Solar power required for all new California homes on Jan. 1

submitted by Rose421 from mercurynews.com

sorted by:
top
newinsightfulfun
you are viewing a single comment's thread.

view the rest of the comments →

[–][deleted] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (9 children)

The commission estimated the new standards will increase the price of a new house by roughly $9,500.

median-priced home, which was $613,470 in the third quarter of 2019.

If you can afford a newly built home that costs - say - $300, then you can afford $9500 for a solar panel. You'll also save substantially on utility bills.

[–]Intuit 4 insightful - 5 fun4 insightful - 4 fun5 insightful - 5 fun -  (5 children)

If it really saves on utilities, the utility companies should install them for free and split the savings with the homeowner.

[–][deleted] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Username checks out!

[–][deleted] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (3 children)

Well, that goes against their business model, because they'll sell less electricity that way.

[–]Intuit 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

Install panels, charge homeowner monthly for electricity but at a lower rate. Power company makes more profit, homeowner has no uncertainties of investing in a solar system.

[–][deleted] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

Oh, so you mean the customer can basically rent the solar panels?

[–]Intuit 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Effectively yes, though the rate would vary based on customer usage so the customer isn't left paying money if they don't use enough electricity that month. The general point was that if it's profitable the power company can foot the risk and get some of the benefit.

[–]C3P0 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (2 children)

How can so many people afford a home that costs $613,470?

[–]FediNetizen 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

It's a median new home, but California has a lot of expensive areas. The Bay Area is insane, with median homes in the $1.5 million range. Los Angeles is also expensive, though not as bad. Real Estate prices have just skyrocketed over the last couple decades in cities, and California has always been expensive.

On a side note, I'm so glad I bought a house in Ohio. I paid $90k in an area where the median for the area was around $100k at the time. Mortgage with taxes & utilities is about $650, which is less than a lot of people's car payments. I wonder how many tech bros are slaving away to own a house in the Bay Area that don't realize they could just save their pennies for a couple of years and buy a decent home in the Midwest, paid in cash.