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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Electric bill was $64 for 42 days....
The "solar season" has barely started, but for the previous 42 days, our electric bill was about $64. So far, on the current billing cycle, we are almost 100Kwh BELOW what we started the billing cycle at. I think this coming month will be a negative bill, since we are getting longer days, and more solar production from the panels.
I'm really loving these solar panels....  
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Posted 4/30/09 8:54 AM  |
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Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate
Long Island's Largest Bridal Resource | Long Island Weddings |
Elbee
Zanzibar
Member since 5/05 10767 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: Electric bill was $64 for 42 days....
I think that is great! Great investment!  
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| Posted 4/30/09 8:57 AM |
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08BabySurprise
My Life. My Everything.
Member since 10/07 9151 total posts
Name:
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Re: Electric bill was $64 for 42 days....
Wow that is AWESOME!!!!!!!! I can't imagine a $64 electric bill!!!
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| Posted 4/30/09 9:07 AM |
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Blu-ize
Plan B is Now Plan A
Member since 7/05 32475 total posts
Name:
Susan
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Re: Electric bill was $64 for 42 days....
how does it break down for what you spent on the panels and installation?
When is your break even point?
I know that solar panels are great for many more reasons than money but I'm wondering about the money aspect of it.
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| Posted 4/30/09 9:15 AM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: Electric bill was $64 for 42 days....
Posted by Blu-ize
how does it break down for what you spent on the panels and installation?
When is your break even point?
I know that solar panels are great for many more reasons than money but I'm wondering about the money aspect of it.
Break-even is somewhere between 8-10 years (maybe less if LIPA keeps raising their rates)
LIPA pays for roughly half of the cost, NY pays up to $5k, and the Fed pays 30% of the remaining cost.
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| Posted 4/30/09 9:21 AM |
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leese
Sarge!
Member since 5/05 1965 total posts
Name:
Leese
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Re: Electric bill was $64 for 42 days....
That's really terrific -- some of my neighbors have them and I'm jealous!
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| Posted 4/30/09 9:22 AM |
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JldDolphin
Member since 1/07 6929 total posts
Name:
Jen
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Re: Electric bill was $64 for 42 days....
that is awesome!
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| Posted 4/30/09 10:23 AM |
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Sparkyandang
LIF Adolescent
Member since 5/08 766 total posts
Name:
Ang
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Re: Electric bill was $64 for 42 days....
Not too shabby there!
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| Posted 4/30/09 10:33 AM |
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kimbalina
Bring on the glitter and bows!
Member since 6/08 15158 total posts
Name:
Kim
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Re: Electric bill was $64 for 42 days....
WOW!! That is great!!!
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| Posted 4/30/09 11:02 AM |
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HoneyBadger
YourWorstNightmare.
Member since 10/06 15979 total posts
Name:
BahBahBlackJeep
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Re: Electric bill was $64 for 42 days....
Posted by GoldenRod
Posted by Blu-ize
how does it break down for what you spent on the panels and installation?
When is your break even point?
I know that solar panels are great for many more reasons than money but I'm wondering about the money aspect of it.
Break-even is somewhere between 8-10 years (maybe less if LIPA keeps raising their rates)
LIPA pays for roughly half of the cost, NY pays up to $5k, and the Fed pays 30% of the remaining cost.
LIPA is lowering their rates, at least that's what I saw on the news, will this cut cause you to see a major impact on your savings or break even point?
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| Posted 4/30/09 11:14 AM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: Electric bill was $64 for 42 days....
Posted by Jennie0898
Posted by GoldenRod
Posted by Blu-ize
how does it break down for what you spent on the panels and installation?
When is your break even point?
I know that solar panels are great for many more reasons than money but I'm wondering about the money aspect of it.
Break-even is somewhere between 8-10 years (maybe less if LIPA keeps raising their rates)
LIPA pays for roughly half of the cost, NY pays up to $5k, and the Fed pays 30% of the remaining cost.
LIPA is lowering their rates, at least that's what I saw on the news, will this cut cause you to see a major impact on your savings or break even point?
