Link: http://www.astraluxsolar.com/images/res_solar_costs_in_co_large.jpg

One of the most frequent questions we get as a solar energy integrator is "Why should I buy now, won't the price of solar keep coming down?"

For the last 12 months, the price of solar has come down drastically, as much as 30% in some cases. However, the rebates for solar have also dropped by virtually the same amount.

As you can see in the graph (click link above to view), the price of residential solar is leveling out, while the rebates continue to decrease (per the new tiered rebate program from Xcel). Thus, the cost to the customer is now beginning to increase for the first time since the introduction of rebates in Colorado.

The price of solar will continue to slowly decrease, with supply levels still high and with more competition than ever between solar integrators - but it is highly unlikely we will see a drop in price like we saw in 2009. The solar rebates are finite, and will continue to decrease until the solar rebate fund is depleted.

There is always the possibility that solar materials will have a major breakthrough and further decrease in price - but will it decrease more than the current value of solar rebates in Colorado? That is the question to ask when you are determining whether to go solar - do it now and get the rebates, or wait and take a chance on solar materials prices significantly decreasing in the future.

Following in Xcel Energy's footsteps, Black Hills Energy is reducing the solar rebate for small category systems in Colorado (less than 10kW). The rebate will drop from $3.50 per watt down to $2.70 per watt, a reduction of 23%.

This $0.80 per watt reduction in the Black Hills Energy solar rebate will be effective at Midnight tonight (January 15th).

The Black Hills Energy solar rebate, like Xcel Energy, is a combination of a rebate payment and a renewable energy credit (REC) payment. The REC payment of the small category incentive (currently at $1.50 per watt) will decrease to $0.70 per watt, the rebate payment ($2 per watt) is fixed and thus will remain unchanged.

Xcel Energy has initiated similar reductions to their solar rewards rebates over the past several months. Xcel released a new tiered rebate system to inform solar integrators and customers exactly when and how their solar rebate would change in the future. The California Solar Initiative (CSI) has a similar method of distributing rebates.

If you are a Black Hills Energy customer in Colorado, please contact us today if you are interested in solar for your home or business.

Almost two months ago, Astralux introduced the Energy Partners Program™ and it has quickly become a huge hit. Part of our newly introduced SolarCare™ Package - the Energy Partners Program offers substantial rebates to Astralux customers who gather 3 or more people in their neighborhood or community to go solar. These group rebates can be as high as $500 per kilowatt, meaning thousands of dollars off an already heavily subsidized solar energy system.

In just the first month of this program, dozens of homeowners have gathered “Energy Partners” in their communities to enjoy this extra solar energy discount.

With no middleman to gather these community groups, like One Block off the Grid (1BOG) and other similar companies, there are no referral fees for Astralux to pay. The group discounts go directly to the customer. Thus, the Energy Partners Program promotes widespread adoption by further reducing the cost of solar installation.

So what makes the Energy Partners Program so enticing?

1) Consider that solar energy system prices are at an all time low, as low as $5.50 per watt from Astralux in the Colorado area.
2) Utility Rebates and Tax Credits in Colorado pay for 75% of that cost.
3) The Energy Partners Program pays for up to another 10% of the cost.
4) This leads to solar being installed at as low as 15% of its original cost, or just under $1 per watt.
5) With an average system size of about 5000 watts, that’s a brand new solar energy system for under $5,000!
6) At that price, you’re looking at solar energy that will pay for itself in only 6 years! For a system that is warranted for 25 years.

Just think about that for a second.

These aren’t just extravagant claims, hypothetical’s that would need a miracle breakthrough to actually become tangible. These are actual figures that Astralux customers have already experienced.

These conditions create an ROI that is truly competitive with other investment opportunities, and more importantly brings the cost down enough to allow for more households to afford the upfront cost of solar.

Add in the SolarCare Same-as-Cash Financing Program, which allows for homeowners to go solar for no money down and without any equity required, and you have a recipe for a broad market with the numbers needed to push solar pass the threshold of simply a novel technology and into a practical financial solution for any and every homeowner.

To learn more about our Energy Partners Program or what else Astralux is “cooking up” to break solar into the mainstream, visit our website at www.AstraluxSolar.com.

Astralux has confirmed that Black Hills Energy, based in Southern Colorado, will be reducing its nation-leading solar energy rebate by $1 per watt - from $4.50 to $3.50 per watt - on September 1st.

This news is also fueling rumors that Xcel Energy may also reduce its solar rebate as well, anywhere from $0.50 to $1.00 - also on September 1st.

If you are a Black Hills Customer and are interested in solar energy, you must act fast! We can reserve the $4.50 per watt rebate for you before it goes down on Tuesday. Contact us to secure your rebate before it is reduced by over 20%.

Link: http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2009/08/03/daily31.html

With immense pressure bearing down from Colorado solar customers, installers, local government officials, renewable energy advocacy associations, and the Government Energy Office - Xcel has withdrawn the solar fee proposal that was slated for debate on Wednesday.

Dr. Rande Treece, Founder and CEO of Astralux, proclaimed, "This is a big win for the local solar energy community - and sends the message that concerned citizens do have the power to stop large organizations like Xcel from creating unfair policies.”

Astralux received hundreds of phone calls and emails, from customers and strangers alike, concerning this potential "solar fee". Almost every employee and over 2 dozen customers had planned on attending Wednesday's PUC open forum covering the matter. Fortunately, Xcel has come to their senses on this issue and everyone planning to attend can instead spend their time enjoying the Colorado summer!

Thanks to everyone for your support and letters to the PUC - they obviously got the message!

