Just received my final bill of the year from APS in which they true up both on and off-peak kWh credits. I had no residual off-peak credits but did have 376 on-peak credits for which APS reimbursed me at the rate of $0.029 for a total of $10.87 credited to my bill. Total savings for the 12-month period compared to pre-solar added up to $1500.09. This is for a 6.9 kW Sunpower system installed in May 2012. The savings are not an apples to apples comparison since I switched to a different rate structure when I went with solar. However, the old rate actually cost me less annually than if I had been on the new rate before I got solar so the savings are real.
The last month or so, I noticed a change in the power curve during afternoon hours. Turns out a combination of growth in a jacaranda tree and afternoon sun position resulted in significant afternoon shading of one of my two arrays. I have trimmed back the tree partially and have a bit more to do to fully eliminate the shading. Considering the shading at maximum covered half of the array, I'm surprised it didn't cost me more than about 2 kWh daily production. With the credit reset on December's bill, I need all the afternoon production possible to bank for next summer's AC although that may be mitigated if I opt for a new AC system next year.
I'm very pleased with the system so far; no issues apart from the occasional glitch in the online monitoring and the fact that the Sunpower Android app doesn't work properly on Jelly Bean i.e. crashes if you try to display an earlier day's production. At the rate it's going, by the time APS gets its lobbying act together and really screws solar customers here in Arizona, I should have my system pretty much paid off and be able to enjoy substantial monetary benefits for the remainder of the 20 year pre-paid lease. Unless of course I opt for the buyout in year 7 - still undecided on that.
The last month or so, I noticed a change in the power curve during afternoon hours. Turns out a combination of growth in a jacaranda tree and afternoon sun position resulted in significant afternoon shading of one of my two arrays. I have trimmed back the tree partially and have a bit more to do to fully eliminate the shading. Considering the shading at maximum covered half of the array, I'm surprised it didn't cost me more than about 2 kWh daily production. With the credit reset on December's bill, I need all the afternoon production possible to bank for next summer's AC although that may be mitigated if I opt for a new AC system next year.
I'm very pleased with the system so far; no issues apart from the occasional glitch in the online monitoring and the fact that the Sunpower Android app doesn't work properly on Jelly Bean i.e. crashes if you try to display an earlier day's production. At the rate it's going, by the time APS gets its lobbying act together and really screws solar customers here in Arizona, I should have my system pretty much paid off and be able to enjoy substantial monetary benefits for the remainder of the 20 year pre-paid lease. Unless of course I opt for the buyout in year 7 - still undecided on that.
Comment