At this point, I'm not too worried on the exact break-even point. I'm just looking at the monthly electric bill, and thinking about what it's doing (or not doing) for the environment.
I also can't imagine LIPA lowering their rates every year for the next 10 years. If they make a temporary dip in costs, they'll make up for it next year.
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| Posted 4/30/09 11:28 AM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: Electric bill was $64 for 42 days....
Posted by Jennie0898
LIPA is lowering their rates, at least that's what I saw on the news, will this cut cause you to see a major impact on your savings or break even point?
http://www.lipower.org/newscenter/pr/2009/042309_rate.html
LIPA Announces Rate Decrease of 3.2%
Reduction Negates January, 2009 3.2% Hike
Uniondale, NY — Long Island Power Authority President and CEO Kevin S. Law today announced that he is rolling back rates 3.2% for LIPA’s 1.1 million customers. The reduction will fully negate the 3.2% increase that took effect in January of this year.
The rate reduction is possible primarily as a result of lower-than budgeted fuel costs in 2009.
“In these challenging economic times, I am pleased to be able to provide this modest rate relief to our customers,” said Law. “With the price of oil and natural gas taking us on a wild ride in 2008, we planned for similar volatility in 2009. Thus far, costs have been lower than budgeted and we are in a position to return those savings to our customers at a time when all of us could use a little good news.”
LIPA will lower its Power Supply Charge by 6.00%, which accounts for roughly half of customers’ bills, resulting in a net 3.2% bill decrease. LIPA’s Power Supply Charge includes the costs for fuel and power the Authority purchases on behalf of its customers, which accounts for more than 50% of LIPA’s nearly $4 billion annual operating budget.
The 3.2% decrease will take effect May 1st, 2009 and will save the typical LIPA customer approximately $5.11 a month.
My ROI calculations were figured before the 3.2% increase this year, so the decrease brings us back to my original equation, and $5.11/month isn't going to make any significant dent in my total ROI.
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| Posted 4/30/09 11:30 AM |
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lullabella
LIF Adult
Member since 5/05 2246 total posts
Name:
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Re: Electric bill was $64 for 42 days....
Awesome, I am in a rental house and my first 2 electric bills have been over $400. INSANE!!! I call lipa and they said they are correct, meanwhile we arent even home during the day.
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| Posted 4/30/09 1:29 PM |
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MrsM-6-7-08
<3
Member since 8/06 4249 total posts
Name:
Nicole
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Re: Electric bill was $64 for 42 days....
That is absolutely amazing!!!
We didnt put solar panels in, but we are wired for them, so we can add them at any point in the future.
After our house is complete, we are talking about adding them one day soon!
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| Posted 4/30/09 2:47 PM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: Electric bill was $64 for 42 days....
Posted by MrsM-6-7-08
That is absolutely amazing!!!
We didnt put solar panels in, but we are wired for them, so we can add them at any point in the future.
After our house is complete, we are talking about adding them one day soon!
That's awesome! Feel free to FM if and when you have any questions about the systems.
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| Posted 4/30/09 3:14 PM |
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MommyofG
just the girls
Member since 5/05 9461 total posts
Name:
Janice
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Re: Electric bill was $64 for 42 days....
thats great!!! how do they look aesthetically though on the house? our neighbor has them on their entire roof and it is an eye soar. Do you have pics?
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| Posted 4/30/09 4:53 PM |
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chrisnjoe8108
He's 1!
Member since 8/08 5649 total posts
Name:
Chris
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Re: Electric bill was $64 for 42 days....
WOW That is amazing!!!! 
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| Posted 4/30/09 6:30 PM |
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Erica
LIF Adult
Member since 5/05 11767 total posts
Name:
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Re: Electric bill was $64 for 42 days....
that's awesome! I'm jealous. the house we are looking at doesn't have a southern roof - how does that affect it?
we knew we wouldn't be in our other houses long enough for it to pay off.
