We have been preoccupied with all this and posting blogs has fallen to the back burner. We have a lot to say, and have had a lot to say, and rather than try to go back in time and get our thoughts all out in chronological order, let’s just start fresh. We had a recent encounter with a prospective customer and feel like their perspective might be common but shouldn’t be.
People are funny. If you don’t mind, help us make this make sense. We recently spoke to a person who abandoned their plans to install solar because “this new president is ruining the economy.” They were outraged and wanting to be heard. As you know, we avoid choosing political sides, at least publicly. We don’t want to alienate any groups of any kind. We don’t want to create a situation where someone chooses not to go solar, or makes the devastating error of choosing a different solar contractor, because we feel one way or another about a polarizing issue.
You know, in my line of work you got to be able either to sing The Battle Hymn of the Republic or Dixie with equal enthusiasm … depending upon present company.
We gently prodded this person to elaborate how the aforementioned ruined economy would cause them to hesitate to go solar. It seems obvious to us that the only better reason to go solar than a good economy, is a bad one. This person spoke for the next ten minutes in response to that.
They told us how this president was raising tariffs against our trading partners that would drive the price of everything, from eggs, to oil, to solar panels up. They had many other complaints about this president, but the tariffs were the main complaint that we thought stayed on the subject, and at least in part, was directed at answering our question.
We countered with the following. Let us know if it makes sense or if we are missing the mark. Tariffs may indeed make solar components cost more than they did. Excellent panels and batteries are manufactured in the United States, but many of the components and raw materials are imported. Different politicians’ methods may affect the prices of goods and services in all industries, including energy. Solar is different because it hedges against these issues.
Over the last many decades, we have had local, state, and federal leaders from both parties and with a variety of economic philosophies. Some were better than others, but all had at least one critic claiming they would “ruin the economy” or “make everything too expensive.” No matter who was in charge, the price of electricity increased every single year. See, the alternative to going solar is also affected by these tariffs. Even if they weren’t, they were going to raise their rates anyway, because they can, and always do. What are you going to do, go down the street with your electricity money and switch power companies?
Take your quote to go solar, ours or any other reputable solar contractor’s, and double it. We are not saying these tariffs will double solar costs, they won’t, but as an extreme example, double your quote. That number, the doubled quote, is still less money than you are going to pay in just power company rate and fee increases. Where’s the outrage over that?
History has taught us that this increase will happen no matter who is president. Ruined economy or not, solar makes financial sense and protects us from ruined economies. We are in the industry, and have played with the numbers in every way on multiple occasions, and solar wins every time. It is clear to us, and part of our job is to make it clear to others. We made a website to help. Try costtodonothing.com if you want to play with the numbers yourself.
That person we referenced earlier was passionate in their dislike for our new president. It was a blinding passion. Many solar prospects, frustratingly, use the reason they should go solar as an excuse not to. If you can’t afford it, you can’t afford not to. Further, every year you wait, regardless of politics, costs you more than necessary. Solar freezes your rates. Better to freeze them at today’s rates than tomorrow’s.
If we are missing something here, we would genuinely like to know. We make money if you buy solar from us. Is our logic and reason twisted by our greed? Math is impartial and that is why we lean on it to sell solar.
No matter what you think the economy is going to do, or who is to blame, we know that in good, bad, and mediocre economies, the power companies will raise their rates. It’s a bill that never gets paid off. Your solar payment never goes up and ends one day.
There are things we would like to have that we cannot afford. We are not immune to greed. The math keeps us honest with our customers though. It’s black and white. If solar does not cost less than the increasing rates, We don’t recommend you buy it. From us or anyone else.
