Power Production Going up.

  So I had my Consumption Meters installed and now I can track how much power is exported back to the grid. I can also get an IDEA of how much extra Power is now stored or sent above and beyond what I use. 

Also with more sunshine comes a LOT more power being created by my panels. I was thinking I would have to wait until Late May or June to reach 70+kwhs....but here we are. 

between 7:45am and 7:15 PM (11hours of production) With a MIN of .2 early and .3 late and 6 hours of 11.4Kwhs being produced. 

Power Generation Really going up

 After watching my power bill here is what I have noticed. You will always receive a BILL for the connection to the power company Service. Mine is $13.64 (Including taxes and fees)

Solar Turn on was November 18th 2020 

- November - December BILL = $78 (used 484KWH)

- December - January BILL = $68 (used 415KWH)

- January - February BILL  = $13.64 (CREDIT 48KWH)

- February - March BILL = $13.64 (CREDIT 488KWH)

So as you can see when we first had it installed we had SHORTER days and it was over the winter so we had to use Power company power. But starting January, we were generating a LOT of power and finally got a CREDIT on our bill. Here is how it is shown on the bill. 

So if I make an Assumption with this little of data, then this is what I can say. 

November - December power looked like this Produced 362.1KWH (I did not have Consumption transformers installed until Mid March) So this does not show my House Consumption. 

December - January 

January - February

February - March

March

SO based on these numbers you can see my First FULL Month of December Power Generation During the shortest days of the year was around 844Kwh. The Full Month of March, at the start of Spring and the time change and longer days is now at 1.4Mwh so almost DOUBLE the power generation. 

Normal Sunny days are showing Power Generation around 61+ Kwh As you can see when generating a lot of power the house is Generating MORE that used and then allows a CREDIT to go back to the power company. 

Also above you can see my consumption transformers have been installed and it shows my Power Useage. I believe that the small spikes you see during the night are when the Air Conditioner turns on. 

Over all during the start of Spring. I am generating about 61+Kwh on Sunny days. This in turn is giving me a power surplus right now of about 440Kwh, this means that during my short days when I am using MORE power from the Grid and not generating enough that this credit will cover me. If I do a quick assumption that I will have 4 months of LOWER power solar generation so 4 months of using average of 450Kwh from the Grid I need 4 months of 450Kwh to cover my bills for those short months. 

    The Data however above supports Oct-Jan short months and Feb-Sept being overage months. 4*450=1800Kwh shortage, Feb-Sept 8*440=3520Kwh. Which should give me a Year End Overage of 1720kwh. 

    This means that our house is generating MORE power than is needed. 

Watching my power Generation and Power Bill

After watching power Bill and monitoring my power generation from my new panels I have the following things to report.
1. We had our Solar Turned on during the shortest days of the year here in Florida and our Sunny Day Low is around 30kw/day. This is about 8kw/day lower that is needed so we expected a BILL from Duke. 

2. First Bill after turn on. Used 919 KWH  Received from power Company 435KWH.  Which means we Generated 484KWH and only were charged for 435 used. Bill =$78.98

3. Second Bill. used 910KWH. Received 495KWH. Which means we Generated 415KWH. Bill $68.45

4. As you can see our Bills have went down....and we are generating Power but not enough to get to ZERO bill....or start Generating a Credit. 

5. I am getting Consumption Transformers installed and this will help to understand exactly what is being used by the HOUSE and what I will be able to understand my usage as. 

Double Check Power Bill - Why Solar Panels Works for me

 So, as I previously indicated I went through my Power Bills and did all my calculations and then decided it was a GOOD Idea. I just received my LAST Bill which was for 9 days and it was $78.65, equates to $8.74 per day and times 30 days equals $262.20. SO my current bill will save me $62.20

If  you see what they calculated they said it costs $4.78/per day. if you look at that it looks like you are being given a GREAT deal no wonder you wouldn't calculate it BUT not sure what they are using as Numbers because they don't show it But they probably removed all the taxes and service fees. In there calculation it would be $4.78 per day But if that were the case my BILL should be. $43.02 (4.78x9) but its not, its $78.65..Their calculations says my bill would be $143.....but lets Use the actual BILL they Sent and see why my bill is projected to be $262, ALMOST Double what their Calculations show. 

9 days = 342kwh = 38 KWH that is correct. 

