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Solar Advice

Try these guys. Buddy just had them install a 21.6kW system on his house. He's generating 125kW per day!

https://www.indaspec.com

I had mine done by Solar City 10 years ago. Panels are only 220W (4.3kW system) but it lowered my bill from $2400 per year to about $3-400 including charging my car. The inverter has gone out twice but was covered under warranty. My ROI was about 7 years.

I wish I could go back to the days when PGE was only charging me 3.5 cents to charge after 11PM!! They keep adjusting the tariffs and raising prices.
 
I'm kind of annoyed at the local companies that came by they said 3-4 days it's been like a week and I emailed them no response. Tesla Solar Power and Tesla (Automotive) are basically ready to go.
 
HappyHighwayman said:
I'm kind of annoyed at the local companies that came by they said 3-4 days it's been like a week and I emailed them no response. Tesla Solar Power and Tesla (Automotive) are basically ready to go.
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Where are you located.
I know a really good independent solar guy licenced electrician In SF..
If your interested..
 
CPUC has ALWAYS worked for PG&E, that way their retiring upper management can go get 'consulting' jobs with PG&E for their reward.

CPUC has been corrupt for many decades, they have never worked for the people since I moved here in the late 80's.
 
insyder said:
Ugh. Thanks for the info.

"CPUC Regulates and Registers these Services to Protect the Public"
Riiiiiigght.

So what's next for solar fans? Completely off grid with high output panels and big battery banks?
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There is a huge battle going on right now in regards to the future of solar in CA. I'm surprised it's not in the news because it's a massive shift in renewable energy policy in California. My understanding is there are 5 people on the CPUC who decide the future of NEM/solar metering. 2 are already for NEM 3.0 and 3 are still on the fence about it.

The battle isn't lost yet but who knows what will happen.

The bad guys (PG&E, San Diego Power, California Edison) are making this into a racial equity and equality issue via a lobbying coalition and I'm not even joking when I say that.

Their argument is that the poorest people will be paying high energy prices to subsidize the wealthy who are getting free energy via solar. Here is the website of the bad guys: https://fixthecostshift.com/

The NEM 1.0 folks were grandfathered when NEM 2.0 came into effect. My understanding is the utilities are trying to push for a NEM 3.0 transition to everyone who's on NEM 2.0 now.

Again, unclear what is actually happening. Very little info - seems the process is not very transparent.
 
Emailed two of the companies and both say I'd be grandfathered in for at least 20 years.

One is a more expensive quote but for more panels. Also all these companies are the same...they make a statement like "Unlike those other guys, we use blah blah blah".

SO one company says they use micro-inverters which is better for X reason and then the 2 local companies chuckled at that and said they wouldn't use micro inverters.

HOW DOES ONE KNOW WHAT TO DO? :)
 
HappyHighwayman said:
...
SO one company says they use micro-inverters which is better for X reason and then the 2 local companies chuckled at that and said they wouldn't use micro inverters.
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I guess the answer would be "it depends."

Read: https://www.solarreviews.com/blog/p...r-vs-microinverter#string-inverter-advantages

For me, I have nothing that could block my panels so the panel independence means nothing. For either solution, it's all about the monitoring and support.
 
I think based on that a single inverter is a better idea. Also my roof is 3 stories up so there's not really going to be a lot of leaves or crap that can block it. My neighbors gets people to clean his windows and solar panels once a year.

I need to make a spreadsheet and compare all the quotes and $ / kw
 
HappyHighwayman said:
I think based on that a single inverter is a better idea. Also my roof is 3 stories up so there's not really going to be a lot of leaves or crap that can block it. My neighbors gets people to clean his windows and solar panels once a year.

I need to make a spreadsheet and compare all the quotes and $ / kw
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With a fat column for Warranty- not only the Installer Company, but Component Mfg's too.
 
To be fair, NEM is a big giveaway to solar customers at the expense of the no solar people. You basically get a battery that last all year long. As stated earlier, I expect this will change over time

As for micro inverters vs string. At the time we purchased the micro inverters were the right choice because monitoring and shadow output. We had a guy quote us double the panel cost but for our 1 story roof it’s a weekend project to replace a panel and the software tells us exactly which one it is.
 
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mlm said:
To be fair, NEM is a big giveaway to solar customers at the expense of the no solar people. You basically get a battery that last all year long. As stated earlier, I expect this will change over time...
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Yes, solar people leverage the grid for non-producing times.

But doesn't the grid leverage solar kWh when homeowner panels are over-producing?
 
insyder said:
Yes, solar people leverage the grid for non-producing times.

But doesn't the grid leverage solar kWh when homeowner panels are over-producing?
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Not at all because there is an excess of solar capacity. It’s great for cheap clean power but my understanding is they’re just dumping power on sunny days
 
I have been considering DYI solar like the vid below because its cheap and hassle free. Also called Ghetto solar - just plug it in. I don't think PG&E will net meter without a lot of paper work. Can anyone confirm?:teeth

[YouTube]f4ZcKCd9IDE[/youtube]
 
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