The inverter box in Kevin Shumway's home has a readout that shows how much electricity has been collected. Shumway, in the background, is drinking a cup of tea heated with solar power. He put photovoltaic cells on his roof and uses them to power his home and electric car. (Scott Sommerdorf/The Salt Lake Tribune)
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Like a toaster or a refrigerator, Kevin Shumway hopes solar panels will one day be a mainstay in homes.

He rigged his historic Salt Lake City Avenues home with a photovoltaic (PV)-cell system that, for the past year, has powered his electric car and supplied about 80 percent of the home's electricity needs.

"Really, there's nothing to it; it costs a lot up front, but then you've locked in your electricity rate for the next 40 years," said Shumway, who converted to solar to decrease his dependence on foreign oil and other polluting energy sources.

With tax credits and rebates, Shumway expects his $25,000 system will cost closer to $15,000.

Solar-power enthusiasts say the technology is becoming within

Kevin Shumway put photovoltaic cells on his Salt Lake City roof and uses them to power his home and electric car. (Scott Sommerdorf/The Salt Lake Tribune)
reach of more people.

With the cost of solar panels dipping and the price of utilities expected to rise, a PV system "will be as cost-effective as anything else," said Utah Solar Energy Association President Orrin Farnsworth, who deals energy systems for AEE Solar.

He has seen more people who want to be energy-independent and self-sufficient. Also, many worry of skyrocketing electricity bills, Farnsworth said, though Utah has lower rates than some other states, such as California and Florida.

Depending on the size and type of system, most residential installations now cost between $15,000 to $50,000 before any tax credits, he said.

While the cost still might concern homeowners, installers say the panels are an investment.

"It does seem expensive, but in reality people are putting their money into other things," said Intermountain Wind & Solar's Doug Shipley, noting home renovations like kitchen remodels can cost about the same.

"And this saves them money."

mariav@sltrib.com

 

Rebates and tax credits

For homeowners, Utah offers a tax credit of 25 percent of the cost of a photovoltaic system, capped at $2,000. For businesses, the state credit is 10 percent the cost, capped at $50,000.

There is a federal tax credit for solar panels, and for this year, the cap was lifted. The residential and corporate credit is 30 percent of the cost.

Rocky Mountain Power also offers an incentive program to its utility customers who hook up to its grid. Details of the company's program is available at portal.ecosconsulting.com/rmp_solar.

More information on solar power can be found at the Utah Solar Energy Association's site, utsolar.org.