There are a number of reasons U.S. consumers are resistant to solar panels. Cost is the number one consideration, as the average cost of installing a residential system is $25,000-$35,000. With generous tax rebates available on the Federal and state levels, this price tag can be considerably lower. Sites such as dsireusa.org (Databse of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency) provide state-by-state, comprehensive lists of rebates available to commercial and residential customers. There is still an initial cash layout, though, one that can be cost-prohibitive to the average consumer.

Electric bills are getting out of hand throughout New Jersey. Regardless of whether you live in Elizabeth, Jersey City or elsewhere, you are probably paying around $150 in the winter and $300 or more in the summer. That’s a lot of money that you’re throwing away each month just to run your appliances and provide air conditioning through your home.

As a result of the high electric bills, many residents are moving to solar energy because it is that much more affordable. The sun shines bright every day – which is why your electric bill is so high. However, if you were to install solar panels, you can use the sun to your advantage and let it power a majority of your home.

About every 3 years in the state of New Jersey (and on the national level via the NEC), the electrical code changes in some way. This may have an impact on you, your home, and any electrical jobs you may be considering.

For example, it used to be that you could use two conductors (“the black wire”) with a shared neutral (“the white wire”) and both circuits sharing that neutral would have independent circuit breakers. Through code revisions, now those 2 circuits must be on a 2 pole breaker …