If you’re a homeowner in New York wondering how much money you can actually save by going solar, this case study shows you the real numbers. We’re breaking down how one of our customers, Jeff from Orange County, installed solar in 2022 and locked in over $174,000 in estimated lifetime savings.
We’ll show what his electric bill looked like before going solar, how he utilized government incentives to pay nothing upfront for his solar installation and the exact difference solar has made on his monthly budget.
Before Solar: Unpredictable & Rising Utility Costs
Before installing his solar panels in June of 2022, Jeff was enrolled in his utility company’s “budget plan”. Although his budget plan was a fixed amount every month, he noticed this charge kept increasing every year, but his usage was staying the same. Over time his budget plan topped off at $285 per month and if he used more than his power company estimated he would use for the year, he would have to pay that on top of his last bill for the year.
Budget plans can be a great way to average out seasonal highs and lows, but they can’t protect you from rate hikes. As energy prices continue to increase every year, Jeff saw the writing on the wall. Even if he was making a fixed payment every month, that number would continue to rise every year.
Jeff’s First Year With Solar
In April of 2022, we met with Jeff for his free solar consultation. After reviewing his electricity usage, we walked him through all of the available incentives in his area and designed a system that was sized to offset all of his annual electricity needs.
By July his system was installed and producing more than enough energy to power his home. His new monthly cost? $151 for his solar system plus a small $33 connection fee with his power company, totaling just $184 per month.
Right off the bat, Jeff was saving $101 per month. That’s over $1,200 saved in his first year alone.
Year-One Results
Long-Term Projections: How Much Will Jeff Save Over 30 Years?
Jeff’s monthly savings aren’t just locked in… they actually grow over time.
Why? Because electricity rates in New York have been increasing nearly every year. Most sources including the US Department of Energy report an average annual increase of nearly 5%. Meanwhile, Jeff’s solar payment stays fixed for 15 years. After that, the loan is paid off and all he pays is $33/mo for the connection fee.
What That Means Financially
- Years 1–15: Jeff pays just $184/month while utility rates continue to climb
- Year 16 and beyond: His solar loan is fully paid off, so he only pays a $33/month grid connection fee
- Estimated Lifetime Savings: $174,870 (yes, you read that right).
We calculated this using a 5% annual increase in electric rates. Here’s what that savings looks like over time:
- By Year 10: Jeff is saving over $3,000 annually
- By Year 20: He’s saving over $8,000 per year
- By Year 30: His total savings exceed $174,000
A Look at Total Savings Over Time
(Note: All figures are estimates based on a 5% annual utility rate increase.)
What Makes Solar a Smart Investment?
Going solar wasn’t only about day one savings for Jeff. He made an investment that pays him back more and more every year. Here’s why his decision makes sense long term…
1. Locked-In Pricing
While most homeowners are at the mercy of their utility provider’s rate increases, Jeff knows exactly what he’ll pay every month and that one day his solar payment will disappear.
2. Predictable, Long-Term Savings
Rather than renting electricity forever, Jeff now owns his power source. Once the system is paid off his cost to power his home drops dramatically.
3. Increased Home Value
Studies show that homes with solar sell faster and for more. Imagine buying a home with no electric bill. That kind of cost savings for someone buying a new home is huge.
What Jeff Has to Say About Going Solar
“I literally have not had one bill since installation. Everything was done within 4-6 weeks from the paperwork all the way to turning the system on. The whole process was very quick. It’s a no-brainer in my opinion.” — Jeff, New York Homeowner
What Can We Learn from Jeff’s Story?
If you’re like Jeff and you’re paying more and more per month for electricity, the truth is simple… you can already afford to go solar. You just need to take the money wasted on buying expensive power every month and redirect it to pay for the solar equipment that can produce your own electricity.
By switching to solar now, you can:
- Start saving money from Day One
- Lock in current Net Metering policies before they change
- Avoid the impact of rising electric rates
- Own your power and stop overpaying for electricity.
Final Thoughts: The Window to Act Is Now
With solar incentives still high and utility rates continuing to rise, now is the time to make the switch. Jeff didn’t wait and now he’s saving every single month while his neighbors keep getting hit with rate hikes.
Get your free solar savings plan to see how much you could save by going solar with Empire Solar Solutions.
