When it comes to going solar, misleading sales tactics can cost homeowners thousands. Shady solar companies promise 100% offset while ignoring critical factors like real energy usage and system yield—leaving customers with unexpected bills and underperforming systems.
Enter the Solar Vigilante. In this real-life case from West Palm Beach, Florida, we expose the first two of the 10 most important things to know before going solar:
✅ Lesson #1: Know Your True Energy Consumption
✅ Lesson #2: Understand Solar Yield
The Setup:
A Homeowner’s Solar Nightmare
A homeowner in West Palm Beach (ZIP 33412) was sold a 20.655 kW system with 51 Qcell 405W panels and microinverters. Their contract claimed this system would produce 33,334 kWh per year, supposedly 100% offsetting their electric bill.
🔹 What they were told:
“Your system will cover your entire bill! You’ll only pay the FPL connection fee of $30.”
🔹 What they were NOT told:
Their actual yearly energy usage was 41,486 kWh—far higher than the system’s production!
🚨 Red Flag: If your usage isn’t calculated correctly, your “100% offset” system might leave you paying more than expected.
Lesson #1:
Know Your True kWh Usage
The Solar Vigilante did what the salesman didn’t—he examined 12 months of real electric bills.
🔹 The homeowner’s actual energy consumption: 41,486 kWh per year
🔹 The solar system’s estimated production: 33,334 kWh per year
🔹 Shortfall: 8,152 kWh (That’s a 19% gap!)
Breaking Down the Math:
📌 What the bad solar company claimed:
✔️ 33,334 kWh divided by 12 months = 2,779 kWh per month
✔️ At $0.16 per kWh (FPL’s rate), this equals $445 per month
📌 What the homeowner actually needed:
✔️ 41,486 kWh divided by 12 months = 3,457 kWh per month
✔️ At $0.16 per kWh, this equals $554 per month
🔥 Reality Check: The homeowner was expecting their $540-$600 bill to disappear. Instead, they were left paying for an extra 8,152 kWh per year—a costly mistake.
Lesson #2:
Understanding Solar Yield
The second trick bad solar companies use? Overestimating system yield.
What is Yield?
💡 Yield = Total Production ÷ System Size
The higher the yield, the more efficient the system—but there are limits!
What This Homeowner Was Sold vs. Reality:
🔹 The company’s claim: 33,334 kWh ÷ 20.65 kW = 1.614 yield
🔹 The reality: In West Palm Beach, Florida, a system with this setup would never achieve that yield.
👨🏫 The Solar Vigilante used a certified 3D solar design tool to get an accurate number:
✔️ Real expected production: 26,932 kWh per year
✔️ Real yield: 1.304 (not 1.61!)
Final Proof: What the System Actually Produced
After one full year of operation, the real production numbers were in:
📉 Actual Production: 25,300 kWh (not 33,334 kWh!)
📌 Even worse? PV Watts, a government-backed tool, estimated production between 26,588 – 27,865 kWh, proving that the sales projection was wildly unrealistic.
🚨 Lesson Learned: If a solar company promises an unrealistically high yield, run.
How to Protect Yourself from the Solar Scam
Before signing a contract, ask these critical questions:
✅ What is my actual yearly energy usage? Check your past 12 months of electric bills.
✅ What yield are they promising? If it’s much higher than PV Watts suggests, be skeptical.
✅ Is the offset truly 100%, or just a misleading claim? If production is lower than usage, it’s NOT 100%.
✅ Are they using a certified solar design tool? If not, they might be guessing.
🔹 Ready to take the next step?
Get your free, no-obligation solar consultation today and see how much you can save!
The Solar Vigilante’s Final Verdict
This homeowner was scammed—but you don’t have to be.
By knowing your true energy consumption and understanding solar yield, you can avoid false promises and underperforming systems.
⚡ Don’t get burned. Stay educated. Be your own Solar Vigilante.
💬 Have questions about solar? Drop them in the comments, and the Solar Vigilante will answer them!
Want More Solar Vigilante Exposés?
🔹 How to Spot a Trustworthy Solar Company
🔹 Solar is NOT a Four-Letter Word
