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My experience from a 3.2 KW grid-tie system on a 2,700 SF home. Intial cost = $25K; FTC -30%; STC -50%; Equipment Depr. -6%. Final cost after credits, approximately $3.5K.

Energy use reduction (aprox.) 33% reduction in purchased energy; 33% reduction due to conservation measures due to heighten awareness of energy wastefulness and some inefficent equipment replacement (there are tax incentives here as well).

Comments: Absolutely no issues with the solar system to-date (plug and forget). Immediately after installation, energy costs in our area jumped 10.2%. While others in my area were jumping up and down mad, I actually never knew about the increased until a neighbor told me.

Of course, this wouldn't make sense without the huge tax incentives and it's likely that there is only so long that broke governments can continue these incentives.

Payoff will be in less than five years at current rates. I expect energy costs to increase and I'm planning to add off-grid capability due to concerns of future reliability issues with commercially provided power (i.e. rolling blackouts).

My $25K.