+SpiceWare Posted June 19, 2019 Share Posted June 19, 2019 My Tesla solar panels and Powerwall were installed on March 6th and I was able to activate them on April 27th, though something was misconfigured with the Powerwall so it was off until Tesla came back out on May 2nd. When I blogged about my first bill with solar I didn't know which bill to compare it with, so I'd listed 2 old bills for comparison. This morning I found an electric bill from last year and can see the meter reading date is the same, so was able to match the bills up correctly for comparison: $73 for May, was $130 last year $35 for June, was $180 last year Note that solar was only active for half of May's bill. Bill for May Bill for June Graphs for both months 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert Posted June 19, 2019 Share Posted June 19, 2019 That's great! Are you satisfied with those results? I'd really love to get a ton of solar panels and two PowerWalls. We lost power again two weeks ago during a strong thunderstorm and power was off for hours.. ..Al Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Jentzsch Posted June 19, 2019 Share Posted June 19, 2019 0.073$/kWh? You would be even more happy if your bills would be based on German electricity costs (~0.31$/kWh for green power). ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+SpiceWare Posted June 19, 2019 Author Share Posted June 19, 2019 Very happy, though I think 2 Powerwalls would have been better. My understanding is I can get the federal tax credit for it if I also install at least 1 panel with it. It looks like there's room at the top of the west slope for another panel, possible 2. I'm going to wait until next year though, then check in with Tesla to see what can be done. I think they can mount a second Powerwall on top of the first or on the other side of the window 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+SpiceWare Posted June 19, 2019 Author Share Posted June 19, 2019 10 minutes ago, Thomas Jentzsch said: 0.073$/kWh? You would be even more happy if your bills would be based on German electricity costs (~0.31$/kWh for green power). ? It's 0.112 with the grid fees (34.98 / (657 - 345)), which is a little higher than the $0.1098 I was paying with the "free nights" plan, which I found to be rather inconvenient as I stopped doing laundry and dishes during the day (as the rate was $0.2664) and became continually backlogged on laundry. This does mean the break-even point is longer than elsewhere. A rough workup for that is: $20769 for solar (after tax credit) w/out Powerwall $2000 a year for electric, solar sized to cover 90% $1475 a year savings for gas $582 a year home insurance increase 20679 / ((2000 * .9) + 1475 - 582) = 7.7 years. If I add the Powerwall its $28401, or 10.5 years. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert Posted June 19, 2019 Share Posted June 19, 2019 I'm paying even more than that. My latest electricity bill was $320. I'll go take a look at it later to see what I'm paying per kWh. ..Al Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrekMD Posted June 19, 2019 Share Posted June 19, 2019 I installed solar panels on my house a couple of months ago. My bill has already gone down from $200/month to about $35 and that's only because I have to pay for some insurances for plumbing and electrial through my FPL bill. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+SpiceWare Posted July 18, 2019 Author Share Posted July 18, 2019 $73 for May, was $130 last year (solar only active for half this billing cycle) $35 for June, was $180 last year $60 for July, was $235 last year Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+SpiceWare Posted August 16, 2019 Author Share Posted August 16, 2019 $73 for May, was $130 last year (solar only active for half this billing cycle) $35 for June, was $180 last year $60 for July, was $235 last year $10 for August, was $302 last year Do note that I was out of town for 10 days during this billing cycle, during which time my AC was set to 90° F Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+SpiceWare Posted September 17, 2019 Author Share Posted September 17, 2019 $73 for May, was $130 last year (solar only active for half this billing cycle) $35 for June, was $180 last year $60 for July, was $235 last year $10 for August, was $302 last year (was out of town 10 days with AC set to 90°F) $53 for September, was $297 last year Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+SpiceWare Posted October 16, 2019 Author Share Posted October 16, 2019 $73 for May, was $130 last year (solar only active for half this billing cycle) $35 for June, was $180 last year $60 for July, was $235 last year $10 for August, was $302 last year (was out of town 10 days with AC set to 90°F) $53 for September, was $297 last year $42 for October, was $235 last year Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+SpiceWare Posted October 27, 2019 Author Share Posted October 27, 2019 With the onset of cooler weather I'm getting closer to my first month with a credit on my electric bill. Yesterday: Solar produced 36.2, home used 22.5 Last week: Solar 193, used 181 Month: Solar 891, used 1048 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+SpiceWare Posted November 14, 2019 Author Share Posted November 14, 2019 $73 for May, was $130 last year (solar only active for half this billing cycle) $35 for June, was $180 last year $60 for July, was $235 last year $10 for August, was $302 last year (was out of town 10 days with AC set to 90°F) $53 for September, was $297 last year $42 for October, was $235 last year $18 for November, was $108 last year $291 to date, was $1487 last year Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+SpiceWare Posted February 6, 2020 Author Share Posted February 6, 2020 Was about to post my current bill, but noticed I didn't post the one for last month - was most likely busy getting ready for my Model 3 road trip to Wisconsin. $73 for May, was $130 last year (solar only active for half this billing cycle) $35 for June, was $180 last year $60 for July, was $235 last year $10 for August, was $302 last year (was out of town 10 days with AC set to 90°F) $53 for September, was $297 last year $42 for October, was $235 last year $18 for November, was $108 last year $28 for December, was $99 last year $12 for January, was $103 last year $331 to date, was $1689 last year December January December & January 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+SpiceWare Posted February 6, 2020 Author Share Posted February 6, 2020 Starting April my power usage should decrease as it's time to replace my home's windows and I'm upgrading them to energy efficient ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flojomojo Posted February 6, 2020 Share Posted February 6, 2020 @SpiceWare, did you buy your system outright or lease it from a solar company? It's not as hot where I live. Last I looked into this my savings would only average about $40 a month, which didn't seem worth the hassle of having to replace the 10-yr units and have the complexity of extra stuff on the roof. SolarCity made it sound somewhat attractive through their leasing program, which would cover all the maintenance, but required me to buy energy from them for the duration of the lease, just as our regular power company was dropping rates and tax incentives went away. It's definitely working out for you (go go planet Texas heat), so thanks for showing your work and how it can be done under the right circumstances. