Remember when “cutting the cord” was a money-saving strategy and then Big TV figured it out and now we’re all getting hosed again?
Yeah, here’s the solar version:
Where utilities are getting swamped with excess daytime solar production they’re moving to cut prices or, even worse, charging the homeowner for the export. All of which fucks up any payback schedule you may have planned.
Well, they put together their own models a while ago and got financing for new physical investments based on those models. Large-scale adoption of solar and the resulting buy-back of extra energy is probably upending their models, too. So there’s going to be pain on both sides for a while.
Of course, only one side can go to regulators, plead poverty, and get a rate adjustment.
Bingo.
Micro-inverters allow for easier expansion of the panel array now, and modular systems like the EcoFlow do the same for batteries. So that’s something we can use when planning a system but, if you were financing your system based on selling power and the utility changes its mind, you’re pretty much fucked.
Just to close the my loop here, my HOA stated that the prohibition of solar panels is allowed under Texas law because the association undertakes routine roof replacement on a fixed schedule.
I cannot find anything specific about that on the web, but the HOA threw in politely that they have taken legal advice on this; i.e. back off, buddy.
To be honest, Waldo’s comment about the cost of removing and replacing the solar panels when his roof was repaired had already cooled my jets significantly. Knowing that my roof was going to be replaced at a time not of my choosing - ignoring any longevity that may come from having it protected by solar panels - and that the cost of moving the panels was on me really upended any payback modeling.
The roof on my unit was replaced in 2006 and again in 2021, so a 15-year cycle.
I’m sure you smell the same odor of BS that I do with that response, but as you stated a 15 year roof cycle means you’d incur costs relatively quickly after reaching the break even point.
I’ve found this thread very helpful as we contemplate solar panels of our own.
ETA: and if you wanted to be a dick about it you could politely ask for a copy of the correspondence the HoA had with their counsel.
Being a dick about these things is usually my default position. But getting into a fight with the HOA over my right to install the panels - incurring legal expenses - and then getting into a fight with the Architecture Committee over the installation itself - incurring legal expenses - wasn’t making the cost/benefit calculation look any better.
Sorry, I’m not seeing it.
You shouldn’t have to incur any legal expenses to request a copy of the HOA’s correspondence with their counsel. They should be able to do that free of charge. They’re technically your lawyers.
Just as an add on, we’ve had about 80% solar for two years. It produces plenty of solar for daytime use, but not enough to bank through the night at full power. We just switched to a free nighttime electricity plan, so we should see a reduction of costs. When the electricity goes off in Houston, and our neighbors’ generators kick in, the solar and the batteries are enough to get us quietly through the night if we do some judicious power trimming. It was money well spent.
Oh for sure. But there’s no point in doing this unless I intend to pursue the matter further, which I do not.
The next windmill at which to tilt is having the HOA install a community-wide solar/battery system…
Well, the point was to just be a dick. But I get that you’re a “catch flies with honey” kind of guy, like me.
This place is sticky with all the honey. At least I hope it’s honey.
Yeah. But between the election and F1 even I have only a limited amount of dick to work with.
TWSS
I know I said I was done, but…
I asked the HOA if I could install solar panels on my carport roof. I don’t know if that would be viable for me as my house is south-facing and would shade the carport some of the day (not so for those units in north-facing blocks, whose carports get full sun all day), but I asked anyway.
Apparently they have been considering adding panels to the carports to power community power needs such as lighting, but it is not a priority. However, unlike the unit roofs, the carport roofs are community property, and so not available for individual homeowners to install panels.
So I suggested that they consider covering/replacing all the carport roofs with panels, which would generate a significant amount of power. That could then be sold to the grid or used by homeowners, perhaps with a community battery station so that we would be our own self-contained grid.
Haven’t heard back on that one yet…
I’m thinking you need to run for a spot on the HOA board.
I was thinking the same thing. Limey seems like a nice fit for a HOA board chair.
That sounds like it requires me to talk to people with my mouth.
I went ahead and purchased a Jackery 1000 with 2 100 watt solar panels. It’s sunny out, it’s fun watching it charge up the battery storage unit… Well, now it’s starting to get kind of boring just staring at my phone app. But it’s already at 56%!!!
Forgive my ignorance, but how long has it been charging and give me some sense at how much storage that is (hours powering something I’m familiar with)?