Back in June of 2020 we installed a solar system to combat the drastically increasing rate hikes. How has it worked out? Pretty good.
End of Year Bill Could Give You a Heart Attack
At the end of each 12 month period our utility provider, Southern California Edison, “Settles up” the electricity bill. We don’t pay a monthly bill. If the contractor (or individual) did a good job of sizing and installing the solar system, the homeowner breaks even or gets paid for any excess power generation over the year. If the system does not generate enough electricity, then the homeowner owes the utility money.
Where I live many people are getting end of year bills of $1,000 – $2,000!! Either they are now using much more electricity than when the system was installed, or their installer undersized the system or even did a poor installation.
Our Solar Company is Awesome
We purchased our system from a local company, Hot Purple Energy. At the end of the first 12 months our system generated a little more than it was spec’d to produce. Edison owed us $177. This was the 12 month period starting in June of 2020.
To lay it out for easier viewing, the table below shows the monthly kWh usage and monthly cost for Jan 2021 – December 2021. Our total cost bill for this full year period was a credit balance of $165. Edison owed us.
The monthly kWh was “negative” for 8 months. This means we generated more electricity than we used. Of course, in summer the panels generate the most power but we are using more electricity when the air conditioner must be operated. The length of the day, weather (almost always sunny here in Palm Springs), and appliance use will vary from month to month.
2022 Year to Date
Today, in 2022, we are in Month 9 of our Settle Up period and owe Edison $13.57. Over the next three months we will generate a lot of excess electricity and our final bill will be a credit comparable to what we have gotten in the past.
If you want solar do your homework. The cheapest contractor might be the most expensive solution for the long term cost, as some of our neighbors have found out. If possible, purchase the system, don’t lease it.