Your Neighbor:
Mike Jadrich
Rogers, Minnesota
Why did you choose solar?
I decided to look seriously at solar because I wanted a way to protect myself from rising electricity costs. Utility rates keep creeping up, and the most recent proposal from Xcel Energy for more than a nine percent increase was a clear example of what could keep happening over time. Solar felt like a smart way to gain more control over those costs instead of being at the mercy of whatever the next rate hike might be. The federal tax credit was another big factor. It made the numbers look much better, and I was not confident that the credit would still be available after the election. That pushed me to move sooner rather than later, and I am glad I did.
What was your buying process like?
My process for deciding if solar was a good fit started with talking to people who had already gone through it. I reached out to a few homeowners I knew who had panels on their roof and asked about their experience, what they wished they had known, and how their systems were performing. I also interviewed several solar companies to compare their approach, pricing, and how well they answered my questions. Between those conversations and my own research, I started to get a clear picture of what would work best for my home.
Why did you choose Centauri?
I chose Centauri because their equipment is built for our climate and their inverters are top quality. Their sales advisor helped me run a clear cost benefit analysis and cash flow breakeven, which made the numbers easy to understand. We also had some spirited contract discussions, and the way they handled those gave me confidence that they are professional, transparent, and committed to doing things right.
7.20kW
System Size (kW)
16
Panels
8,091
Annual kwh*
Annual Bill Offset*
*Estimates based on predicted production and customer’s current energy usage.
Is your system producing at the estimated rate?
It is hard to tell because of the time of year we installed…end of October. We have only 6-7 hours of daylight and many cloudy days. That said, my electric bill has been approximately 20% lower than last year for November and December. Considering December only had maybe 5 sunny days, it's performing well.
How was the installation process?
The team showed up a day early just as I was heading out the door to play golf. I walked them through the house, told them my expectations and let them get to work. They were very conscientious about cleaning up after themselves. They met my expectations on how to disguise all wires. They took time to answer every question without appearing annoyed. I did not have to do anything. And communications leading up to installation were phenomenal. I was told what would happen, what to expect and then followed up on everything to keep me updated.
Equipment Installed:
Panels: REC450AA Pure-RX
Inverter(s): Enphase Micro
Energy Storage:
Would you recommend Centauri to a friend?
My experience with Centauri Systems has been solid from start to finish, and I would feel completely comfortable recommending them to a neighbor who is considering solar.
