6Kw going in soon in Aliso Viejo

[Alisobob]

Is 3.95 per watt too much for the following:

21 Solar World 285 Panels
21 Enphase 250

5.985 Total kW

Done by small local company in Mission Viejo, California

Thanks

So much more goes into a price, than chasing the bottom line.

1.Is a quality racking system used?
2. Is all the conduit attic run?
3. Are they moving roof vents for better panel placement?'
4. Are they adding a garage panel for a EV?
5. Are they upsizing the wiring for high efficiency and future system growth?
6. Are all permits and fee's included?
7. Are they providing any additional warranty coverage above or beyond the mfg?
8. Are they providing a roof inspection and leak free installation warranty?
9. Do you have a exotic roof situation?
10. Maintenance contract for 2x year panel cleaning.
11. Performance monitoring system with web access
etc..etc...etc..

$3.95 seems high for a basic install, without any of the items I listed.

Every solar install is so unique, only you know for sure if the price is fair or not... by doing your homework first.

If you read my whole thread, I got most everything I listed, plus repapering my whole south side roof, for much less than $3.95.

I sent you my installer info.... but you still need to do your homework first, and make your home as efficient as possible, pre-solar.

[rwb1921]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]6389[/ATTACH]

Only 18 days into April, and already surpassed all of Jan's output...... nice.

Hi Alisobob, anyway you can PM me the company you used?

[rwb1921]

Price question

Is 3.95 per watt too much for the following:

21 Solar World 285 Panels
21 Enphase 250

5.985 Total kW

Done by small local company in Mission Viejo, California

Thanks

[Alisobob]

solar78.JPG

Only 18 days into April, and already surpassed all of Jan's output...... nice.

[shtousey]

Info requested

Alisobob,
I just joined the forum. I am in Orange County and am curious who you used for the install. I have two quotes so far and they are close to $5 a watt. Can you send me a PM please. Thanks, Steve

[ericf1]

If you build a decent size system, then you don't really need to worry about tiers or TOU plans. That is the route I choose. But when you add 2 EVs to the calculation, I really need to sit down and plan my usages.

That's pretty much where I am now. But if I had to commute, I would not want to drive my diesel truck every day. An EV and TOU might work out pretty well for a commuter...

Sorry for the OT stuff Bob! My first bill is due any day now.

[silversaver]

Sounds like TOU is of little use to those of us with systems that generate 100% or more of our consumption, but could make a smaller system cover 100% of your annual cost if your usage tends to be off peak. Of course POCOs already have the answer to that; shift peak rates to later in the day.

If you build a decent size system, then you don't really need to worry about tiers or TOU plans. That is the route I choose. But when you add 2 EVs to the calculation, I really need to sit down and plan my usages.

[ericf1]

Sounds like TOU is of little use to those of us with systems that generate 100% or more of our consumption, but could make a smaller system cover 100% of your annual cost if your usage tends to be off peak. Of course POCOs already have the answer to that; shift peak rates to later in the day.

[Alisobob]

If you end up as a net producer, what happens at the end of year "true-up"?

cool.JPG

I like A/C.... allot.

Rolling into October, my credits should all be consumed.

My "True-Up" should be a push.

[sensij]

Yes. At end of year true up, the rolling balance goes away and the net generated kWh are paid at the rate you suggest.

[silversaver]

If you end up as a net producer, what happens at the end of year "true-up"? Does the $ credit go away and they just pay you wholesale ($.04 - $.05 per kwh) for any excess generation?

You need to pay POCO for any balance on your last statement. If you have credit on your account, the credit balance will be reset to $0.

For your net surpluse (if you do) POCO pay you almost $0.05/kWh. For TOU users, you might have credit balance on your account, but not necessary you are getting any money from POCO. For example: You might have -$200 balance at true-up but you consumed 1300kWh from POCO and you only generated 1200kWh to POCO.

[ericf1]

It appears the TOU-D-T increased my billable production by about 100%

If you end up as a net producer, what happens at the end of year "true-up"? Does the $ credit go away and they just pay you wholesale ($.04 - $.05 per kwh) for any excess generation?

[silversaver]

Heres my first TOU-D-T statement, and how it all shook out. I also included 3 snapshots , Total use, Peak, and Off Peak.

Hope it sheds some light on how you can save money, combining solar generation, with TOU billing.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]6331[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]6328[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]6329[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]6330[/ATTACH]

Thanks for the update. My TOU-D-A statement will be end in few days and this might be a good comparison:

I have generated -346kWH at peak, -427kWh at off peak and use 587kWh during super off peak. the calculation as:

-346kWh X $0.36 = -$124.56 Peak Rate
-427kWh X $0.26 = -$111.02 Off Peak Rate
587kWh X $0.11 = $64.57 Super Off Peak Rate

As you see, I have generated -186kWh but I am getting -$171 credit toward next billing cycle. (The picture show I'm getting -$174 is because my first 2 day still under TOU-D-EV plan were peak start from 12 to 6). The actual credit I'm getting at end of billing cycle has to subtract $0.1/kWh baseline credit generated. For example:

-$171 + basline allocation credit ($0.1 X 186kWh generated = $18.6) = -$152.40

Since I have surplus on my solar, the baseline allocation credit becomes a debit to my account instead of credit.

[Alisobob]

This first snap is for Feb, 2015. "Domestic" billing -7 Kwh's daily usage, -212 surplus at months end. A $32 credit was applied to my account as a result. Disregard the $1.77 number. Thats the SCE flat rate, to use their wires, and generate a bill.




These two snaps for March, 2015. "TOU-D-T " Billing.( one is shown in $$$, the other in KWh's, but its for the same period) Nearly identical numbers. - 7 KwH's daily usage, -202 surplus at months end... BUT.. a $89 credit due to the way "On Peak" generation pricing of $0.22 per KWh and off peak consumption priced at $0.13 a KWh are calculated.

Also , note on the March statement that there was a one time $29 SCE credit for some kind of "Climate Change" program.

solar76.JPG

So, $89 - the $29 Climate credit = a true $ 60 generation credit for March, vs. $32 credit for Feb.

It appears the TOU-D-T increased my billable production by about 100%

[silversaver]

Any idea what the bill would have been if you were still on tiered rates ?

$0.15 X 208kWh = $31.20