Hi I'm new to solar and in the middle of having it installed, I have some questions

[J.P.M.]

Thanks!
The lease agreement by Sunrun goes as follows:
Cost per kWh: $0.205
Annual Percentage Increase: 0.00%
System Size: 9.01 kW DC
Year One Production: 14,038 kWh
Lifetime Productions: 267,816 kWh

I still think they owe me one more panel to hit 901 kW DC
You guys lost me on the TOU stuff

PVWatts says: 18,961 kWh per Year
I'm going to read that book

I was using 25,000 Kw a year and we're trying to cutback
We installed energy efficient appliances, reinsulated and purchased a new evaporative cooler which is working out well
We would have already been into two months of air conditioning but have yet to turn it on due to the new cooler
we'll see how it does in this weekend's 120 degree heatwave
According to SDGE I use 80% more electricity on Sundays than any other day so we figured it's the electric dryer, not sure what I can do anout that

Unless I misunderstand what you're writing, or you misunderstand what you bought , It looks like you may well have have what's called a "PPA" = Power Purchase Agreement. That's what most of Sunrun's business is. That is different than a lease.

If it is a PPA, the co. - in this case Sunrun - owns the system and will retain ownership under the agreement. Their system will be placed on your property and will produce electricity, all of which you will buy for the agreed upon price of $0.20/kWh.

If it's a lease, you'll pay that $230/month and get all the system production for that fixed price. In that case, If the system produces more than 14,038 kWh/yr., the cost /kWh from the system will be less.

Read the agreement to see if you have a lease or a PPA. They are different.

BTW, production guarantees are mostly a useless and cynical joke played on the solar ignorant by vendors. The numbers a system must meet are so low you're likely to trip over them, and the cumulative nature of the production requirements is such that I doubt any vendor has ever paid a production warranty claim. Then there's the nebulous area of the mark - excuse me- customer - not maintaining the system according to the agreement, which will of course, void any warranty claim.

As for the clothes dryer, two things:
1.) Run the dryer with the heating element off and see how long a load takes to dry. In The desert, @ 100 + deg. and dew points in the 40's, the lack of extra heat may be made up for by already hot, dry air. That worked fine for me in Albuquerque in the summer.
2.) Better yet, and probably best of all, unless you're in one of the few HOA's in Borrego, you're at ground zero for the most cost effective clothes dryer on earth : a clothes line.

Read the book, brush up on the difference between owning, leasing and PPA'ing, and when your done, get on the SDG & E website, take a very deep breath and start understanding tariffs, ways SDG & E can sell you electricity and how those tariffs work. It's a big PITA, but patience and a few hours can be very informative.

While you're at it, also see the SDG & E website about energy audits. In the desert or not, at 25,000 kWh/yr., you are a prime candidate for an energy audit.

[Steve92004]

Thanks, what are you doing with your place in Borrego?
I called Sunrun, I'm definitely on a lease and can keep any excess power
I'm fighting with the solar company for the panel they shorted me to bring it to the actual 9 kW DC I'm paying for and to fix my oven.
After three weeks of asking, I kind of went off on them this morning and told them fix it or come get your crap and go home.
I'm guessing after paying for my brand new roof and electric panel they will bend before going home
I got Sunrun involved with it this morning
That book is awesome, good stuff... thanks!

[J.P.M.]

Thanks, what are you doing with your place in Borrego?
I called Sunrun, I'm definitely on a lease and can keep any excess power
I'm fighting with the solar company for the panel they shorted me to bring it to the actual 9 kW DC I'm paying for and to fix my oven.
After three weeks of asking, I kind of went off on them this morning and told them fix it or come get your crap and go home.
I'm guessing after paying for my brand new roof and electric panel they will bend before going home
I got Sunrun involved with it this morning
That book is awesome, good stuff... thanks!

You're welcome. My condolences on your oven and your continued dealings with Sunrun. Opinions vary, and FWIW, mine are such that Sunrun is right down there with the other solar bottom feeder - SolarCity. But, not my house, contract, and definitely NOMB.

