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Solar on home....anyone switch recently?

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussion' started by Tundra234, Aug 11, 2022.

  1. Aug 12, 2022 at 9:32 AM
    #31
    sask3m

    sask3m New Member

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    I refuse to contribute to the Green new bullshit.
     
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  2. Aug 12, 2022 at 9:33 AM
    #32
    jalam321

    jalam321 New Member

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    I had a solar panel salesperson knock on my door recently. Of course, he gave me the whole spiel and tried to sell me on why I should do it. So I entertained the idea and did some research also. Overall it sounds like a good idea. But to me the ROI takes too long and decided it's not for me.
     
  3. Aug 12, 2022 at 11:00 AM
    #33
    Tundra234

    Tundra234 [OP] New Member

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    Alot of them
    This is my 12 month usage.

    12 MONTH.jpg

    Compress_20220812_142931_1563.jpg


    This is a 30 day bill cycle

    bill cyc.jpg
     
    Last edited: Aug 12, 2022
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  4. Aug 12, 2022 at 11:55 AM
    #34
    AUengr

    AUengr New Member

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    I'm the head electrical engineer at our utility so I handle all the solar installations. The biggest concern is avoiding all the door knocking salesman. They over promise and under perform every system I've seen installed. There are some other solar contractors that are actually good and design a system to output based on your needs or budgets. I would install it on my house, but I'm just too cheap to pay for a system when our rates are relatively low compared to other parts of the country.
     
  5. Aug 12, 2022 at 12:19 PM
    #35
    omgboost

    omgboost The Accountant

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    what are your rates per kwh and solar prices?
     
  6. Aug 12, 2022 at 12:24 PM
    #36
    owb2gp

    owb2gp New Member

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    I work at a utility and I handle net metering (solar). We charge 0.0625 kWh for residential and we have no time of day, same 0.0625 kWh anytime.
    We are a small utility with 27,000 residential meters with only 90 being net meters for solar. If a customer puts back on the grid (usually 4 months here in Idaho) we pay market rate for the kWh's. Can range from .01 to .12 kWh depending on the market. We are considering only paying 0.01 here soon because solar does nothing to help with peak demand (early morning when everyone wakes up and evening when people are getting home).
    Most solar sales people are young kids right out of high school promising people the world. They will tell the customer that utilities increase 5% a year, we haven't had a rate increase since 2017 and it was minimal. One customer was quoted $230 per month for 25 years for solar. Their average electric bill is $60 per month. Simple math tells me to run but unfortunately these people still moved forward with the solar.

    I would say use common sense and do simple math unless you think solar is really green and saving the planet (most panels are made in China in plants that are powered by coal).

    That my .02

    Edit: I'll add that the utility I work for only allows the system size to be at or below the past 12 months kWh consumption.
     
    Last edited: Aug 12, 2022
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  7. Aug 12, 2022 at 12:27 PM
    #37
    dittothat

    dittothat New Member

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    As others have said need to crunch the numbers and make sure everything makes sense and just know that each situation is different.

    A little off topic and not sure if this applies to anyone, but if you have a creek/stream running through your property and you aren’t pulling hydro from that, you need to look into it ASAP. Currently looking at properties to throw a camp on and one of my requirements is it needs to have the ability to generate hydro. Flow rate and head height are critical, but it’s amazing how much electrical current you can pull from a little stream. Just something to think about..
     
  8. Aug 12, 2022 at 12:38 PM
    #38
    Tundra234

    Tundra234 [OP] New Member

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    I'll have to try pulling a bill again to see. That part of the site wasnt working.
     
  9. Aug 12, 2022 at 6:09 PM
    #39
    tightywhitey

    tightywhitey New Member

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    If it can’t power my house when the power is out, it is pointless IMO.
     
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  10. Aug 12, 2022 at 6:32 PM
    #40
    Tundra234

    Tundra234 [OP] New Member

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    Alot of them
    I may call tomorrow and cancel the consult. I'm not having a warm fuzzy at all with this thread.
     
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  11. Aug 12, 2022 at 7:59 PM
    #41
    ColoradoTJ

    ColoradoTJ Certified tow LEO Staff Member

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    I would do more research and find someone that knows how to install a system, give you a no BS assessment on what you need vs cost.
     
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  12. Aug 13, 2022 at 10:27 AM
    #42
    Tundra234

    Tundra234 [OP] New Member

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    I canceled the consult.
     
