Discussion on question by tnknepp: What is the optimal number of solar panels for my house?

I couldn't agree more, these prices are outrageous. This seems more like a "financial" transaction designed to charge what the market will bear based on financing and tax credits. It's like they worked backwards from energy pricing, mortgage rates and government rebates, found your break-even point (i.e. the max you would pay), and and trumped up a bunch of costs and fees to make it that expensive when it's not. In reality, solar prices are in free-fall. Panels are 20 cents a watt in industrial quantity, and more like 50 cents a watt retail.