F my Power Bill

[zephyr911]

After years of waiting, nine months of design delays, $16K invested, and six weeks of frustrations with city code inspectors and a recalcitrant utility company, I finally have solar panels producing power! Yesterday, our first partial day on the grid earned us a whole 72 cents before the sun went down... lol xD

After that, installed insulation on all 16 panes of my garage door, which should help significantly since the garage shares a wall with our master bedroom and it's been hot as blazes in there.

Then I installed a flange along the outside of the door (top/sides) to reduce air penetration, and rearranged the garage for the final time to get both cars in. I've been working on this ever since we moved last year. Cabinets had to be removed and there's been ongoing work to hamper things, but I think we're finally there. Should reduce climate control use in the cars, among other things.

All told, good day. MMM +1. Green cred +1. \m/

[forummm]

Now that's Badass! I'm jealous. What are the details? How many MW? How much of that was system vs install cost? What deal do you have with the utility?

[puglogic]

That's what we say too, Zephyr!   :)    This month's power/gas bill: $26.   This month's rebate check from our utility:  $107.00. 

Love that.  Congratulations!

[marty998]

Yesterday, our first partial day on the grid earned us a whole 72 cents before the sun went down... lol xD

Ok lets do some maths :)

72c a day is $262.80 per year.

How much did your panels cost? If they cost less than $3750, then you are making greater than a 7% return.

And you never pay power bills again.

Not too shabby at all...

[forummm]

Yesterday, our first partial day on the grid earned us a whole 72 cents before the sun went down... lol xD

Ok lets do some maths :)

72c a day is $262.80 per year.

How much did your panels cost? If they cost less than $3750, then you are making greater than a 7% return.

And you never pay power bills again.

Not too shabby at all...

OP said "partial" day. It could have been just a couple hours of sun. And his install was $16k.

[NaturallyHappier]

Here is a little math from my system.

Solar Investment: 64K
Yearly Saving and Income:  14K
Expected Life: 30 years

30*14K = 420K Income

420K - 64K = 356K profit over 30 years.

Break Even: 64K / 14K = 4.6 Years.

When its sunny, I'm makin money!

[JLee]

Here is a little math from my system.

Solar Investment: 64K
Yearly Saving and Income:  14K
Expected Life: 30 years

30*14K = 420K Income

420K - 64K = 356K profit over 30 years.

Break Even: 64K / 14K = 4.6 Years.

When its sunny, I'm makin money!

Wow, over $1k a month? I wonder if it's different out here in AZ (less buyback from the electric companies)..otherwise I can't imagine why there isn't solar everywhere.

[CCCA]

Here is a little math from my system.

Solar Investment: 64K
Yearly Saving and Income:  14K
Expected Life: 30 years

30*14K = 420K Income

420K - 64K = 356K profit over 30 years.

Break Even: 64K / 14K = 4.6 Years.

When its sunny, I'm makin money!

Wow.  Wondering how this works out. 
How many KW is your system?
How much of the 14K savings from your existing bill (i.e. setting your bill to zero) and how much is actual net income from the utility (for excess generation)?
I live in CA and we only get paid ~3c/kWh for excess generation beyond setting our bill to $0 over the course of a year (our bill gets offset at the nominal rate if our cumulative bill is over $0 on an annual basis). 


Our solar panel system is 2.25 kW and cost $9600.  We generate more electricity than we use.  Our system saves us about $500/year, so it'll take us awhile to pay off our system.  Assuming the historical rate of electricity increases, it'll take about 15 years to pay it off. 


Here's our blog post describing our solar panels:  http://bit.ly/1AZpsqb

[justajane]

We have solar panels and make around $30 a month. We paid 5K. I've been feeling discouraged about it, but maybe the return is not that bad. I was just thinking in terms of how damned long it is going to be before we break even.

[EricL]

We have solar panels and make around $30 a month. We paid 5K. I've been feeling discouraged about it, but maybe the return is not that bad. I was just thinking in terms of how damned long it is going to be before we break even.

If your electric bill equals ~$90 a month and you invest that with the $30 you earn ($120 total) you'll break even in ~3 1/2 years (assuming 7% interest and 3% inflation).  And you'll be doing your bit to save us all from global warning, etc.  I'm jealous of you and Zephyr911.   

[Mrs. Crackin' the Whip]

That's awesome!  Congratulations.  I absolutely love the title of this post!

[NaturallyHappier]

Here is a little math from my system.

Solar Investment: 64K
Yearly Saving and Income:  14K
Expected Life: 30 years

30*14K = 420K Income

420K - 64K = 356K profit over 30 years.

Break Even: 64K / 14K = 4.6 Years.

When its sunny, I'm makin money!

Wow.  Wondering how this works out. 
How many KW is your system?
How much of the 14K savings from your existing bill (i.e. setting your bill to zero) and how much is actual net income from the utility (for excess generation)?
I live in CA and we only get paid ~3c/kWh for excess generation beyond setting our bill to $0 over the course of a year (our bill gets offset at the nominal rate if our cumulative bill is over $0 on an annual basis). 


Our solar panel system is 2.25 kW and cost $9600.  We generate more electricity than we use.  Our system saves us about $500/year, so it'll take us awhile to pay off our system.  Assuming the historical rate of electricity increases, it'll take about 15 years to pay it off. 


Here's our blog post describing our solar panels:  http://bit.ly/1AZpsqb

Sorry I was not following this thread.

Here is a summary.


Initial Install                       $90,136.00
PA Grant                              -$22,500.00
Federal rebate                      -$27,014.00
Expansion                               $33,610.00
Federal rebate                      -$10,083.00
Total Out of Pocket               $64,149.00
   
Srec Sales 2010   -$2,580.00
Srec Sales 2011   -$4,070.00
Srec Sales 2012   -$4,810.00
Srec Sales 2013   -$10,070.00
Srec Sales 2014   -$10,832.50
Srec Sales 2015   $0.00
Total Srec          -$32,362.50
   
Power Saved/Income 2010   -$1,757.45
Power Saved/Income 2011   -$2,300.66
Power Saved/Income 2012   -$2,455.59
Power Saved/Income 2013   -$3,265.91
Power Saved/Income 2014   -$3,406.98
Power Saved/Income 2015   -$2226.31
Total Power Saved.Income   -$15,412.90
   
Remaining Payoff    $16,373.60  Payoff Date  5/21/2016

2015 SRECs not yet sold  15@ approx. $465.00 = $6,510.00
 
The system is 17.58 KW and generates about 24 to 25 MW per year.

Most of the income is from the sale of Washington DC SRECs.  1 MW = 1 SREC and DC SRECs are selling for $465.00 each right now.  I live and generate in PA, but I registered my system to sell SRECs in DC before DC changed its law to prohibit it.  I was grandfathered  into DC.