ties to the American Gas Association. My family and friends in California can definitely relate. Other than that gas association piece, you could pretty much swap “Xcel Energy” with “PG&E” and it would sound the same story.
All in all, while there are some hoops to jump through, Joe and I feel good about this step. It lines up with our values, helps us do our part for the planet, and makes sense financially in the long run. Here’s hoping that red zone turns green for us!
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