New to Grid Tied Home Solar...

[NorTracNY]

My panels come with a 25 year transferable output warranty... only thing is the company went out of business in 2012...

I am all for warranties but have found things happen to the best of plans.

Yes, I certainly factored in the possibility of the company going out of business. Seeing that the system was installed at my place for a fraction of the buy price (less than 1/2) I'm not concerned. I figured that if they go under the system will be mine. What I really anticipate is after the lease is up at the end of 20 years, the company will abandon it. What company would pay several thousand to have a 20 year old system removed from someone's house? Either way, when the lease is up, I'll need a new roof. I'm told the panels will last forever with a ~0.5% drop/year (so 90% at 20years). It's the inverters that only last 15-25years.

I believe the reason the lease was a good deal is that the company got all the tax credits and they can do something I can't. They depreciated the value over 6-7 years. It's even written in the contract that I could but it at 7years for $700. I'd loose the guarantee so I passed. But it did mean for me that leasing + buying at year 7 was half the cost of buying at the beginning.

 

[ultrarunner]

Most of those I know contract for a set amount per kW... they own nothing but by having the panels they buy electricity at an attractive rate for years into the future.

Several foreclosures had solar... each had to have a lawyer involved but each arrived at a satisfactory resolution...

 

[dmccarty]

... I'm told the panels will last forever with a ~0.5% drop/year (so 90% at 20years). It's the inverters that only last 15-25years.
...

That too is my understanding of solar panels. They usually do not die, just loose efficiency over time. The warranties are kinda useless even if the company is still around because it is doubtful the panel efficiency will have dropped to past the warranty point at the end of the warranty period.

Later,
Dan

 

[dmccarty]

I believe there was a 30% Federal tax credit that expired Dec 31 2018.
...

What I read was that the 30% Federal credit was valid for 2019 and then the credit percentage started to decline for a period of years. Can't remember if the credit went to zero or just bottomed out at some lower number.

Later,
Dan

 

[RobertN]

Not unusual to have multiple banks of valves, with numerous valves each. A well done drip system will have different valves and hose for trees vs shrubs vs veggies etc. You run irrigation based on what the plants need, how many times a week they need water etc.

A lot of people try to water off one or two lines; but that is not the right way to lay out a good system.

There are 3 manifolds like this... the entire two acres is irrigated with 3 commercial controllers with booster pump relays on two of them.

I understand that it was simply too expensive to pay the water bill with drought rates in effect... again and only hearsay... there was talk of $900 bi-monthly summer water bills...

I have the irrigation Ball Valve OFF and checked the meter to verify no water flowing.

Part of the higher water account fee is because the home has inside and out fire sprinklers... with an oversized line and 180 pounds water pressure and reducers to lower water pressure for the home.

 

[ultrarunner]

Update...

30 days in and still waiting for first utility bill.

That said the Solar has generated 7.5 kWh surplus electricity per day than used... the utility meter does in deed go backward as it is 320 kWh less today than 30 days ago and many of the days have been overcast, rain and cloudy.

I also found utility paperwork in a file so I am thinking things are looking good.

*This also includes my neighbor powering his irrigation well pump from my power...

 

[coldsteelva]

Update...

30 days in and still waiting for first utility bill.

That said the Solar has generated 7.5 kWh surplus electricity per day than used... the utility meter does in deed go backward as it is 320 kWh less today than 30 days ago and many of the days have been overcast, rain and cloudy.

I also found utility paperwork in a file so I am thinking things are looking good.

*This also includes my neighbor powering his irrigation well pump from my power...

Ultra: Please clarify - you found paperwork FROM PG&E? Meaning they really do/did know about the solar install.

 

[ultrarunner]

Ultra: Please clarify - you found paperwork FROM PG&E? Meaning they really do/did know about the solar install.

In the garage was a dusty folder with Solar correspondence to and from PGE... tax credits for State and Local, itemed cost of materials, etc...

100% certain application was filed, PGE received it and responded.

This probably explains why I have the right meter for solar but not why the PGE new accounts department says there is no solar at my address???

Plus I have verified with the city the installation permit was finaled...

I sometimes run into similar with my own installs at work...

I bought a new steam sterilizer for the Hospital... I was on a budget and the manufacturer quoted 10k for install... it is a flat amount best I can understand.

The manufacturer agreed to drop the install fee with me doing the install which made the boss very happy... I was simply on the clock with some overtime.

I worked 18 hours over one weekend and done... Monday the field service comes out and signs off... we got to talking and he asked my how many hours and how many people... I said just me over the weekend... which led to other questions if I would be interested in installing for them... seems they always use two people.

Anyway... the unit included PM for the first year... 6 months in I call to schedule and there is no record of this machine... it took a few weeks to get ironed out and a visit... seems no one self-installs and the system was not able to process self-install as they couldn't find any record of it ever being installed... only shipped.

I think my solar might be similar since it was all done by the retired Telcom Line Engineering Home Owner...

 

[ultrarunner]

First PGE bill arrived and it did not match the meter.

I called and after several transfers got the right person...

Yes... my home has a bi-directional meter and Solar PV application submitted and coded as pending.

PGE requested a calculation and it was never received... the time corresponds when the owner passed away...

PGE said the bi-directional meter is placed only after utility has inspected and approved installation.

More to follow... or call it as the "Meter Turns"

On a side note it seems to be sized about right for the house... years of consumption and the meter reads a total of about 1000 kWh... and continues to decrease daily.

 

[coldsteelva]

So....in the meantime, what do you do with the incorrect (estimated?) bill? Do you have to pay it, or are you going to work with them to finalize the 'calculation'?