I did the same thing, installed my solar panels over a 4 year period to spread out the costs. My newer panels are also more efficient and generate more kWh than my original panels. I added Enphase batteries to give me solar 24/7 and as a backup in case of a power outage. Highly recommend Enphase batteries. Adding the new panels to the West side of the roof also gave me better energy performance all day and especially in the winter. While Texas does enjoy for now lower prices per kWh than other states, there is no guarantee that it will stay that low. Even with that pricing I have neighbors who have utility bills $500-$600 monthly during the summer due to AC usage and summer is a 6 month event here. For people who don't want a huge upfront investment, this is a good way to start going solar. I love that this video demonstrates the advantages of doing this in installments.
Rad dude. I just had 13kw installed. Our roof is only East-West facing with a very shallow slope. I will be so interested to see our next bill, (only having solar for half of the billing period) and then the next bill after that.
Roll Call! Where do you live (state) and what is your kw rate? I'm in Tennessee and pay 12.2 cents per kw. However, I have 13 kw of solar panels with 61 kw of batteries powering my 20 kw inverter system. I don't use the grid unless it's Winter and our solar output is low. Then the grid recharges the batteries enough to get through the night. My base electric bill is $29, which includes a flood light on our power pole. All electric house, propane generator as a backup.
Good ole California. We have time of usage here. From 4-9pm is peak and is close to 70 cents. Off peak is around 40 cents. Not sure of exact cost since I always generate more during off peak times.
I’m on board with lots of panels especially with the high electric rates in SD. Do you have batteries? It seems to me that insulation is the best investment going forward. I have a similar ranch style house in Texas and heat with firewood but in a separate small house ,about 800 square feet , put two 18,000 BTU heat pumps. We are all electric and the combined bill,they both run on my grid connection,seldom goes over $70. I attribute the efficiency to a lot of blown-in insulation. It’s an easy DIY project,far easier than adding panels. My solar panels are mostly ground mounted,a choice largely driven by my senior citizen condition.
So you buy the materials yourself then hire someone to install? Who do I look for the installation? Solar installer or an electrician? Thank you for sharing.
I got the solar panels from a local guy on craigslist. He recommended this source for getting the micro inverters. He works on his own but has a lot of experience installing solar so I went with him.
@@benjaminthomasson Not sure that Will be the outcome. As power is a utility that has to be solvent. It will either get subsidized more or they would have to raise prices to support the cost they already have incurred over years of over head.
I am supplying clean cheap power to my neighbors during the day. More roof top solar will reduce need for building more power lines. Not sure how this would increase your cost
Strange but last year my utility raised their prices and they also had record profits. They said it was not related. I don’t think they care about you or me.
Get an awning to that south facing window like now. Will save so much in cooling, as sun doesnt keep blazing straight inside
My wife prefers heavy curtains which she makes herself
I did the same thing, installed my solar panels over a 4 year period to spread out the costs. My newer panels are also more efficient and generate more kWh than my original panels. I added Enphase batteries to give me solar 24/7 and as a backup in case of a power outage. Highly recommend Enphase batteries. Adding the new panels to the West side of the roof also gave me better energy performance all day and especially in the winter.
While Texas does enjoy for now lower prices per kWh than other states, there is no guarantee that it will stay that low. Even with that pricing I have neighbors who have utility bills $500-$600 monthly during the summer due to AC usage and summer is a 6 month event here.
For people who don't want a huge upfront investment, this is a good way to start going solar. I love that this video demonstrates the advantages of doing this in installments.
Thanks for telling your story. I didn’t think many people did it this way.
Can you refer the guy who did your addition. We are looking for an upgrade with batteries. Thanks 🙏
The second install was done by Clint Johnson. He ran wiring to new breaker. You can google him
I am in Texas my electric rate is 11.2 cents thank goodness for Texas
Yes and no. I have a sister-in-law in Katy TX. She had to get a propane generator due the frequent power outages during storms.
There are places here in California that have $.01/kwh electric rates. Yay California. 😂
@@JorJorBinks123 I happy you have such great rates there won’t be any reason for you to move this way
Rad dude. I just had 13kw installed. Our roof is only East-West facing with a very shallow slope. I will be so interested to see our next bill, (only having solar for half of the billing period) and then the next bill after that.
With a shallow slope they should work fine.
Roll Call! Where do you live (state) and what is your kw rate?
I'm in Tennessee and pay 12.2 cents per kw.
However, I have 13 kw of solar panels with 61 kw of batteries powering my 20 kw inverter system. I don't use the grid unless it's Winter and our solar output is low. Then the grid recharges the batteries enough to get through the night. My base electric bill is $29, which includes a flood light on our power pole. All electric house, propane generator as a backup.
Good ole California. We have time of usage here. From 4-9pm is peak and is close to 70 cents. Off peak is around 40 cents. Not sure of exact cost since I always generate more during off peak times.
nice to have that much roof real estate. Ranch is the way to go for solar.
I’m on board with lots of panels especially with the high electric rates in SD. Do you have batteries?
It seems to me that insulation is the best investment going forward. I have a similar ranch style house in Texas and heat with firewood but in a separate small house ,about 800 square feet , put two 18,000 BTU heat pumps. We are all electric and the combined bill,they both run on my grid connection,seldom goes over $70.
I attribute the efficiency to a lot of blown-in insulation. It’s an easy DIY project,far easier than adding panels.
My solar panels are mostly ground mounted,a choice largely driven by my senior citizen condition.
I added insulation to the attic.got double pane windows It’s the walls that are hard to insulate.
So you buy the materials yourself then hire someone to install? Who do I look for the installation? Solar installer or an electrician? Thank you for sharing.
I got the solar panels from a local guy on craigslist. He recommended this source for getting the micro inverters. He works on his own but has a lot of experience installing solar so I went with him.
@@grandparonstesla5141thank you for the answer!
What do we think is goingo to happen if more people begin to generate their own power? The cost of grid power will go up more an more.
Supply and demand. Demand goes down with the same supply means lower prices for you.
@@benjaminthomasson Not sure that Will be the outcome. As power is a utility that has to be solvent. It will either get subsidized more or they would have to raise prices to support the cost they already have incurred over years of over head.
@@wraith511802003 oh the poor power companies. What will they do when they have a tiny bit of competition?
I am supplying clean cheap power to my neighbors during the day. More roof top solar will reduce need for building more power lines. Not sure how this would increase your cost
Strange but last year my utility raised their prices and they also had record profits. They said it was not related. I don’t think they care about you or me.