I feel like we dodged a bullet! I was concerned about our electric bill this month. Even with the solar panels, I knew it was going to be a high one. Our air conditioner is seriously limping and we’re not replacing it til October because of the guys having to work in the attic and it being so hot up there now. We thought about sticking a window unit (we already have several) in the bedroom window but we never seem to get them sealed well enough to keep bugs from coming in and we definitely don’t need any more bugs than we’re already getting.
We had a couple of ducts that had come loose, or been knocked loose by guys working in the attic and warm HOT air from the attic was coming through those vents. Before we were able to get those fixed, we just cranked the a/c down to about 68º. It has been so hot here .. probably no worse than any other July/August but it sure seems like it’s been worse. We had company for a week and between Addie running in and out, and extra cooking heating up the house, I really was expecting a $400 electric bill. Without the solar panels, without extra people in the house and keeping the a/c no lower than about 72º when it was working properly, we had $300+ bills.
The bill should be arriving any day but I was anxious and got online and checked it.
Our average July kWh usage is 2,600 but between what we used from the solar panels (I read from the solar meter) and what we purchased, we used 3,200 kWh this past month.
Our electric rates because of the TDU charges are outrageous. For 1298 kWh, without the credit, our bill would have been about $180 so without the solar panels, had we used 3,200 kWh, the bill would have been about $450. So, the solar panels saved us $300 just in July!
Small house with good insulation and porches covering the majority of the windows but struggling a/c, sewing room a/c stays on for Boots, granny’s hot flashes, 3 big freezers in a HOT shop, 3 full size fridges going and we go through those kWh way too quickly.
We calculate what the solar panels save us each month and in the beginning, we had calculated about an 8 year payback period but now that we’ve had them for a bit over 2 years, it’s looking like we’re on a track to recover our costs within a bit over 6 years. We’re 100% happy with the solar panels and so happy we did it.
Dottie N. says
That is AWESOME!!
Robin F. says
Great to hear that you have received payback for your use of solar. have you considered free standing room a/c units like this? http://www.walmart.com/ip/Global-Air-NPA1-10C-10-000-BTU-Portable-Air-Conditioner-with-Dehumidifier-and-Remote/44295145?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&adid=22222222227032039106&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=59969227472&wl4=pla-122980081472&wl5=9012388&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=online&wl12=44295145&wl13=&veh=sem
JudyL says
We have a couple of those but the set up is pretty ugly and not very secure because you have to vent them out the window. Some even have trays for the water that has to be dumped. Even with all the attachments, it’s hard to seal the window to keep bugs out so we keep them only for if the main a/c goes out. Vince probably could set them up to run off solar but not off our main solar system.
dezertsuz says
That’s fabulous! And the wonderful part is that you generally have sun even when it’s cold, so even if it is a colder than average winter, you’ll still be saving then.
Jen says
You are very lucky with or without solar! We pay .25/kwh in AK.