Xcel Energy is proposing unfair rake hikes for new solar energy customers in Colorado. These hikes would unjustly charge new solar owners a minimum usage fee every month simply for the "privilege" to use Xcel's energy grid.

Solar energy not only helps reduce the load demand for Xcel's energy grid, but the solar energy surge (pun intended) has created demand for new businesses setting up shop in Colorado, subsequently leading to more electricity use. In fact, Colorado is Xcel's #1 profit source, and just reported increased profits on higher electricity rates.

Please join us for the Public Utilities Commission open forum on this topic, the more support we can get there - the better:

August 5th - 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
1560 Broadway, Suite 1550
Denver, CO 80202

Please Note: THIS PROPOSED POLICY DOES NOT APPLY TO EXISTING SOLAR ENERGY OWNERS. If passed, the proposal would go into effect in April 2010, and therefore only solar energy owners after that date would be subject to these proposed charges. If you have a system already installed, you will not be subject to these charges.

Holy Cross Electric in Colorado has announced an additional $250,000 in solar rebates for 2009.

Holy Cross has already given out over $1.1 million in rebates this year, and given the overwhelming demand, has decided to reallocate other funds into more solar rebates.

The rebate will remain at $2 per watt, with a cap of $12,000. For more information on reserving rebates in that area - contact us.

[Source: Aspen Times]

It is a unique time for the solar industry here in Colorado. The utility rebates offered by Xcel, Black Hills, and other local energy companies remain among the best in the nation. All the while, the price of solar modules has drastically dropped - due to a large surplus from lower demand in the European markets.

The last time we had news that favored the solar energy consumer here in Colorado was October of last year. That was when it was announced that the Federal Tax Credit for solar energy had been increased to 30% with no cap on the amount you could be credited. This resulted in Xcel suddenly announcing that they were reducing their solar rebate from $4.50 to $3.50 per watt, a reduction of 22%. Xcel Energy reserves the right the reduce the amount of the rebate at ANY time.

With these lower materials cost and fierce cost competition in the local solar industry, solar energy is the cheapest it has ever been here in Colorado - even with the rebate at $3.50 per watt. Due to this new situation, we predict that Xcel will soon move to further reduce the rebate in an effort, much like last October, to level the cost of solar and keep demand at a manageable level.

This reduction could come next week, it could come in several months. The fact remains that these next 2 - 3 months may prove to be the best time ever to invest in solar for your Colorado Home or Business. To reiterate...

1) Solar module prices (the bulk of the cost of a system) have drastically decreased over the past 9 months. However, the past two months has seen prices level out as European demand for solar slowly bounces back.

2) Xcel (for the time being) has held their rebates at $3.50 per watt and Black Hills (Southern Colorado) remains at $4.50 per watt, making them the #1 utility rebate in the US. These rebates will be reduced, it's only a matter of when.

3) Colorado electricity rates have risen faster than any state over the past decade. Xcel has issued rate increases at least once every year since 2002 - making Colorado their #1 revenue source.

4) Colorado is meeting its Renewable Portfolio Standards faster than anticipated - meaning any rebate for solar (especially residential) may not be around for much longer.

The Colorado solar energy market continues to grow, despite the current economic recession. Colorado is on pace to break last year's record of systems sold for both residential and commercial applications - as this industry contiunes to reward solar pioneers with rebates and credits.

Solar and renewable energies will continue to be a driving force in Colorado's economy for decades to come. But for the consumer, solar energy may never be more economical than it is now.

Black Hills Energy, serving most of Southern Colorado, has the nation’s highest solar rebate at $4.50 per Watt. This means that a typical 3kW system will end up costing under $1,500 after rebates and tax credits. This system will pay for itself in only 2 1/2 years!

Colorado is leading the way for other states to adopting renewable portfolio standards (RPS) and solar rebates. Missouri just passed their own voter-initiated (as Colorado did with Amendment 37) bill that will provide generous solar rebate to their residents.

Continuing our 5 part series on Solar Electricity in Colorado.

"While granite countertops and hardwood floors may be an investment in your home’s aesthetics, a solar electric system has benefits that are financially quantifiable..."

Read more ... http://www.astraluxsolar.com/Solar_In_Colorado_Part4.pdf

Link: http://www.howstuffworks.com/framed.htm?parent=solar-power-pay-upfront.htm&url=http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/headlines/solar/

From an article found at www.howstuffworks.com:

Not only are you helping the economy and the environment by investing in solar panels at a crucial time for both, it makes more sense to buy them sooner than later to avoid paying constantly rising energy prices. While other technologies do drop significantly in price, such as personal computers, solar panels are a mature technology that has not changed drastically in recent years. Current rebates on solar panels are a great deal now, so take advantage now! These rebates may not be such a great deal in the future once more and more people begin to install solar, so make sure you take advantage of a good situation.

The following is an excerpt from The Woodmen Edition newspaper in Colorado Springs.

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Here comes the sun. And for the Leitz family, here comes lower electricity bills, a way to help Colorado Springs' energy needs and a method to make a positive impact on the environment.

In early Nov., the Leitz's, through a company called Astralux Power Systems, installed 36 panels on their roof hoping to glean enough sunlight to keep their house's electricity totally powered during daylight hours.

Mr. Butch Leitz said he worked with Astralux because their design helped the panels blend in with the rest of the home...Leitz said the connection between the panels and the city provided electricity proved seamless and he's yet to see any problems.

"It's really a no-brainer when it comes to solar energy. It's a simple concept" he said. "The environment is only getting worse; there's no reason not to invest right now."

[Source: The Woodmen Edition, Maren Sorensen]

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We commend the Leitz family on their new system and front page story in the Woodmen Paper! They are setting an example for others in Colorado Springs (and beyond) to follow.