Payback is faster in California due to Newsome's energy policies driving up cost per KWH to pay for his green policies. I own a home in both states.
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School me on solar
- Thread starter Plumber1
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Payback is faster in California due to Newsome's energy policies driving up cost per KWH to pay for his green policies. I own a home in both states.
I have had solar on my roof for 12 years. Here are some considerations:
- Since California has gone to time of use energy rates, The highest rates hit at 4pm when the sun is going down and solar stops producing. When I had an old fashioned mechanical meter that predated time of use, my bill was considerably less. Electricity in Ca has become another avenue to tax.
- Most solar contractors are the bottom of the food chain electricians. Don't sign anything until you have a chance to quietly go over the numbers. The solar contractor should also be a licensed roofer.
- You need South facing roof slope without shadows.
- Before you put solar on the roof, make sure it is inspected and in good shape as you will have to pull them off for re-roofing.
- I would consider a solar structure as a patio cover or a car shade if space exists. It takes away the roof leakage issue.
- Many would disagree with me but I won't put lithium battery energy storage in my garage or on the side or my home. Thermal runaway is a real, they burn at 4000f, spew deadly toxic fumes, and can't be extinguished until they run out of fuel. I am considering adding a windmill and possibly battery storage but it will be lead acid or ni-cad.
- Consider how many days of full sunshine you have in San Ramon. Your best production times(assuming you aren't in the fog) will be late spring when temps are lower and days are longer.
- You can always go back and add more but can't return what you have bought. Most sales folks will oversell the amount of watts you need on the roof.
- Solar panels degrade over time(from memory about 2% per year). Just purchased another 1600watts to make up for the losses after 12 years.
- Rates in Az are low enough that Solar payback takes too long plus I don't get full sun on my roof.
In the weeds here, and really not relevant, but I thought CA purchased/imported most of their hydro power, is that not correct?
1- The only reason solar exists in home is Gov subsidies, would not be worth it without.
2- A home solar system does not work during a power outage unless you have a battery backup system that can easily double your install cost
3- My electric rate is 11 cents per KWH. No way that is ever going to work here.
2- A home solar system does not work during a power outage unless you have a battery backup system that can easily double your install cost
3- My electric rate is 11 cents per KWH. No way that is ever going to work here.
I think you mean during a power outage at night or on a cloudy day. I don't see why it wouldn't work during a daytime, sunny-day power outage, which seems to be the norm in CA because they have lost capacity (on purpose - gotta shut down those fossil fuel plants) and do rolling blackouts...
You can see my rates. Add the delivery charge and delivery charges for each timeframe.
On Peak $0.72727
Mid Peak $0.537
Off Peak $0.34846
I generate more than I use so mine is negative but without it...
Well, if the powers that be are making personally-owned solar part the overall grid so that they cannot be used when the power goes out, that's ridiculous. Who comes up with these cockamamy ideas? (that's rhetorical)
Solar panels provide power at varying rates bases on sun angle, clouds, etc. There is no way a panel can be matched to a changing source. There must be a battery in the system to run the inverter required to turn the solar provided DC to 120 VAC. Now why you cant do it with a very small battery that may only last a few minutes, I'm not sure if you can or not.
I assumed you'd need a battery of some sort to make it work.
Edit: I now see you mentioned the battery earlier.
That isn't the case for "island" installations that don't backfeed the grid and some utilities allow outage operation if the property owner's system is properly designed and installed. That requires a properly configured disconnect switch and an inverter. Electrical codes may prevent installations like that and, where allowed, it adds significant cost.
The power they import is from a variety of sources including hydro from Hoover Dam, Nuclear from Palo Verde, gas and coal from various sources. The shortfall is from closing down down all those clean plants that were natural gas fired but didn't fit green agenda.
I am a tax CPA and run the numbers for a lot of clients. A few considerations:
(1) The solar tax credit is nonrefundable. Meaning you may not get all the tax savings in one year. This surprises a lot of people. It could take several years to get the credit depending on your income and tax level.
(2) You only get the credit if you buy. You do not get the credit for lease. The lessor gets the credit, not you.
(3) The solar companies ALWAYS show the maximum savings. Most of my clients never receive the maximum solar savings. Look at the mid-range savings when you do your cost analysis.
(4) There is so much fraud in solar. Utah has had two massive solar companies indicted for fraud. Choose your provider carefully.
(5) I see the cost break-even usually at 7-10 years. Will you stay in the house that long? Sure the solar companies say you will break even in 3-4 years, but that does not work out for many.
(1) The solar tax credit is nonrefundable. Meaning you may not get all the tax savings in one year. This surprises a lot of people. It could take several years to get the credit depending on your income and tax level.
(2) You only get the credit if you buy. You do not get the credit for lease. The lessor gets the credit, not you.
(3) The solar companies ALWAYS show the maximum savings. Most of my clients never receive the maximum solar savings. Look at the mid-range savings when you do your cost analysis.
(4) There is so much fraud in solar. Utah has had two massive solar companies indicted for fraud. Choose your provider carefully.
(5) I see the cost break-even usually at 7-10 years. Will you stay in the house that long? Sure the solar companies say you will break even in 3-4 years, but that does not work out for many.
"Choose your provider carefully" is sound advice. Solar Providers are the snake oil salesman of our time.
Not to worry, Newsome is proposing to add another tax to your base rate based on your income so those of us who could afford solar will pay more to subsidize more "green energy"
Ditto that - and not really any fucking tiers. You get a megawatt at 11 cents, then there is a slight bump upward, but not by much. Commiefornia doesn't grant you enough power to run a 50 watt lightbulb in a grass hut in a 3rd world country!
Just saw this and that may not be technically correct. Im not a EE but a little over a decade ago I was the PM responsible for the design, construction, and commissioning of a PV array that generated 190 MWh of AC power per year. It supplemented a building's AC power and EV charging stations and AFAIK there was, and still is, no battery anywhere in the system.
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