Getting solar at the house

[gnihcraes]

I hope it didn't come off like I was annoyed at you. I've really enjoyed this thread and hope you continue to post, even after you're up and running. I just am annoyed at myself that I didn't do it 2 years ago as the incentives have started to expire...

Nope, no annoyance. You can still pick up a solar system! Just no kickbacks, yet I didn't get any either, the solar company keeps all that stuff. Part of the deal.

[gnihcraes]

Nice thing with Solar is you can use it for hot water too

These systems we're discussing are electric only, I've not looked into a water heating system. I've considered making a small water system just for SHTF, plenty of parts on craigslist usually. Just make a small system to give you some luke warm water, nothing for serious heating.

[Irving]

Kelly I have a small expansion tank you can have if you want. Otherwise it is getting turned into a tent stove of some sort.

[gnihcraes]

Kelly I have a small expansion tank you can have if you want. Otherwise it is getting turned into a tent stove of some sort.

I have plenty of projects, as it appears you do too. It would better serve as a tent stove for you. Thanks for the offer though!

As I think about it, that might be about the right size for a stove.

[bigun1962]

Love my panels and battery backup. Can bo on or off the grid now. Very happy.

[gnihcraes]

Love my panels and battery backup. Can bo on or off the grid now. Very happy.

I'll build something sometime to just run small items, LED lighting or something. Just enough for emergencies.

Unable to do anything with the solar city setup, unless I do some hot wiring.

[Irving]

Wranglerstar or engineer557 has a great video on building a solar set-up. I think the cost was $200, not including the panel. Pretty sure it was Wranglerstar.

[T-Giv]

The added supports came out nicely!

[gnihcraes]

The added supports came out nicely!

I think so, just waiting on the bill from the contractor. haha

[Gman]

Power play: Utilities want solar users to pay up

According to a policy paper from the Edison Electric Institute, a trade association, solar users avoid paying for the system's fixed costs but still take power from the grid when they need it, such as after sunset, when solar panels aren't generating. (Most solar users don't have solar storage capacity, the paper states.)

The solar industry seems willing to accept some changes but stops at what it sees as the utilities' exorbitant price proposals.

"Solar customers give much more valuable peak power to utilities for free during the day than they get back at night," said John Berger, CEO and founder of solar energy provider Sunnova. "Utilities are like socialist monopolies.They don't provide good service or pricing."

Utility companies are having some success getting net metering rules changed.

In California, the No. 1 solar state in panels installed, lawmakers let net metering continue but directed its public utility commission to devise a new program by 2017 to ensure that nonsolar customers aren't burdened unfairly in paying for the grid.

In Arizona, regulators voted in November to allow the largest utility to tack a monthly fee of $5 onto the bill of customers with new solar installations. Arizona Public Service originally sought a $50 surcharge.

Colorado's utility commission is considering a proposal to halve credits for solar energy households. Other states, including Louisiana and Idaho, are also contemplating changes in net metering rates.