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+SpiceWare Posted February 6, 2020 Author Share Posted February 6, 2020 @Flojomojo - I bought it, Tesla did away with SolarCity's leasing. They brought it back in August, but it's only available in 6 states. 10 year units? My panels have a 25 year warranty. They'll still provide power after that, just not as much. Weird - the text is missing from reply 15... Added it back. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flojomojo Posted February 6, 2020 Share Posted February 6, 2020 22 minutes ago, SpiceWare said: @Flojomojo - I bought it, Tesla did away with SolarCity's leasing. They brought it back in August, but it's only available in 6 states. 10 year units? My panels have a 25 year warranty. They'll still provide power after that, just not as much. I had forgotten that SolarCity was acquired by Tesla. They used to lobby pretty hard in my neighborhood, but that explains why they've been so quiet. ? I'm not in one of the 6 states they're serving with rentals now. I can understand their desire to keep things manageable, since this is a "high-touch" installation. I suppose it's been at least 5 years since they were around. My reference to a 10-year unit was about the power inverter that SolarCity was using at the time, which they told me would need to be replaced at the midway point of a 20-year lease. The panels are good for longer, as you say. I can't tell if your Powerwall makes that part unnecessary. I see that Tesla is ready to take cash for a solar installation where I live. I remain interested, but I think we'll need some local incentives to sweeten the deal to make it a no-brainer. Perhaps the unseasonably warm January we had is a sign of a hot hot summer on the way. Again, thanks for sharing your work, with lots of pictures! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+SpiceWare Posted February 6, 2020 Author Share Posted February 6, 2020 Hmm, don't remember anything said about life expectancy for the inverter. I have a Delta Solivia 7.6 TL. From the catalog it has a 10 year warranty. Like other things, I would expect it to last longer than the warranty period. Checking prices it looks like about a year of savings would cover replacing it. The box that connects to my network has SolarCity stamped on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flojomojo Posted February 6, 2020 Share Posted February 6, 2020 If it fails, the power goes out. But it sounds like you've got some good service options. Price sounds about right from what I remember. 1 year of savings out of 10 is something you can swing. https://news.energysage.com/what-happens-if-your-solar-inverter-fails/ Me? Not so much. Dead links a-go-go! https://www.pepco.com/MyAccount/MyService/Pages/DC/IsSolarRightForYou.aspx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+SpiceWare Posted April 3, 2020 Author Share Posted April 3, 2020 Missed a couple months again. $73 for May, was $130 last year (solar only active for half this billing cycle) $35 for June, was $180 last year $60 for July, was $235 last year $10 for August, was $302 last year (was out of town 10 days with AC set to 90°F) $53 for September, was $297 last year $42 for October, was $235 last year $18 for November, was $108 last year $28 for December, was $99 last year $12 for January, was $103 last year $25 for February, was $93 last year $1 for March, was $93 last year $357 to date, was $1875 last year February March Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+SpiceWare Posted April 17, 2020 Author Share Posted April 17, 2020 Past few days have been awesome for production. Additionally it's been in the low 70s, so I was able to open up the house instead of using AC. Next few days will be back into the 80s and rainy, so production will be down and AC will be back on to combat humidity. Will be interesting to see if I manage to finally overproduce for a month or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+SpiceWare Posted April 23, 2020 Author Share Posted April 23, 2020 $73 for May, was $130 last year (solar only active for half this billing cycle) $35 for June, was $180 last year $60 for July, was $235 last year $10 for August, was $302 last year (was out of town 10 days with AC set to 90°F) $53 for September, was $297 last year $42 for October, was $235 last year $18 for November, was $108 last year $28 for December, was $99 last year $12 for January, was $103 last year $25 for February, was $93 last year $1 for March, was $93 last year $7 for April, was $112 last year $364 to date, was $1987 last year Something to also consider is that $364 includes car charging for local driving. Charging costs for road trips was $185 - and that included 2 trips to Wisconsin. April Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+SpiceWare Posted May 1, 2020 Author Share Posted May 1, 2020 On 4/17/2020 at 9:14 AM, SpiceWare said: Will be interesting to see if I manage to finally overproduce for a month or not. Overproduced by quite a bit! Solar produced 134 kWh more than I used, though efficiency loss of charging/discharging the PowerWall drops that down to 113 kWh. After thinking about that, I decided to increase the backup reserve on my PowerWall to 70% to reduce the loss. Of course my billing cycle is the 16th to the 15th, so whether or not I end up with a credit on my next bill remains to be seen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+SpiceWare Posted May 17, 2020 Author Share Posted May 17, 2020 Well that's a bummer. I sent back 162 kWh more to the grid than I took from it, but it wasn't enough to cover Centerpoint's Delivery Charges. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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