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Thinking about going solar in 2025? In this video we break down every real-world advantage and drawback of installing solar panels this year—updated for today’s prices, incentives, battery tech, and utility-rate realities. Whether you’re worried about the up-front cost, curious about ROI, or wondering how batteries change the equation, you’ll leave with the facts you need to decide confidently.Get your solar score!
https://score.bigdogsolar.com/
Disclaimer
Numbers and incentives shown are accurate as of May 2025 (USA) and may change. Always verify local regulations and consult a licensed solar professional before purchasing.Solar isn’t just about saving a dime anymore. Mitch (Big Dog Solar) lays out the real-world pros and cons after 13,000+ installs—and how battery backup reshapes reliability during outages. You’ll learn what solar can/can’t do, when batteries make sense, and how to sanity-check your own home before you buy.
Chapters
0:00 Why this matters now (rates, outages, expectations)
0:22 The big pros (cost control, environment, home value, resilience)
1:07 The real cons (cost, site fit, policy complexity)
1:38 Batteries in 2025—what they actually add
2:04 Who should add storage vs. skip (for now)
2:20 How to decide: model, tariff check, incentives
Services Mentioned
Grid-Tied Solar
Home Battery Backup
Federal Incentives
We're going to talk about the pros and cons of solar.
My name is Mitch, and I work with Big Dog Solar. We've been involved in more than 13,000 installations, ranging from small residential systems to large agricultural projects.
I'm here to share some of the experiences we've gained and some of the challenges we've seen across those installations.
In this video, we're going to talk about the pros and cons of solar, what we've seen over time, how batteries are changing the industry, and why many homeowners are considering solar for more than just saving money.
A lot of people are also interested in battery backup.
Homeowners are feeling pressure from rising energy costs and concerns about outages. The last thing you want is to go solar expecting complete energy independence and then discover that your system doesn't provide backup power when the grid goes down.
By the end of this video, you should have a better understanding of what solar can and can't do and whether battery storage should be part of your system.
First: lower energy costs and greater predictability.
Solar can reduce the amount of electricity you need to purchase from your utility. Depending on your utility's policies, you may also receive credits for excess electricity your system sends to the grid.
As utility rates change over time, producing more of your own electricity can help reduce your exposure to those increases.
Second: the environment.
I think it's smart to be good stewards of our environment, and solar is an excellent way to generate electricity from a renewable energy source.
Third: home value.
A solar system may add value to a property, depending on the local market, system ownership, condition, and other factors.
And lastly: energy resilience.
If you pair solar with battery backup, you may be able to keep important parts of your home powered during outages or blackouts, giving you additional peace of mind.
Now let's talk about the cons.
Some people associate going solar with a large upfront cost.
Solar does require an investment, although there are financing options that can make the cost more manageable for qualified homeowners.
Secondly, not every home is solar-ready.
If your property has significant shade, limited usable roof space, structural concerns, or other site limitations, solar might not be the right fit.
Lastly, solar can be complicated.
There are a lot of details involved, including system design, utility requirements, financing, permits, incentives, and interconnection.
My best advice is to either make sure you've done your homework yourself or find a partner you trust to help guide you through the process.
Pick someone who really knows their stuff.
Battery storage can change what a solar system is capable of doing.
Solar panels alone generally won't keep a grid-connected home powered during an outage. Adding a properly configured battery system can provide backup power and allow you to store some of the electricity your solar panels produce for use later.
Whether that's worth the additional cost depends on your goals, electricity usage, local utility program, and how important backup power is to you.
Battery storage may make more sense for homeowners who experience frequent outages, want additional backup power, or want greater control over when their solar energy is used.
Other homeowners may decide solar without a battery makes more financial sense for their situation.
There's no universal answer. It comes down to the individual home and what you're trying to accomplish.
We want to make the process easy and informative, so don't weigh the pros and cons in the dark.
We have a free Solar Score quiz that can help you evaluate your options.
It's personalized and location-based, and it can give you a better idea of whether solar might be a good possibility for you and your home.
If you have any other questions, reach out or give us a call.
We're happy to help.
Time-of-use pricing means the same amount of electricity can cost different amounts at different hours. This video shows how a battery can store lower-cost or solar-produced energy and use it later when peak rates apply.
Set your worries aside and let's talk about what solar is, and what it's not. Read More
Many homeowners jump into solar without fully understanding the potential pitfalls. In this video, we break down five critical reasons why installing solar panels might not be the smart financial move you think it is.
