Feedback on Quotes - Phoenix AZ

[Volusiano]

I chose the 2pm-5pm period as the most advantageous for me.

That's interesting because I thought SRP EZ3 options are only 3-6 or 4-7. I didn't realize that there's a 2-5 option. Is that something you were grandfathered in?

For sure the 2-5 choice would be a winner. You get much better production this earlier during the day to cover any demand you may have during this small 3 hours window you may have. It's also easier to minimize AC usage during this 3 hours window. Maybe run your AC down to 75F before 2PM. Then you can probably go for an hour or 2 without any AC before the inside temperature creeps up to 78-80F, at which time you only have to run AC for the last hour or so for relief. If the 2-5pm choice is really available, I'm going to think hard about switching from TOU to EZ3 2-5pm. The only caveat is that the off-peak rate for EZ3 is a little bit higher than TOU.

[+3 Golfer]

That's interesting because I thought SRP EZ3 options are only 3-6 or 4-7. I didn't realize that there's a 2-5 option. Is that something you were grandfathered in?

For sure the 2-5 choice would be a winner. You get much better production this earlier during the day to cover any demand you may have during this small 3 hours window you may have. It's also easier to minimize AC usage during this 3 hours window. Maybe run your AC down to 75F before 2PM. Then you can probably go for an hour or 2 without any AC before the inside temperature creeps up to 78-80F, at which time you only have to run AC for the last hour or so for relief. If the 2-5pm choice is really available, I'm going to think hard about switching from TOU to EZ3 2-5pm.

In the latter part of 2012, SRP added two additional options to the EZ3 from the base (IIRC base was 3-6). But IIRC limited the sign up to the first 10,000 customer in the two new periods? I immediately signed up knowing I was going to add solar in 2013 and that it would fit a lot better with PV than the other periods. So, I immediately submitted the change online. I think the 3-6 would have worked for me because I would have simply shifted less if any load into the on-peak period. But the 2-5 is ideal because it provides solar generation above our normal 2-5 load requirements. So, I have to shift load into the period including "asking" my wife to do the laundry in the the 2-5 period.

When I was on APS, I was on a now-frozen 9am-9pm TOU except weekends and holidays. This allowed me to put a very small system in 3.36 kW (6300 kWh/year) for a home usage of about 10,000 kWh / year. With the favorable APS net metering, I was able to cover all my peak energy requirements except for just a few kWh in a couple months. My savings averaged about $840 per year or over $0.13 per kWh. Simple payback was 4.5 years. And all the vendors' quotes used a $0.12 rate on around 5600 kWh of generation per year.

[merle]

Thanks for this discussion of SRP options. I am trying to assess which SRP plan will work the best for me and this is very helpful.

merle

[Volusiano]

Thanks for this discussion of SRP options. I am trying to assess which SRP plan will work the best for me and this is very helpful.

You might have already known that if one SRP plans doesn't work for you, they'll let you switch to a different plan. So it's not a problem to try out one plan to see if it works for you and if not, try out another one. However, if you make a panel placement decision for your solar system to optimize for a particular plan, that part is not going to be easily changeable, so you'll need to decide carefully there what you're going to do there.

[merle]

You might have already known that if one SRP plans doesn't work for you, they'll let you switch to a different plan. So it's not a problem to try out one plan to see if it works for you and if not, try out another one. However, if you make a panel placement decision for your solar system to optimize for a particular plan, that part is not going to be easily changeable, so you'll need to decide carefully there what you're going to do there.

Thanks. My 5K panel plan is set; all of my panels are fixed, facing 180 degree azimuth. I'm looking at the plans and there are good points and bad points for all of them. I'm on the (snooze) basic plan now. I know at least on this plan, our solar generation will keep us out of the dreaded "greater than 700KWhrs used per month" category.

[fhossain]

In the latter part of 2012, SRP added two additional options to the EZ3 from the base (IIRC base was 3-6). But IIRC limited the sign up to the first 10,000 customer in the two new periods? I immediately signed up knowing I was going to add solar in 2013 and that it would fit a lot better with PV than the other periods. So, I immediately submitted the change online. I think the 3-6 would have worked for me because I would have simply shifted less if any load into the on-peak period. But the 2-5 is ideal because it provides solar generation above our normal 2-5 load requirements. So, I have to shift load into the period including "asking" my wife to do the laundry in the the 2-5 period.

When I was on APS, I was on a now-frozen 9am-9pm TOU except weekends and holidays. This allowed me to put a very small system in 3.36 kW (6300 kWh/year) for a home usage of about 10,000 kWh / year. With the favorable APS net metering, I was able to cover all my peak energy requirements except for just a few kWh in a couple months. My savings averaged about $840 per year or over $0.13 per kWh. Simple payback was 4.5 years. And all the vendors' quotes used a $0.12 rate on around 5600 kWh of generation per year.

I am with APS with 9am-9pm TOU plan. I am thinking about installing a system to offset about 70% of usage - targeting to offset on-peak consumption for the most part. We use about 14,000 kwh per year of which slightly less than half is on-peak. Considering at 5.2 kw system that is expected to produce about 9,200 kwh. One installer suggested that I go with 8 kw system producing about 13,500 kwh. Which system makes more economic sense? Would highly appreciate your feedback.