TO PV OR NOT TO PV

(Page 4 of 4)

February/March 2001
 
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"Do you want to see it really working?" Ed asked the crowd.

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We responded enthusiastically, and Ed quickly walked out of the garage and down to the street. My family and the rest rushed to follow, not really sure what we were about to witness. The sun was burning bright on a typical 75'F July afternoon in the Rockies.

"Take a look at your electric meter. Then go across the street and look at your neighbor's meter."

I did as I was told and quickly returned, only this time the big smile was all mine.

"Ours is spinning backwards!"

And it was, which of course meant that our batteries were fully charged and that every extra ounce of amp our little power plant created was being sent back to the utility company. We were literally watching the solar panels pay for themselves right before our very eyes.

"Payback" in a PV system is a complicated proposition. Technically, we began to save most of our nearly $200 monthly electric bill as soon as we threw the switch. At a savings rate of, say, $150 a month, it would take 18 years for the system cost to find its way back to us. That assumes, of course, a static cost for utility power, and the millions who have endured a 100% increase in grid power cost just this year will strenuously argue that assumption.

So, with smiles all around, we quickly downed the lone bottle of champagne and broke out the beer and hot dogs. The sun would do the rest.

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