    Retired...finally likes this.
  13. Aug 13, 2022 at 10:50 AM
    #43
    Stumpjumper

    Stumpjumper New Member

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    I was a finance manager before I retired. I submitted a lot of projects for our plants and distribution centers so I know a thing or 2 about ROI and NPV. I have looked at the numbers and from a ROI perspective at current KWH rates there is just no payback considering the maintenance. In the case of solar panels the life of the asset generally exceeds the payback in years. The other consideration is hail damage in some areas. I have been in my house 23 years and on my 3rd roof. I am wondering if the door knocker I ran off the other day was selling solar panels. He could tell as soon as I opened the door that I would not be an easy sell. Someone had left a flyer on my door handle and when I saw it I said did you leave this crap. He said no and jumped on his Segway and left. I have tape residue from people taping crap to my door so I get ticked off when anyone puts a flyer on my door.
     
    Last edited: Aug 13, 2022
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  14. Aug 13, 2022 at 11:42 AM
    #44
    COElkHunter

    COElkHunter New Member

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    3" OME lift w/ UCAs. ARE overland shell w/ ARE roof rack. 34" Falken Wildpeaks. ARB awning. Road shower. Wilco Offroad Hitchgate Solo High Clearance. LED lighting upgrades. Lockerdown console safe. Weathertech floormats. Duluth deluxe rear seat cover to go under the offroad approved car seats.... :P
    We are waiting on our new roof to be installed following a big hail storm here. Solar is going on immediately after, a 13.8k owned system. We are in a rural electric cooperative and our bill is upwards of $300-400 some months. House has good windows, insulation, etc. Working on some sealing around windows and doors little by little as I have time. We have a sun number of 99 (unobstructed, all season exposure) and the system should theoretically have us selling power back through net metering 9 months out of the year, at market rate, and our utility banks your metering funds, so the other 3 months should see drastically reduced bills. In theory. We also had them set up the system engineering to allow future interconnect of a Generac and battery banks without having to do more than install an additional transfer switch. Salesman recommended against battery banks at the current cost, he said wait 5 years and they should be a fraction of what they currently cost. At that point, we are essentially off-grid with some grid support.

    There are companies making US manufactured panels and inverters, ours are domestically produced, with 25 year warranties for both manufacturing quality, and system production. The install company includes an install/ repair/ replace warranty for the duration of the system warranty.

    The tax rebate will pay for roughly 25% of the system cost.

    While some of it is to be part of the solution for our energy dependance on fossil fuels, if it produces even close to the engineered numbers, it will save us a significant amount over the life of the system, and once the batteries are installed, will provide a degree of self sufficiency.

    We are looking to add a plug in hybrid SUV to replace my wife's aging Lexus, if we have a decent energy surplus, in theory, we should have a vehicle that costs very little to fuel, to offset the big silver gas pig.

    According to my mortgage company, with the high cost of power in our area, solar systems add at least 5-8% to the sales value of houses here, and no one ever asks for them to be removed when they buy. It's a big plus having a system up here.

    Makes sense for some people, some it doesn't, but don't discount a system just because many companies use Chinese panels and parts, just do some research and find a company manufacturing domestically.
     
    Last edited: Aug 13, 2022
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  15. Sep 4, 2022 at 3:57 PM
    #45
    Tundra234

    Tundra234 [OP] New Member

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    These solar salesman that keep coming around are persistent lol. Anyway, my coworker signed a contract for solar on his house. They told him that he will still have power during the day if the power goes out. I don't know why they tell people that. No batteries, no power. The grid gets shut down due to backend. I just sent him this. I would love to lower my bill, but I think home efficiency upgrades would be the better way, not to mention a hurricane hitting those panels in FL.

    https://www.sun-sentinel.com/busine...0220904-xe7gdexfofhhpioslzlutgqi4m-story.html
     
  16. Sep 4, 2022 at 5:13 PM
    #46
    Burdturger

    Burdturger New Member

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    Rule number 1 in going solar: dont talk t o door-to-door salesmen about going solar

     
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  17. Sep 4, 2022 at 5:22 PM
    #47
    Tundra234

    Tundra234 [OP] New Member

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    It seems like that's all that we have around here lol.
     
