Recent content by Mothernaturesolar

Nice work Reg, thanks!

There's no more PGE solar PV rebate. It ended sometime during last Friday. There was a mad stampede on Friday, 4 times larger than any other day. I suspect that one of the big companies figured a way to hog the last of the rebates for themselves. I'm gonna watch the CSI rebate list and see who...

update- $442,186 balance left for new rebates. Tuesday 4-16 could be the last day, maybe Wednesday.

The cost of electricity when you buy is $.06 per kwh for 20 years (this includes the entire cost of the system). It will cost you 2 1/2 times more for electricity if you do the PPA. After 20 years you own them, but not because you're leasing them - a question I asked. I was told it was because...

Update: Balance Thursday 4-4-13 $933,399 Friday applications- $112,992 Monday - $102,227 Tuesday - $ 51,502 Balance 4-9-13 $621,110

It is statewide. Each of the major utilities, Southern California Edison, San Diego Gas and Electric, and Pacific Gas and Electric, are all giving rebates through the California Solar Initiative. SDG&E has finished their rebates, and is taking applications for a "wait list" only. PG&E will...

There was $933,000 in remaining funds as of 4-4-13, and they've averaged reservations of $60,000 per day the last 4 days. Based upon those numbers, there's approx 14-15 days of rebates left, but there will probably be a rush and there may instead be only 6 or 7 days left. You don't have to...

5.7? Wow! Do you do a lot of downhill driving? Haha.

3.88kw x 5 hrs= 19.4 kWh to cover the 36 miles of driving I did today. If you're only getting 1.83 miles per kwh (36 miles driven/19.4 kwh), something is haywire. But you're not getting 1.83 miles per kwh, your own car is telling you that you got 3.2 miles per kwh. The maximum you can get out...

So perhaps he doesn't have a south facing roof? If so, how much difference would that have made in total output? Approx half of his panels face due east, and the other half face due west. He loses 11% of what he would have otherwise produced with due south facing panels. Still not bad, he will...

So this is around a 7kW system with 31 panels I believe. And yet I am consuming on average 26-30kWh per day....and this huge system would have only covered 1/3 of my energy needs today? Elroy, the numbers are down because it's been cloudy and raining in Roseville all month. Solar panels don't...

These Costco panels appear to be about 3.25ft x 5.3 ft. Are those high efficiency panel dimensions? No, that's the standard size If so, how do stock efficiency panel dimensions compare? 2.5ft x 5ft Also, with my 985kWh consumption for the month, what size system is needed? With south-facing...

And is having only a 10yrs material and workmanship warranty the norm? For the system as a whole? Yes. Is 18% efficiency high end or just average? High end. The average efficiency is between 14% to 16% for solar panels. But keep in mind, efficiency is primarily a smoke screen by solar...

While solar is a good idea for you, Elroy, this package from Costco is not. I'll break it down for you- $12,203.99 cost (including tax) = $3.25 per watt. Plus you're gonna need... $ 600 Creofix spanish tile roof stands $ 255 Enphase trunk cables $ 450 Enphase Envoy computer $ 139 trunk cable...

Hey Steve, PGE doesn't make figuring this out easy, do they? You are technically correct in your analysis of the summer production being around 60-65% of the total yearly production figures. The 3x multiplier is only a guideline, with the byzantine PGE billing system, you can never know for sure...