Okay, let's compare electric bills for last month...

[Chas_svo]

I'm loving my solar panels right now!
just under 4800sqft 3 A/Cs
the last 4 months were:
June 1505 60.27
May 1264 49.24
April 753 (0.12)
March 424 15.68

my rate is only 6.2 but expires on 8/3 so I'm on the hunt right now. I have to use TXU or green mountain as they are the only ones that buy my unused energy back so that part sucks!

As far as the Nest....I am actually a thermostat manufacturer rep and the nest doesn't have the greatest history in the industry with the techs. there are some who like it but so far its not been the golden egg. However they did do a good job of getting the "Apple Cult" to buy in. There are a lot of other stats that have wifi capabilities now that are a better choice. Ours wont be out until next month but theres still plenty of competitors that are good options today. I have our beta versions on my house and love being able to change it. Just my 0.02

What would you recommend now?

[mstng86]

Something I have not seen mentioned, that may help some of you understand when your primary consumption is, is to use smartmetertexas.com.. If you have a smart meter (which most should have by now) you can register it there and view your consumption at a daily / hourly level.

You'll need your ESI ID and Meter Number, both of which should be on your invoice.

Thanks! I am going to check that out.

[kpc01]

What would you recommend now?

Really any wifi capable stat allows you to adjust the stat. Most people (me included) don't use the programmable part of their stat. the nest is supposed to learn you. From what I've heard if people go out of town or change up their schedule much at all during the week they basically have to relearn the schedule. I don't use programmable but when I know my wife left for work I jump on my phone and turn it up. Since we are not 8-5 M-F its hard to learn. Ecobee, Honeywell, nest, and a few others are now wifi and some can be had at HD or lowes. We only sell ours through distributors/contractors but outside of mine (White-Rodgers) I would recommend the HW stats for good quality and they have wifi out now too.

[kingjason]

1850 Sq foot. House built fairly well in the 80's but could use more insulation. Thermostat on 73 all the time and pool pump running 12 hours a day. I do have a new programmable high efficiency pump and it made a huge difference in consumption. My TXU rate was 9.6 on average and my bill was 219.00. Last year I was well over 300 one month. Oh and all my windows need replaced. I here that makes a difference. You can actually here the wind whip thru them at times. I also have a human sized dog door. Just FYI on that I got a security boss dog door and it made a huge difference. I have had many noisy ass air leaking dog doors and this one wins hands down. You can walk over in that corner of the house and there is no temperature difference. I have only heard it flap open a few times during crazy high winds. Still so easy my little dog bolts right thru it. My last house you could tell a big difference with the petsafe door and that part of the house stayed warmer or colder depending on the weather. My AC ran non stop in that house. Oh and 3.5 outside unit and 4.0 inside unit about 9 years old. Oh and last thing my water heater and A/C are gas. Most of my bills are under a hundred in the winter months.

[kpc01]

Lets see if this works right...heres one pic of the back roof then a few of the side which faces south. then a street view where you can't really even see them.

http://imgur.com/a/tgd80/

[Chas_svo]

Really any wifi capable stat allows you to adjust the stat. Most people (me included) don't use the programmable part of their stat. the nest is supposed to learn you. From what I've heard if people go out of town or change up their schedule much at all during the week they basically have to relearn the schedule. I don't use programmable but when I know my wife left for work I jump on my phone and turn it up. Since we are not 8-5 M-F its hard to learn. Ecobee, Honeywell, nest, and a few others are now wifi and some can be had at HD or lowes. We only sell ours through distributors/contractors but outside of mine (White-Rodgers) I would recommend the HW stats for good quality and they have wifi out now too.

Thanks! HW is a customer of ours, so that helps too, but it's just their defense division.

[Machx2]

My last months is 1137kwh 111.32 is my bill. It almost doubled from last month.

[mirefire 2.0]

Lets see if this works right...heres one pic of the back roof then a few of the side which faces south. then a street view where you can't really even see them.

http://imgur.com/a/tgd80/

I have a few questions if you don't mind...