The 10 acres, about a mile off where Borrego Springs Rd. turns off to Henderson canyon rd. is still empty. I'm waiting (probably in vain) for the price of dirt to go up. I designed (with an architect) what was going to be my solar magnum opus, with lots of ideas, including very high mass combined w/ heavy external insulation and passive solar, but used std. building materials and techniques combined with some unusual features in some non std. ways. Got as far as through plan check looking good and things then went south. Long, boring story. Life goes on. If I keep the land, it'll probably be the biggest cemetery plot in Borrego.

Maybe that guy (Ricardo Breceda) who does the rusting metal stuff could put a structure of Helios and his four steeds on the property with the chariot running east to west. Not only would the thing be facing the right way to do its mission, but all the horses asses would be mooning the road that accesses the property. Class.

[SunEagle]

You're welcome. My condolences on your oven and your continued dealings with Sunrun. Opinions vary, and FWIW, mine are such that Sunrun is right down there with the other solar bottom feeder - SolarCity. But, not my house, contract, and definitely NOMB.

The 10 acres about a mile off were Borrego Springs Rd. turns off to Henderson canyon rd. is still empty. I'm waiting (probably in vain) for the price of dirt to go up. I designed (with an architect) what was going to be my solar magnum opus, with lots of ideas, including very high mass combined w/ heavy external insulation and passive solar, but used std. building materials and techniques combined with some unusual features in some non std. ways. Got as far as through plan check looking good and things then went south. Long, boring story. Life goes on. If I keep the land, it'll probably be the biggest cemetery plot in Borrego.

Maybe that guy (Ricardo Breceda) who does the rusting metal stuff could put a structure of Helios and his four steeds on the property with the chariot running east to west. Not only would the thing be facing the right way to do its mission, but all the horses asses would be mooning the road that accesses the property. Class.

I am seeing a couple of big solar arrays in that area. One looks like a multi axis system near the little airport. They must get a lot of sun in those parts. Too bad your plans have changed.

I also had a change in plans. I purchased 15 acres in N Florida with plans for my retirement home. That has taken a turn so we downsized to 2.5 acres in the Brooksville Fl area close to my kids. At least I have a lot of clear space to install a ground mount system.

[J.P.M.]

I am seeing a couple of big solar arrays in that area. One looks like a multi axis system near the little airport. They must get a lot of sun in those parts. Too bad your plans have changed.

I also had a change in plans. I purchased 15 acres in N Florida with plans for my retirement home. That has taken a turn so we downsized to 2.5 acres in the Brooksville Fl area close to my kids. At least I have a lot of clear space to install a ground mount system.

There are 2 solar farms in Borrego. One is near the airport and somewhat recent. I'm not as familiar with that one. The other is a 26 MW affair a couple of miles west of the airport and a somewhat standard single axis array. One of my neighbors and friends is an inspector w/the county (AHJ) and was the guy who monitored/inspected/signed off/red tagged that plant as needed during construction on that facility. Lots of stories.

Borrego Springs is in a bit of a unique situation. Besides being pretty much identical to Phoenix for annual temp. distribution and solar availability, it's also at the very end of the SDG & E grid. So, due to its location and relative isolation, it's more costly for SDG & E to operate there. Bottom line: Borrego will perhaps be among the first places in the U.S. where large scale electricity storage becomes cost effective. At this time, the 26 MW plant can meet a good portion of peak demand and meets ~ 1/3 or so of total annual consumption. There is also work afoot to have a micro grid for the whole town that uses the energy from the farm. Doesn't take genius to figure out where that can and may be headed. When the cost of storage gets to the right point, triple the PV generating capacity for a small, relatively isolated community in a sunny area, and voila - community energy independence for ~ 5,000 people or so, and a reduction in cost and hassle for the POCO.

The house I designed would have been somethin' to see - or maybe not. One of the (visual) design goals was such that if you knew the place was there, you'd see it, but the plan was to fit in w/ the surroundings in a way that if you weren't looking for it and just driving by, you might not notice it. Another goal was full HVAC capability, but between the thermal mass and exterior insulation resulting in a building thermal time constant of ~ 14 days and passive solar features, including moveable window shading/insulation, aux. energy need and use would be a minimum, or none. A 6-8 kW or so ground mount array would provide power with a grid tie. A batch heater would supply the hot water. I'd done most of the things incorporated into the design before and pretty sure they'd work. If not, or if something better came along, most of the design was flexible enough that modification would be possible without starting over or major disruption.