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| Posted 4/30/09 8:08 PM |
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rkoenke
my little piggys
Member since 3/08 4315 total posts
Name:
rachel
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Re: Electric bill was $64 for 42 days....
Posted by MommyofG
thats great!!! how do they look aesthetically though on the house? our neighbor has them on their entire roof and it is an eye soar. Do you have pics?
this is the reason my mom won't get them, even though dad really wants them. AND, my mother is the most organic-buying, earth worried person i know. it makes no sense.
i don't care.. my next house, i am getting them.
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| Posted 5/1/09 7:25 AM |
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rkoenke
my little piggys
Member since 3/08 4315 total posts
Name:
rachel
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Re: Electric bill was $64 for 42 days....
oh, quick question..
do they recommend putting on a new roof before you put these up? if i have a 15 year old roof? what about if i have a 5 year old roof?? do the panels prolong the life of the roof?
(sorry, tons of questions ... i am so jealous!!! I HATE LIPA!)
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| Posted 5/1/09 7:55 AM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: Electric bill was $64 for 42 days....
Posted by rkoenke
oh, quick question..
do they recommend putting on a new roof before you put these up? if i have a 15 year old roof? what about if i have a 5 year old roof?? do the panels prolong the life of the roof?
(sorry, tons of questions ... i am so jealous!!! I HATE LIPA!)
The absolutely extend the life of the roof. There is no sun hitting the roof (it hits the panels), no rain, basically nothing that really ages a roof gets to it. However, if you have a 15 year old roof, you may want to have it looked at first. Solar panels are designed to be in place for 25+ years. My installer suggested getting cheap roofing shingles (5 -10 year) since they will last just as long as 25-50 year shingles with the panels on.
I'm planning on putting solar hot water heater panels on the part of the roof without the electric panels. That will significantly cut down our natural gas usage.
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| Posted 5/1/09 2:31 PM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: Electric bill was $64 for 42 days....
Posted by Erica
that's awesome! I'm jealous. the house we are looking at doesn't have a southern roof - how does that affect it?
we knew we wouldn't be in our other houses long enough for it to pay off.
There's a neighbor a block away that has an east/west oriented roof. They have panels on both sides. When one starts to get shaded, the other side is in full sun and vice-versa. If you want them, there is almost always a way to make them work for you.
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| Posted 5/1/09 2:32 PM |
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Re: Electric bill was $64 for 42 days....
I recently went to a Long Island Association of Professional Geolgists meeting and the last speakers gave a talk on solar power. Carlo Lanza and Andrew Fiorimonti from Harvest Power were the speakers. They did say that you probably do want to have a relatively new roof for the panels, but I'm sure you could contact them and ask them specific questions relating to your needs. Their website is http://harvestpwr.com/ If I had a house instead of a condo, I would absolutely 100% look into solar.
Also, I created an excel file to track my monthly electric and gas usage in terms of money and average daily killowatt hour / average daily therm. It's been amazing to see how much my bills and usage have gone down since I moved into this condo 1.5 years ago and did a few minor things (new fridge, dishwasher, programmable thermostat) which have made such a HUGE difference. My electric bill was basically $50 each the last two months (800 sq ft upstairs condo with grandfather home all day). If anyone is interested in seeing / using the excel file for themself, let me know.
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| Posted 5/1/09 10:17 PM |
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MommyofG
just the girls
Member since 5/05 9461 total posts
Name:
Janice
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Re: Electric bill was $64 for 42 days....
wow they look great too!!!! I think it makes a huge difference if the home is a two story as oppose to a ranch, you dont see it.
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| Posted 5/5/09 11:11 PM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: Electric bill was $64 for 42 days....
Posted by MommyofG
wow they look great too!!!! I think it makes a huge difference if the home is a two story as oppose to a ranch, you dont see it.
And all the photos were with the camera held over my head. At eye-level, which is about 2 feet lower, they are even harder to see.
Unlike a lot of people, I actually WANT to be able to see the panels! I want everyone to see that I have them, and hopefully that would inspire others to get them. Figures.... 
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| Posted 5/6/09 7:57 AM |
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