ZDNET Debunks 12 Home Solar Myths, Citing $281 Utah Savings and 5 Legal Plug-In States
Updated
Updated · ZDNet · Jun 11
ZDNET Debunks 12 Home Solar Myths, Citing $281 Utah Savings and 5 Legal Plug-In States
3 articles · Updated · ZDNet · Jun 11
Summary
ZDNET’s new guide argues home solar economics are neither a guaranteed windfall nor a waste, with savings hinging on array size, sunlight hours and local power prices.
In Utah, a 1,200-watt plug-in setup could generate about 5.5 kWh a day—roughly $281 a year at $0.14 per kWh—while California could reach about $910 and Alaska about $182.
The article also stresses safety risks often overlooked in solar discussions, warning panels produce electricity whenever exposed to daylight and that higher-voltage systems can cause shock, burns or death.
Plug-in solar remains legally limited in the US: 5 states have signed it into law, 4 more await governor action, and systems still shut down during outages unless paired with a battery.
Beyond myths on legality and backup power, ZDNET says panels typically last 20 to 25 years, still work in cloudy weather at reduced output, and lose efficiency if dust or pollen builds up.