Solar Energy

[Spoonman]

I installed solar on my house about 3 years ago. It's something I had always wanted to do, had researched a lot and really ran the numbers. So after 3 years I have to say I'm even a bigger fan of it seeing the results. I installed a 10k system, which is the largest residential system you can recieve full credits for. My annual demand in an all electric house is about 7.5 KW a year. I've been producing on average about 12 KW a year. I added some more efficient fixtures and insulation. The goal was to be net zero, and ii've well surpassed that. the system will pay itself off during this year.

I just don't understand why solar doesn't get more support in the US. It's running strong in europe. There is no doubt it works and the technology is only getting better. Not to mention the fact that the USA is missing out on a huge growth manufacturing market. The chinese now own the panel production, the germans the technology and inverters. We are really missing the boat.

I have no more utilitiy bills. in fact i'm selling excess back to the grid.

What was the all inclusive cost of the system?

$58K including reinforcing the roof. 30% federal rebate, 10% state rebate. when we installed the system Srec's were trading between $500 - $600 ea. They had a down period for awhile but are back in the $300 range again

You are selling back energy for 30 cents per kwh? That's a good deal. How can they afford to do that?

What kind of batteries did you install? Do you only sell back when batteries are fully charged? Is that how it works?

Are the rebates like a tax credit? Can you get a rebate in excess of what you paid in taxes? If not can the remainder roll over to the next year's taxes?

no, those are Srec credits. you get 1 srec for every 1kw of energy you produce. I've been producing at least 12k per year. I can sell the excess back but they only pay me an off peak rate. I am on the grid so I do not have batteries. the way it works is in essence, when I produce energy, my meter runs in reverse.

 

[Spoonman]

when the germans started buying back solar power at an inflated price they found to their shock that some of the power was coming in at.....night! hahahaha it was so profitable to run a fuel generator back into the grid that a few dunces couldnt resist getting a little extra in.

how much was your last utility bill? mine was a $78 credit

What was your electric bill prior to installing solar?

I was averaging about $450 per month.

 

[ding]

I installed solar on my house about 3 years ago. It's something I had always wanted to do, had researched a lot and really ran the numbers. So after 3 years I have to say I'm even a bigger fan of it seeing the results. I installed a 10k system, which is the largest residential system you can recieve full credits for. My annual demand in an all electric house is about 7.5 KW a year. I've been producing on average about 12 KW a year. I added some more efficient fixtures and insulation. The goal was to be net zero, and ii've well surpassed that. the system will pay itself off during this year.

I just don't understand why solar doesn't get more support in the US. It's running strong in europe. There is no doubt it works and the technology is only getting better. Not to mention the fact that the USA is missing out on a huge growth manufacturing market. The chinese now own the panel production, the germans the technology and inverters. We are really missing the boat.

I have no more utilitiy bills. in fact i'm selling excess back to the grid.

What was the all inclusive cost of the system?

$58K including reinforcing the roof. 30% federal rebate, 10% state rebate. when we installed the system Srec's were trading between $500 - $600 ea. They had a down period for awhile but are back in the $300 range again

You are selling back energy for 30 cents per kwh? That's a good deal. How can they afford to do that?

What kind of batteries did you install? Do you only sell back when batteries are fully charged? Is that how it works?

Are the rebates like a tax credit? Can you get a rebate in excess of what you paid in taxes? If not can the remainder roll over to the next year's taxes?

no, those are Srec credits. you get 1 srec for every 1kw of energy you produce. I've been producing at least 12k per year. I can sell the excess back but they only pay me an off peak rate. I am on the grid so I do not have batteries. the way it works is in essence, when I produce energy, my meter runs in reverse.

Are you saying that you get 12k*300 = 3600 $/yr, because when I looked up SREC it said that an SREC = 1 MWH = 1000 KWH. A typical price for a KWH = 13 cents per KWH. I believe when you say 12k that really means 12,000 KWH. If so, you are getting around 30 cents per KWH which is a very good price. Although the unit cost is based on the specific part of the country one lives in. Areas that have high usage usually have lower per unit rates. Whereas areas with lower usage have higher rates so 30 cents per KWH may not be unusual where you live. Which part of the country are you in?

If you don't have batteries are you using power from the grid at night?

 

[ding]

when the germans started buying back solar power at an inflated price they found to their shock that some of the power was coming in at.....night! hahahaha it was so profitable to run a fuel generator back into the grid that a few dunces couldnt resist getting a little extra in.

how much was your last utility bill? mine was a $78 credit

What was your electric bill prior to installing solar?

I was averaging about $450 per month.

Ok, what about the rebates? Are they like tax credits?