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<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 09/05/2019 02:16 PM, Logan Harbaugh
wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite"
cite="mid:188b01d56416$14207ff0$3c617fd0$@lharba.com">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Another
thing that makes a big difference is the price per KW of
electricity. Last time I looked into it, prices varied by more
than a factor of 10 from cheapest to most expensive, so time
to amortize a solar array can vary from less than a year to
more than five. Local utilities can also play a role – my
city’s local power utility is trying to get a proposal through
the city council to eliminate the credit for power returned to
the system as well as charging a fee for connecting to the
grid. This is not in the least to any customer’s benefit, it’s
solely to improve profits for the utility. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</blockquote>
<p>And NYSEG is in the process of trying to push through a major
electricity rate hike so they can, of all things, expand a major
gas line (about 2 mi. north of me) to bring more fracked gas
(Which I don't directly utilize myself.) up from Pennsylvania to
the NE to encourage industrial growth. That unknown, of course,
further scrambles the amortization calculations. <br>
</p>
<p>But then my well insulated all-electric house, with its
ground-source heat pump, runs utility bills only $50 to $100/month
almost year-round. <br>
</p>
<p>BUT, solar would cover any possible NYSEG power outages. <br>
</p>
<p>Which are very rare. In the 50 years we've lived here I can
remember only two or three relatively short (one day? Maybe??)
outages. And solar in upstate NY is dicey as it is, especially in
the winter, and I do have a wood burning stove for emergencies,
which also functions as a paper "shredder." <br>
</p>
<p>But still, no NYSEG bills? Tempting. <br>
</p>
<p>Oh, the house is paid for, I'm debt free and have the resources
to stay that way. I have friends who, a few years ago, put solar
panels on their barn roof and their home equity loan will be paid
off in a few more years. <br>
</p>
<p>SO, it probably makes no sense for me anyway, but I'll continue
researching, making no decision before next spring. <br>
</p>
<p>If I live that long. <br>
</p>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
Dennis Fowler
P. O. Box 70
Otego, NY 13825
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:dennisf63@wildblue.net">dennisf63@wildblue.net</a></pre>
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