2oldman wrote:
I've often heard about "selling power back to the power company" which I've been suspect of. Seems like running your house would take a whole lot. I would think it would take a monster array to be able to sell power back to the utility.
generally net metering allows you to pay the net kWh used at the end of the 12 month cycle. If you are a net generator you get paid a very low wholesale rate... maybe 30% of the retail rate so not really worth selling.
What really works well for me is TOU or Time Of Use rates. Solar is produced during the high demand high price time of the day. I get credit for 35 to 45 cents per kWh during the day. I run my appliances, charge electric car and run the air conditioner heavily overnight paying 2 to 12 cents per kWh. This pricing is netted on my bill. I net use plenty of electricity for an annual cost of about $100. Last year the on-peak prices went up and I just smiled :)
Payback on the 3 kW system installed by Solar City will be five years or less. Otherwise a 20% return on my money instead of 1% bank rates.
