Getting solar at the house

[rockhound]

this is true, HOAs can no longer regulate anything that would be considered and energy saver including evaporative coolers.

[gnihcraes]

I'm in negotiations with Solar City at this time. Still crunching the numbers, the lease to me is my average monthly bill divided by something and something = $67 month for 20 years + 2.9 % each year. Excel energy is raising their rates every year by more than that much.

I think that's how it's all working out. Waiting for the wife to meet with the sales chick and go through all the numbers again.

None of my roofs will be south facing, all east or west. But I'm including a detached garage and house together, and they promised 95% of my normal usage via solar, usually 100% plus some.

[Gman]

Our tax dollars at work. This technology wouldn't survive without government subsidies;PUC extends Xcel's Solar Rewards subsidies

[gnihcraes]

Our tax dollars at work. This technology wouldn't survive without government subsidies.

You're already paying for it, check the excel pill, there is a $1.67 fee each billing cycle for other energy solutions. You're paying for us to install solar. (or the vendors anyway)

[Gman]

Yep. We're all paying for something that isn't sustainable nor does it become net positive over time. They'd be better off spending the money for conventional power generation that makes sense instead of making the wind turbine and solar pushers wealthy at our expense. The pushers selling the hardware are the winners in this proposition. The taxpayers get left holding the bag.

The Obama voters across the street love their solar.

[T-Giv]

I was literally just about to post a thread about Solar City! Crazy. My wife and I are looking into them now for our crib. We would probably be looking at the lease option now I suppose. How does it work at the end if you decide to not keep it?

We are also working with our insurance to replace our roof panels because they are discontinued and we can pretty much get it done for free. May be some big changes coming to my house in the near future!

[gnihcraes]

at the end, you can sign up with a new contract, and also get upgrades to new stuff, or buy it outright and keep going. (something like that)

My wife is the smart one, and she wasn't able to attend the sales pitch, so we're meeting again friday.

Neighbor has solar city, loves them and the setup. He bought it all outright up front. (all his energy costs = 9k$ or something) and only pays the monthly tax to excel = $8

[tmleadr03]

Yep. We're all paying for something that isn't sustainable nor does it become net positive over time. They'd be better off spending the money for conventional power generation that makes sense instead of making the wind turbine and solar pushers wealthy at our expense. The pushers selling the hardware are the winners in this proposition. The taxpayers get left holding the bag.

The Obama voters across the street love their solar.

So by that you align me with Obama voters?

Snort.

Do I agree with the subsidies? Nope. Am I going to make use of them since I am paying for them? Yup.

[GilpinGuy]

So by that you align me with Obama voters?

Snort.

Do I agree with the subsidies? Nope. Am I going to make use of them since I am paying for them? Yup.

Ya know, I am no leftie (not for about 20 years anyway) and I don't like subsidies, handouts and shit. But I sure as hell collected unemployment when I got laid off so I could feed my kids. Not quite the same thing, I know.

Good for you if you can make it work. Please keep us posted on how it works, reliability, maintenance costs, etc.

[offgrid]

They started Monday. Going to have about 100% of my usage on average.

Day one I left with this:





And came home to this:





Today I came home to this:




They should be all done by noon tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing the electric meter spin backwards.

What time of day was the top picture taken?