Hey everyone! I'm really stuck after having a bad experience with a solar installer. To make matters worse, I'm dealing with the city on power issues. Here's the situation: for every kilowatt I feed into the grid, the city gives me a measly 5¢ credit, while they charge me 15¢ for each kilowatt I use in my home. I currently don't have a battery bank, and so far this month, my app shows I've generated 375 kWh. It feels like I'm just giving away energy for free because, at the end of the month, I only get a $20 credit off my bill. The way it works with my 13 solar panels seems like all the generated power goes straight to the grid. Plus, the city makes me use two meters which complicates things even more. I'm looking into adding an LG 16 kW battery bank. How would that really help me? Also, I'm confused about peak times—like, if I generate 16 kW a day in summer, isn't there a bunch that could be stored instead of just going to the grid?
3 Answers
I get a better deal at $.25 per kWh during the day and I see that peak usage is even at $.29 from 4 to 9 PM. I export a ton of energy when the sun is out and then import some after sunset. A battery bank could really help here because it allows you to store that excess energy for evening use. Just crunch the numbers to see if it's worth it; you may have to wait years to see a return, but sticking it to the power company could make it worth it!
Does your utility calculate the usage as a net at the end of the month? Since you have two meters, if you generate more than you use, you might just be making the power company richer. I’m in a similar boat where I’m charged 25 cents but only get 5 cents. I focus on using more appliances during the day to tap into my solar energy, so consider electrifying your home! Also, batteries are getting cheaper, and an EV could even act like a storage unit for your energy.
Exactly! Plus, it’s great to utilize all that energy you’re producing.
I totally relate! When I set up my solar, I went ahead and installed batteries. No way was I going to let the power company benefit from my investment! I’ve got a 50 kW battery system that lasts us through the night even with AC running. My electric bill is just $35 a month! Honestly, if you don’t get batteries with your solar setup, I think you might miss out on the full benefits.
That's such a smart idea! I'm definitely considering electrifying my home more to make the most of that excess solar.