2009 Solar production at our place

We just got the "Net Energy Metering Electric Statement" for the past year from Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E). We've gotten the statements on a monthly basis ever the since we put up the panels in 2005. When you work with PG&E on this type of arrangement, you actually become a California Energy Supplier! We have a bi-directional meter, so that on months when we make more electricity that we use, we enrich the mix. When we use more that we make, we pull from the grid.

The grid is our energy bank, in other words.

Here is our energy statement:

Last month, for example, we "made" 198 kilowatts more than we used. By way of comparison, for the same period in 2008, we "made" 186 kilowatts more than we used, and in 2007, the figure was 164. (The year before that, PG&E reported the production in such a weird way, I can't understand it.) You don't have to be a rocket scientist to notice that this represents a trend of more days of sunshine.

People have often asked me if PG&E pays us for the energy we send back to the grid. In a word: No. We were early adopters, and the deal we made was for a $9000.00 grant in exchange for not getting any payback on the excess energy. This is just about an even deal, when you do the math. We put up as many collectors as our roof could hold (18) with the idea that we will replace gas appliances as they age, so we will, over time, be producing less excess energy. So, this means that the financial deal will come out in our favor over the long run, in any case.

Here's what the house looks like from the street, in case you're wondering:

The panels alter the roofline of the upper story, but not tremendously. I think the main effect is that we have less squirrel scampering on that part of the roof. Bummer!