A) What is typical startup cost for getting into solar panels, maybe 1/2 of what you have?
B) Do you get a rebate/subsidy from govt or state when you first do it?
C) What kind of setup do you have to have on the inside to connect all of that up? Do you have batteries to stores excess power?

[kpc01]

I have a few questions if you don't mind...

A) What is typical startup cost for getting into solar panels, maybe 1/2 of what you have?
B) Do you get a rebate/subsidy from govt or state when you first do it?
C) What kind of setup do you have to have on the inside to connect all of that up? Do you have batteries to stores excess power?

A) My total cost was around 28k but that would of been without any rebates or help. Its priced by watt so you could just about cut that in half for an idea. Mine is about a 10.08kw system

B)I am on oncor delivery and they had a huge deal going on where they paid so much per watt towards the system. We had to get on a list and see if we made it in time for the funds. We did my house and my dads. After Oncor paid some I ended up paying just under 8k. Then got my credit on my income tax so got about $2300 back if I remember right. I got a hell of a deal but I heard that program has been back up again so it might be worth checking.

C) I don't have batteries, mine ties right into my breaker box and I use it as its made. Any unused energy goes back to the grid. TX is not extremely solar friendly so companies are not required to buy it back. Unfortunately there are only 3 companies that buy it back that I know of. So you either sell it back and pay a higher monthly rate to them or go with someone who doesn't and have to give it back free. (Batteries are an option but expensive and require space I didn't want to do) I'm with TXU now and they buy back my power at 7.5 cent so not too bad!

[LS1Goat]

$135.05

1335 kWh

[zachary]

usage amount

870 93.38
707 74.16
904 89.58
1203 93.99
1224 109.30

3100' 2 story three a/c units(one for upstairs, downstairs, and sunroom) all electric

[zachary]

A) My total cost was around 28k but that would of been without any rebates or help. Its priced by watt so you could just about cut that in half for an idea. Mine is about a 10.08kw system

B)I am on oncor delivery and they had a huge deal going on where they paid so much per watt towards the system. We had to get on a list and see if we made it in time for the funds. We did my house and my dads. After Oncor paid some I ended up paying just under 8k. Then got my credit on my income tax so got about $2300 back if I remember right. I got a hell of a deal but I heard that program has been back up again so it might be worth checking.

C) I don't have batteries, mine ties right into my breaker box and I use it as its made. Any unused energy goes back to the grid. TX is not extremely solar friendly so companies are not required to buy it back. Unfortunately there are only 3 companies that buy it back that I know of. So you either sell it back and pay a higher monthly rate to them or go with someone who doesn't and have to give it back free. (Batteries are an option but expensive and require space I didn't want to do) I'm with TXU now and they buy back my power at 7.5 cent so not too bad!

Have you calculated your years to payout on the system? In Louisiana the tax returns are incredible and we quoted a large system and even had them come take measurements but never pulled the trigger yet.

[Mikecobra302]

$160 for 1403kWh with Reliant.

2450 sq ft House. 78 degrees when I'm not home, 75 chilling at the house, 73 when I sleep.

[Grant]

2500sqft 2-story home built in 2006 and I always feel like it's comfortable or chilly

Energy Rate per kWh:8.87¢
Average Rate per kWh:9.9¢

Current Charges
Ambit Energy Charges
Energy Charge (30 days, 1,239 kWh @ $0.0858) $ 106.31
Total Ambit Energy Charges $ 106.31
Oncor TDU Delivery Charges
Delivery rate increase 6/19-7/19 $ 9.03
Transmission Distribution Surcharges
Advanced Metering Charge $ 2.19
Energy Efficiency Cost Recovery Factor $ 1.23
Rate Case Surcharge 2 $ 0.04
Total Oncor TDU Delivery Charges $ 12.49
Taxes and other fees
Energy Taxes and other fees $ 2.30
TDU Taxes and other fees $ 0.26
Sales Tax $ 2.44
Total Taxes and other fees $ 5.00
Total Current Charges $ 123.80

[Trick Pony]

$161.77 for 1532 kWh from TXU