Solar Panels Declined

 

We looked hard into solar panels.  We were super close to going with a company that would install and maintain them and we more or less would rent them from them.

It sounded all good like we would be able to more or less run the house from solar panels and only have the grid connection for the odd necessity. This is not how it ended up working at all.

At first we were told that this was how it would work.  Then they wanted us to sign more agreements before getting the full information and design.  Then as we were thinking about it someone else in the company said that the system would be much different and that solar would only cover 60% of our need.  So on top of everything we were being told different things by different people.  In the end we looked into doing it ourselves.  We quickly realized now unregulated so much of solar still is.

If I had more land and the ability to take a hit if parts needed replacement due to failures, then maybe.  As it is we don't have the room for solar (way better to be ground mounted) and do our gardening and have a yard.  Whereas the roof gives more sun access, it also voids the roof warranty and is hard on maintenance. They perform better mounted down and if they can move some with the sun even better.  The roof is seldom optimal for the angle. 

We also talked to a guy who has installed more systems than I could have imagined, a real pro.  He recommended not doing solar for our situation for many of the reasons above.  I know there is the government support right now but I don't see going solar any time soon.

What these companies are doing is using the government programs to cover the install and staff payroll and at the same time "renting the panels to you."  They are in effect paid twice for a good portion of the panels.  If you want the panels they sell them to you at full price, prorated for value but not the discount they got up front.  On top of that they probably got a bulk discount on the panels as well.

If someone tells you that your house will be considered an energy producer with Oncor, it's a lie.  A house will NEVER be more than a house.  Oncor will always get their cut in all directions.

Solar Days Getting Shorter

As you may know the sun is starting to be out less. It's probably not very noticable yet but it soon will be. As we get into July and August it will be painfully apparent that there is less light to do stuff by that needs to get done.
Then starting in August the orbit of the planet will do something that none of us really like. High noon, the actuall middle of the day, will quickly become earlier and earlier effectively chopping out twenty-five minutes from the available daylight in the evening and putting it up front on top of having a shorter total span of daylight.
In effect this causes the sun to rise about the same time every morning for a couple months while the sun sets an hour earlier by the end of that same span. At least where I live in north central Texas and similar latitudes.
The overall effect to me is that I'll have a booger of a time getting everything watered in the evening while there is still light.