Been a years since I got solar so I figured I would give an update for anyone thinking of getting it for a house/tank backup.
It looks like I got just the right amount of solar to offset my current usage.
Reliant's latest solar plan is a bit more convoluted and harder to break even on though. Used to be flat 13cents both ways, now there is a base charge and a Center Point charge so I will need to use my batteries to reduce usage to get closer to zero bill.
Even though the plan is worse than it was, I used over 2,000kWh so without solar I think my bill would have been over $400 with the new crazy rates.
Batteries internal systems report 103.8% advertised capacity still, so basically no degradation, but they have been mainly in backup only mode.
I have done zero maintenance and there is zero visible wear and tear. I have also not cleaned the panels. We get enough rain and low enough dust most the time I don't think it is worth it.
The important part, if the grid was down all of last year I would have been able to keep my tank running the entire time and one room cooled as well as kept my fridge running. I would have been able to run the entire house normally like 80-90% of the time. There were periods of time where I would not have been able to keep the entire house cooled, but a more efficient airconditioner would change that to just a few days a year.
It looks like I got just the right amount of solar to offset my current usage.
Reliant's latest solar plan is a bit more convoluted and harder to break even on though. Used to be flat 13cents both ways, now there is a base charge and a Center Point charge so I will need to use my batteries to reduce usage to get closer to zero bill.
Even though the plan is worse than it was, I used over 2,000kWh so without solar I think my bill would have been over $400 with the new crazy rates.
Batteries internal systems report 103.8% advertised capacity still, so basically no degradation, but they have been mainly in backup only mode.
I have done zero maintenance and there is zero visible wear and tear. I have also not cleaned the panels. We get enough rain and low enough dust most the time I don't think it is worth it.
The important part, if the grid was down all of last year I would have been able to keep my tank running the entire time and one room cooled as well as kept my fridge running. I would have been able to run the entire house normally like 80-90% of the time. There were periods of time where I would not have been able to keep the entire house cooled, but a more efficient airconditioner would change that to just a few days a year.
