3 replies to this topic

[still learning]

A recent article in the San Francisco Chronicle explained why rooftop photovoltaic electricity generation is a really good idea for some homeowners.

California's electric rates, kind of high to start with, climb with increasing usage.  Use enough more, pay more per kilowatt-hour.
That rate peculiarity, plus subsidies and third-party leasing arrangements make rooftop solar electricity kind of a no-brainer for some homeowners.
See http://www.sfgate.co...ome-4097935.php

[Phil]

If you install it yourself, it's a no brainer for almost anyone who lives in a state with even modest subsidies.

[StevesWeb]

Our usage was very high because of multiple pond pumps that run 24/7, this was putting us in Tier 5 in the SoCalEd billing system, so we certainly considered a photo voltaic system to be a no brainer.  After 8 months we seem to be saving about $1,000 a month.

[still learning]

Another article in the San Francisco Chronicle explains some other aspects of California's photovoltaic net metering setup.
http://www.sfgate.co...sts-4124277.php

The current setup of the utilities being required to buy electricity from folk's rooftop PV surplus has a cap on it, a cap of 5% of the utilities peak load.   That cap has been raised once, a couple of years ago, from 2.5%.  http://www.getsolar....ering-cap/3671/