  18. Sep 4, 2022 at 5:39 PM
    #48
    Burdturger

    Burdturger New Member

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    Not sure you saw my post on page one but check energysage just to get started and then do your due diligence nand research the companies you get offers from
     
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  19. Sep 4, 2022 at 5:45 PM
    #49
    alb1k

    alb1k Always Coming From Take Me Down

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    It's good
    That's what I did. I have no advice on wether solar is right for anyone, but with a $500 electric bill and now a 14.4 KW system, I seem to be doing much better. But it's a big expense to buy.
     
  20. Sep 4, 2022 at 5:47 PM
    #50
    Tundra234

    Tundra234 [OP] New Member

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    I'm actually reading on spray foam insulation in cinder block walls. I'm going to get quotes on it.
     
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  21. Sep 4, 2022 at 6:33 PM
    #51
    ColoradoTJ

    ColoradoTJ Certified tow LEO Staff Member

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    What are your rates? You must have a large home.
     
  22. Sep 4, 2022 at 7:49 PM
    #52
    Burdturger

    Burdturger New Member

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    Cali....
     
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  23. Sep 19, 2022 at 9:13 AM
    #53
    CTundraForMe

    CTundraForMe New Member

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    I put a 10.8kw system on my prior home in southern AZ. Grid tied. I worked with SolarCity, now Tesla. When they told me I'd spend something like $60,000 in the next 30 years in electricity (avg electric bill * 12 * 30), it was a brainer.

    I got a 30% federal tax credit, which made it about $20,000 over all. I "owned" and had a loan.

    Where I was it worked out that I basically had free electricity 9 months of the year, paying $20/month for a "maintenance" bill. Come October the electric company would "true up" to pay me for my banked credits, at wholesale prices. Those credits usually lasted me until cold set in, then I'd start paying retail to heat the house (electric heat pump) for about 3 months. Then it warmed up and the cycle would start again.

    I would do it again if the numbers worked.

    Keep in mind I live in rural areas at a higher elevation, where at least half the year we don't need AC or heat. Windows are open, life is good.

    From my perspective, if you are in southern AZ with no shade and can put them up southern facing, it's a brainer to have some sort of system from a reputable source if the numbers work.

    That said, my parents got a system from someone and it never seems to work as it should. Seems it's like 75% too small.

    Now going off grid is a totally different story. The numbers don't work at current prices when you throw in battery banks. But if you want to be off grid, that's the price you'd pay.
     
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  24. Sep 19, 2022 at 9:23 AM
    #54
    CTundraForMe

    CTundraForMe New Member

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    One additional tidbit: tax credits are back up to 30% for another 10 years now. I don't buy the "climate change" thing either (that was 'global cooling', then 'global warming', and now 'climate change'), but 30% tax credit is a big chunk of change. (If you have tax liability...)

    EDIT: And they apply to battery banks!
     
  25. Sep 19, 2022 at 9:25 AM
    #55
    Tundra234

    Tundra234 [OP] New Member

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    Most companies require that credit go back to them to put into paying your system down.
     
  26. Sep 19, 2022 at 9:26 AM
    #56
    Tundra234

    Tundra234 [OP] New Member

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    I just got a quote. 10Kw system with 28 panels, new roof, and AC panel. $56K before the credit. $155 a month, and $40 per month to the electic company. My bill is $221 a month so it wouldn't be saving me anything worth it.
     
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  27. Sep 19, 2022 at 9:27 AM
    #57
    CTundraForMe

    CTundraForMe New Member

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    When I financed mine, it wasn't required, but recommended. You have to do the math to see what works best.
     
  28. Sep 19, 2022 at 9:27 AM
    #58
    nobodyintexas

    nobodyintexas What?

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    Whatever this forum told me to do
    tax credits....so without Gov help, it's not viable?

    Or am I misunderstanding the benefit of tax credits?
     
  29. Sep 19, 2022 at 9:30 AM
    #59
    nobodyintexas

    nobodyintexas What?

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    Whatever this forum told me to do
    same.

    and I'm damn near Gulf Coast Houston - and it did not make financial sense.

    How much sun does it take?
     
  30. Sep 19, 2022 at 9:30 AM
    #60
    CTundraForMe

    CTundraForMe New Member

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    One could argue the price is inflated to get fed from the federal cash trough.

    One could also argue it doesn't work without the tax credit.

    Note the tax credits are non refundable. That means if you shell out $30k, you won't get $10k back in year 1 unless you normally pay $10k in federal taxes that year. That said, I believe the tax credits do carry over. (I'm not a tax professional; consult one if need be!)
     
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