[Steve92004]

So you're just past Deanza Country Club? There was just a ridiculous 120 acre parcel right there for $60k
Funny about the Helios statue lol. You could probably get Breceda to do it cheap now that Avery has passed away and he doesn't have much work
I'm South of you off Country Club Road, got a few parcels with a couple houses and horses and crap
I think it's a shame that we put up with those giant eyesore solar farms and don't get any break on the electric prices.
I was under the impression that much of the electricity in Borrego is brought in from Imperial, I followed the power lines in Google Earth and they all seem to end up at the giant hydro plants on the All American Canal
I work in Imperial County and I've in Borrego for forty years
I priced out my oven it's $1600 bucks, the control panel alone is $300 and no guarantee that if I buy it it will work.
I'm surprised that even after Sunrun directed the solar company (My Energy) to call me they still haven't
All they have left to do is put the meter on the inverter and hookup their WiFi receiver to my router.
I was talking to my salesman and he said the company ran way over on the cost of the project, they were expecting to get somebody to do the roof for under 10 grand but it was over 15 grand, he replace the plywood, fascia, put lifetime shingles, and painted everything
He said the electric panel upgrade was a couple grand after new panel. breakers, stucco and head pipe
He said the solar system was about 17 grand and the roof/other things were another 17 grand so my $.20 kWh is really around $.10kWh
His logic may flawed but made sense to me

[J.P.M.]

So you're just past Deanza Country Club? There was just a ridiculous 120 acre parcel right there for $60k
Funny about the Helios statue lol. You could probably get Breceda to do it cheap now that Avery has passed away and he doesn't have much work
I'm South of you off Country Club Road, got a few parcels with a couple houses and horses and crap
I think it's a shame that we put up with those giant eyesore solar farms and don't get any break on the electric prices.
I was under the impression that much of the electricity in Borrego is brought in from Imperial, I followed the power lines in Google Earth and they all seem to end up at the giant hydro plants on the All American Canal
I work in Imperial County and I've in Borrego for forty years
I priced out my oven it's $1600 bucks, the control panel alone is $300 and no guarantee that if I buy it it will work.
I'm surprised that even after Sunrun directed the solar company (My Energy) to call me they still haven't
All they have left to do is put the meter on the inverter and hookup their WiFi receiver to my router.
I was talking to my salesman and he said the company ran way over on the cost of the project, they were expecting to get somebody to do the roof for under 10 grand but it was over 15 grand, he replace the plywood, fascia, put lifetime shingles, and painted everything
He said the electric panel upgrade was a couple grand after new panel. breakers, stucco and head pipe
He said the solar system was about 17 grand and the roof/other things were another 17 grand so my $.20 kWh is really around $.10kWh
His logic may flawed but made sense to me

Past De Anza by a mile or so. That place has a tight HOA, is too crowded for me, and I don't play golf anyway, Besides, most folks there are so uptight and such tightasses, only dogs can hear their farts. Lots of movie stars apparently hid out there. All dead now.
My land is farther north where B.S. rd. turns east onto/into Henderson Canyon rd., then go north about another mile or so.
I knew Mr. Avery a bit more than casually. He owned about 10 % of the property as well as a home in the HOA where my land is. Decent sort (for an ambulance chaser). Money came from Avery Office Products. R.I.P. Dennis Avery.
Opinions vary, but I think those piles of rust he commissioned and put all over Galleta Meadows (land which he pretty much owned all of) are much more egregious and out of place as eyesores than the solar farms. For those perhaps interested, Google "Galleta meadows metal scluptures" and draw your own conclusions.
I'm pretty sure all the power that comes into Borrego gets billed by SDG & E, although some of it may find its way there from IIWD.
That you have not been contacted by Sunrun or their minions is, based on my dealings with them, not the least bit surprising to me.
For my curiosity, can you explain to me whether that $ 0.20/kWh is a fixed charge, an average, or just where that figure comes from ?

