Solar power pays off big the longer you use it. The ability to slash your utility bill to the nub is one of the more satisfying things you will experience month after month. That being said, the cost of buying a solar panel system and installing it is a significant front end cost. Given this, many consider installing their new panel systems on their own. Is the DIY approach a smart one with solar power? It really depends on where you live.

The first solar panel systems were all installed by their owners. There simply wasn't any choice. There were no professional installers, so owners had to do it themselves with rather mixed results to say the least. This is no longer the case. Solar panel installers are readily available in just about any part of the country. In fact, this was one area that continually grew during the Great Recession, a real rarity.

So, should you install your own panels? Well, the first thing to understand is that you can do it. It requires some basic construction knowledge and what have you, but there are a couple of reasons why being able to do it does not mean you actually should try.

The first reason is purely economical. The government is willing to help you with the cost of a new panel system. In fact, the help comes from different governmental entities including the fed, state and local municipalities. The help is usually in the form of big tax credits that can cut the cost by 30 to 50 percent depending on the state you are in. To take advantage of these requirements, however, you must have the system professionally installed.

The second reason is more practical. Most new systems are "on grid". This simply means they don't have batteries to store the electricity created. Instead, the systems are tied into the local utility grid. As you might imagine, the utility companies get a tad bit touchy about people trying to connect to the grid. In most areas, the utility company will require a professional installer or someone from the utility itself to do the work.

Can you install solar panels yourself? Of course. Should you? That's another question entirely.