Anyone have solar panels on the roof?

Bret4207

At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
:headscratch:Say what?
Agree. Slimy salesmanship on prominent display. I would be amazed if his meter isn't digital where there is no "screwing" (gearing is what he meant BTW) involved.
 
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Bret4207

At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
Luckily I live where electricity is $.034 for the first 600 kWts and $.042 for the more. Hydro electric is wonderful, build more dams.
I live about 50 miles as the crow flies from one of the larger hydo-electric dams in the world on the St Lawrence River. Not only are we not able to buy that power (it is transmitted south to some major metropolitan areas), we also pay a "nuclear adjustment charge" to help cover the costs of those plants that are also providing power to that metropolitan area! I love the idea of hydro, but it doesn't seem everyone gets fair access.
 

Bret4207

At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
My personal preference would be for a home based wind generator system, or better a micro-hydro system if I had the water to build one. The costs are crazy though and pay back would measured in decades.
 

RicinYakima

High Steppes of Eastern Washington
Luckily, the Columbia River has both Corps of Engineer dams that feed the Bonneville Power Authority (sends most of it to California) but also county Public Utility Districts that sell local and to the private power companies in WA, OR and ID. Bad part is the older dams (25,000 homes or less) and being torn down to help the fish runs to feed the sea lions.
 

Petrol & Powder

Well-Known Member
I asked these questions.

1) I would be leasing. 100% of maintiance & repair is on utility.

2) NO liens on my property.

3) Its ATTACHED to home NOT COVERED by most unless specfically underwritten. In other words, Id have to have included. BUT 2M umbrella is included with "package" to cover fire or act of god issues hurricane/Tornado.
4) Have been impervious to Hail. But if damaged 100% on utility.
5) Cost cannot increase more than 2.84% yearly. On average of last 5 its been under 1.25%
25 year term and Is transferable. If I where to sell & potential buyers where iffy I could call utility & they would arrange a sit down to explain positives & all costs. But frankly they would have it easier cause THERE insurance would cover it. Also probable they vould roll into there mortgage pmt & own outright. Then just buy a service agreement.
They forcast in writing the panels efficency will not drop past 10% less than 10.2k or will be replaced in first 25(35) years.
CW
If they will lease the system to you and buy the excess power - why not buy your OWN system and sell them the excess electricity you make?

There is NO possible way they are leasing that to you at a loss. Over the life of that system, you will pay far more in lease payments than the system costs to install.
Most states require utilities to buy power from customers that make power. They don't want to tell you that because it undermines their plan.

Buying the system puts the burden on you but it also puts the potential profit in your pocket, not theirs. You will have to float the cost yourself but, in the end, you own the hardware and you own the power it makes.


Just something to consider.
 

Rick H

Well-Known Member
My electric bill has NEVER been as high as $142/month, just got July's bill for June's usage, $44 and change. How is that going to save you money EVER????? I would be going in the hole $98/month even if it paid my entire electric bill.
 
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CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
I might be better ta just eliminate the 25year old energy hog of a AC unit with new one.
my bill is 175-220 most months till June July & August where it doubles.


New AC units 2x would probably be south of 500$ once..So paid for in under a year, with savings.

CW
 

Bret4207

At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
My electric bill has NEVER been as high as $142/month, just got July's bill for June's usage, $44 and change. How is that going to save you money EVER????? I would be going in the hole $98/month even if it paid my entire electric bill.
HA! I haven't seen a power bill under $200 a month in decades! That's the stuff dreams are made of! And before anyone says it's the farm, outside of water there's nothing extra going on there. I pay about 12 cents Kwh and there are taxes and fees on top of that that make it average out to about $.15 Kwh, while being 50 miles from a gynormous hydro plant!
 

Petrol & Powder

Well-Known Member
Electric bills depend on a lot of factors. Cost of power, how much you use, weather, etc.

My electric bill is low in the winter, often less than $60/month but significantly higher in the summer (AC isn’t cheap)

As for the payoff on a solar system, you must do the math.

CW, if you can get an AC/Heat pump right now, (one of the many shortages) then that may be a better return on your dollar.

I wouldn’t give up on solar completely, but I would recommend doing it on YOUR terms and not theirs. Educate yourself, run the numbers and you may find some middle ground where it makes economic sense.
 

Petrol & Powder

Well-Known Member
My electric bill has NEVER been as high as $142/month, just got July's bill for June's usage, $44 and change. How is that going to save you money EVER????? I would be going in the hole $98/month even if it paid my entire electric bill.
Location, Location, Location.
 

CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
Yes I am not condemn solar at all. 58k for the system just seems way way way expensive.

They will get better smaller and more efficient. Hopefully also more economical.

CW
 

fiver

Well-Known Member
that might include a converter and storage units [batteries]
the only way I'd even think of buying into a 58K solar setup is if I could pull the wires off the pole and continue on with life as is.
even at our stupid 200+ bill each month, every month, it'd take past my lifetime to pay off 58K.
 

RicinYakima

High Steppes of Eastern Washington
Consider a mini-split heat pump / AC. Mine saved me 25% electric and natural gas costs. Just remember you have to have a secondary heat source below 25* F. FWIW
 

RBHarter

West Central AR
I knew some folks in Nv that were just a mile from the last pole . They bought their system outright . Wind/solar . Sierra Pacific is long gone but the n the 90's paid them $80/mo for counting them as alternative energy sources .
 

blackthorn

Active Member
Quote; "Some where someone asked cost. I just ran across it... 58,000$ thats 143$ a month for 25 years..."

Does that $143 per month include the interest on a 58,000.00 loan??
 
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Ian

Notorious member
A friend of mine that lives about two miles further back on the ranch and on top of the plateau was considering wind power with grid tie-in. He did a wind study 50 feet up and had a usable breeze a good portion of the time. We pay 11 cents per kWH and for what the unit cost installed I did some quick math for him and determined it would take 30 years to break even---a point the salesman had "missed". Solar and wind is great if you live where you have to be your own power company but as a business model it makes no sense. There's nothing an individual can do that nets electrical power as cheaply as a large plant can make it.

Now, if you have a good run of consistent, live water on your land and can legally impound it and make enough head pressure for a good pipeline run to a small hydro generator, you'd be in business and could sell extra to the power company. Still, the initial investment will be many thousands of dollars.