[Steve92004]

Past De Anza by a mile or so. That place has a tight HOA, is too crowded for me, and I don't play golf anyway, Besides, most folks there are so uptight and such tightasses, only dogs can hear their farts. Lots of movie stars apparently hid out there. All dead now.
My land is farther north where B.S. rd. turns east onto/into Henderson Canyon rd., then go north about another mile or so.
I knew Mr. Avery a bit more than casually. He owned about 10 % of the property as well as a home in the HOA where my land is. Decent sort (for an ambulance chaser). Money came from Avery Office Products. R.I.P. Dennis Avery.
Opinions vary, but I think those piles of rust he commissioned and put all over Galleta Meadows (land which he pretty much owned all of) are much more egregious and out of place as eyesores than the solar farms. For those perhaps interested, Google "Galleta meadows metal scluptures" and draw your own conclusions.
I'm pretty sure all the power that comes into Borrego gets billed by SDG & E, although some of it may find its way there from IIWD.
That you have not been contacted by Sunrun or their minions is, based on my dealings with them, not the least bit surprising to me.
For my curiosity, can you explain to me whether that $ 0.20/kWh is a fixed charge, an average, or just where that figure comes from ?

The $0.20 kWh comes from the monthly lease payment divided by the guaranteed output, if I get more kWh out of the system I keep the excess free. If i get less I get refunded the same amount per kWhr. The payment stays the same but the refund goes up and guaranteed output declines as the panels age
I was under the impression that SDG&E buys some of the electricity from IID and charges a markup (about double)
This may be reduced by the Microgrid Solar Farm in use by the airport and there is even a larger facility now on the 78 near Ocotillo Wells on the San Diego/Imperial county line
My wife worked for Avery, here we are on some of his property near our place

[J.P.M.]

The $0.20 kWh comes from the monthly lease payment divided by the guaranteed output, if I get more kWh out of the system I keep the excess free. If i get less I get refunded the same amount per kWhr. The payment stays the same but the refund goes up and guaranteed output declines as the panels age
I was under the impression that SDG&E buys some of the electricity from IID and charges a markup (about double)
This may be reduced by the Microgrid Solar Farm in use by the airport and there is even a larger facility now on the 78 near Ocotillo Wells on the San Diego/Imperial county line
My wife worked for Avery, here we are on some of his property near our place

A picture is worth a thousand words. I rest my case with respect to the appropriateness of metal animals. .

[Steve92004]

A picture is worth a thousand words. I rest my case with respect to the appropriateness of metal animals. .

I like em lol

[J.P.M.]

I like em lol

Beauty's in the eye. Different strokes, etc.

[CharlieEscCA]

I like em lol

How can you not like em???

[Steve92004]

How can you not like em???

Right! We have lunch together a few times a week

[J.P.M.]

How can you not like em???

I love the desert just like it is. Those things are no more appropriate to the desert than pinwheels, or Las Vegas, or ATV's tearing up the countryside and disturbing the peace, and only slightly less bombastic and crass. Leave the desert like it is, and don't misuse it or disrespect it by treating as a place for some artist's wet dream. That stuff is on Avery's land and what happened was his choice and right to do as he wanted - no beef from me on that. But, IMO, he whored out what he claimed he loved so much - the undisturbed desert in its natural state for all to enjoy. FWIW, I could do without the solar farms as well, but at least they're in one spot. I think the metal animals and most of the rest of the sculptures/metalwork are no more than an inappropriate eyesore. But, opinions vary.

[CharlieEscCA]

I love the desert just like it is. Those things are no more appropriate to the desert than pinwheels, or Las Vegas, or ATV's tearing up the countryside and disturbing the peace, and only slightly less bombastic and crass. Leave the desert like it is, and don't misuse it or disrespect it by treating as a place for some artist's wet dream. That stuff is on Avery's land and what happened was his choice and right to do as he wanted - no beef from me on that. But, IMO, he whored out what he claimed he loved so much - the undisturbed desert in its natural state for all to enjoy. FWIW, I could do without the solar farms as well, but at least they're in one spot. I think the metal animals and most of the rest of the sculptures/metalwork are no more than an inappropriate eyesore. But, opinions vary.

I was teasing, lol.

Nothing wrong with your opinion.

So, how expensive were all of your Borrego Springs wild ideas going to be to build? I'm trying to figure out what I can do cost effective wise with my Valley Center build next year in terms of getting my yearly KWh usage down.