Green Country Residents Turn To Solar Power To Combat Rising Energy Bills

You may notice more and more solar panels popping up around Green Country as people are increasingly turning to solar power to combat rising energy bills. 

Some people who made the switch to solar say their energy bills were inconsistent.

Installing solar panels or shingles not only helps cut down monthly energy costs but there are also tax incentives to help make a switch more affordable.

With utility rates on the rise and growing concerns about environmental impact, many homeowners are making the switch to solar energy.

“Up until about 18 months ago, Oklahoma was ranked 48th of cost of electricity, and we’re starting to see utility rates starting to go up,” said J.W. Peters, President of Solar Power of Oklahoma.

He says a switch to solar reduces the reliance on traditional energy sources and minimizes carbon emissions.

Peters says people are enticed by financial incentives, including a 30-percent federal tax credit for solar installations and long-term energy bill savings, which makes solar power an attractive investment for many people like K. W. Stanley

“It was a great economic decision for me because I won’t have an electric bill for a decade,” Stanley said. 

Stanley says his solar panels are different than most and offer a lower profile.

His roof has Solar Shingles made by roofing manufacturer GAF.

He says he was skeptical when he first started researching, but when he saw his bills after the installation, the proof was in the numbers.

“It’s almost 100% offset having my solar shingles,” Stanley said. 

In June 2022, his bill was about $120.

“And then last year it was 16. I think is what it was,” Stanley said. 

Peters says there are a variety of factors that determine how much solar could save, including the incline of your roof tree coverage and energy usage.

“We have solar advisors that will actually come to your home, look at your electric panel, look at your roof, look at your electric bills, put all of that information into the computer, and decide what the best return on investment is going to be for you,” Peters said.