After a storm black-out for 4 days and my new PHEV I want solar panels!

Congrats!

Several weeks ago a young man knocked on my door. He was pushing solar with a particular solar install company. About 7 or 8 years ago I'd had a discussion with a solar rep, some other company, and at the time my electric bill was so low, just under fifty dollars a month, that it wouldn't make sense to install solar.

Fast forward to this year, and even though my electric bill hasn't risen very much, solar technology has improved a great deal.

I think a lot depends on whether or not any solar companies are installing in your area. Eventually they will be.

What wound up making a huge difference here in New Mexico was that some kind of law or regulation changed so that the local power company is now obligated to buy my excess electricity. I won't make a great deal of money from it, maybe ten or twenty dollars a month, but my monthly bill should pretty much zero out. That's good enough for me.

I have 53 panels and I expected some cash back too. I end up with about $60/year. My calculator works a little different than SCE's.

Even with solar panels, you're never completely off regular electricity, and the situations where you need to sip from the power grid are paid for by the power you sell back. I work alongside a home improvement retailer and the PK meeting we had with them was really great and they emphasized we should explain Solar as a way to save money, not make it.

The money you don't have to pay for electricity is your actual profit!

However, PNM has a better deal and pays more. I'm with a small co-op electric co in the middle of the state. I have a basic fee of around $20 even if I have produced more elec than I have used. I would rather never get any money back and keep the credits against my winter bill because I use some electric heaters in the winter. The watts are worth way more than the pitiable money they send me.

I was totally off grid for 5 yrs before I connected to the grid. Off grid is hard so I'm so glad I connected to the grid.

Last I knew, power companies were able to profit off customers' solar panels in some markets. Hope that has changed.

I believe I'm selling it at market rates.

I do know that there was some kind of a recent change and all of a sudden solar panels are being installed everywhere. PNM is not happy, but they're stuck with it.

We just started our fifth year, no regrets and no electric bill. We figure that it paid for itself this year.

Hey,crazy watching the Power Company Meter running backwards for a change.

So far this four week period,we sold back 2 and 1/2 the Power Company usage.

Nevada only allows 88% of produced Power to be rebated. And with the Summer Blow Torch in full swing,lovin it. Nice knowing we will not be using 88% of Hydro,or Gas Turbine generated Power and we will be helping to clean our Air.

BTW,in the Fifteen years living in the Southwest full time,when each time a Coal or Dirt Burner is shut down,we noticed the significant change with in a couple weeks time as to the Air Quality. Hey,when you can see across the Grand Canyon on any given day,that is a plus,fifteen years ago,that was not the case.

When the Navajo Generator's at Page Arizona start their shut down in September,the air quality will improve dramatically for those in Eastern Utah as well as Southern Colorado and Northern New Mexico.

How lovely!

Maybe ten or twenty dollars a month. But the best part is zeroing out my electric bill. Although there is the cost of the solar panels to be considered. It's a twenty year finance at 2.99%. For the first 18 months the cost of that is a bit less than my average electric bills have been. Then it goes up by $25/month. I can pay off the loan ahead of time, no penalty. In 18 months I could pay it off completely, which would be nice. I'll make an assessment of my financial situation at that point and decide. If I don't pay it off completely, I will pay down as much as I can.

I am working very hard to be as debt free as I possibly can.

I do have a mortgage. I'm ten years into a thirty year loan. When I bought this place I could not afford the payments on a 15 year loan. Recently I have been able to start paying an extra $200/month. Not a huge amount, but it will cut several years and several thousands of dollars of interest.

I live in a state, New Mexico, where the sun shines almost all the time. Realistically, what percent of my electricity can I expect my solar panels to generate?

panels needed to run the coach. Think 400w minimum.

I have a metal roof and am aware panels have a special no-holes mounting methodology but just prefer the aesthetics of thin-film application on metal. I'm on the verge of contacting several companies in my area.

Ours were up and running this April.

Next for us, in a year or so, an EV.

The Tikkis

We just got one check for credits so far for $196 for 6 months.