9 days = $78.65/bill = 8.74/day

9 days = 38kwh/day = 30days (1140kwh)

$78.65/342kwh = $.229/per kwh 

$.229kwh * 1140kwh = $262.16

So using the real Numbers which includes the Taxes and Fees you can see that the Actual cost of the power is .229/per KWH.....and if you look at my previous calculations the cost was .17/kwh....so this indicates there is even a HIGHER cost to KWH than my previous calculations and you can see that Based on this I would be saving almost $63/month. OR about $760/year

Crazy but the COMPANY can make any number look good if they use their own calculations. 

Solar Panel Install - Interconnection Approval

 After submitting the Interconnection Agreement to Duke Energy. I received back the approved interconnection and an E-mail that said the following

With that e-mail now it is a matter of waiting and watching. Hopefully it all happens soon and it has been 2 days since I received my e-mail from Duke with the Interconnection Agreement.

Hoping to be done soon. 

Solar Panel Install - Net Metering and the application for an Interconnection.

During this process I have learned a lot about what it takes to deal with the power company, their responsibilities and their HOLD on energy and the money that is generated from PROVIDING Energy. SO in order to get off their power.....you have to file an Application to attain "qualifying facility status". I don't know all the details but I can read and rather than reproduce all the Blah Blah Blah of their site I will post the link here for DUKE energy. Your Power Company may have something different. 

https://www.duke-energy.com/home/products/renewable-energy/generate-your-own/net-metering

There are basically multiple type of facilities and for this blog I am only talking about the one type I fall into. I am considered a Type II facility that Generates from 10-100KW. Since I generate 16KW. that is where I am. https://www.duke-energy.com/home/products/renewable-energy/generate-your-own 

So I had to submit for a "INTERCONNECTION" and that is processed through Solar Bear and then once they have finished it they submit to DUKE.....then DUKE sends out an Email to have me Electronically sign the Document and then it is sent to DUKE for them to be approved and then scheduled the Inspection. 

So here we are, Duke Comes out inspects that I do not exceed 90% of my power panel capacity, and that I have a properly installed disconnect. which has already been inspected by the city so it should be quick and easy. THEN they will install a different meter and I am online. 

I am currently waiting on the Application to DUKE to be approved and for the Duke Inspector to come out.  

Solar Panel Install - Putting em on the roof.

 Now the day has come to install the Solar Panels. The guys arrive with all the stuff and it only takes a Day to get them up there. 

Everything Arrived

Mounting Brackets

Mounting Beams

Place all the Mounting Brackets. One thing to note is that the ORGINAL DESIGN when sold does not always account for VENTS, PIPES, FANS or other items on the roof. My Original Was 25 Front 25 Back. BUT Ended up 28 Front 22 Back. 

More Mounting Brackets. Yes they are mounted to the roof into the studs under the roofing. AND Sealed. Solar Bear is a ROOFING Company in addition to a Solar Company to allow them the understanding of ROOF construction and the impact they are doing to your ROOF. Solar Bear also provides an additional 10 year No Leak Warranty for our roof. 

There are a lot of Brackets. 

Front and back Brackets

Panels getting ready to be mounted. 

Panels getting ready in the back

Panels being laid out and wired. 

Panels are laid out and spaced correctly. 

There are a LOT of extra electrical boxes that are part of the SOLAR SYSTEM. Disconnects and interconnects and Solare Power Panel boxes. 

Panels being Laid out on the roof and installed. 

Ultimately there are a Lot of panels that will be going on your Roof, ours is a 16kw system and it is A LOT of panels 50 to be exact. As you can see we have a low angle roof so our panels kinda blend with the roof and we have had people that do not notice them. 

There is one important unforeseen benefit that the salesmen never even mentioned. It is the fact that the panels are now acting as a BARRIER to your roof from the beating rays of the SUN. They are up there as almost a Second Skin on the roof and the spacing between the panels and the roof acts as an additional layer of insulation from the roof. What does this mean. Well after two days I walked into my garage and it was NOTICEABLY cooler. I had an Air Conditioner service come by to check on my new AC system and he thought it was so cool in our garage that we had AC in it. I told him no it was the Solar Panels absorbing the heat and keeping the Garage and Attic way cooler than they had been before. 

Now everything is INSTALLED and there are three more things to happen. 

NEXT STEP. Electrical Wiring and hook up to our power panel. 

NEXT STEP. Electrical Wiring Inspection by permit agency (city County etc...)

LAST STEP. Power company comes out inspects the system and does the full switch over of the electrical System  which is also when they will install the NET METER and the Solar Bear team will come and show how to check and monitor the system using the app.