My power costs for the year to 4.12.09 were down by $754. First year on solar power. The generated power was 1518 kwhrs.
That left me with a total cost for the 12 months at $286
Two more solar panels and i won't have a power bill at all.
They are the greatest things ever.

Ludwig;
There is only one way to stop immigration and that is to stop
Development applications being approved.
Pretty drastic, but unless we stop the building of new houses we will
not stop immigration. It would even stop the boat people.

My son who lives in Melbourne has a system, an evaporative system I
believe, that is quite effective. Not sure how it would go in Queensland.
Reverse cycle heating is more efficient than any other form of heating.
I believe it achieves around 140% efficiency so long as the outside
temperature is above about 5C.

<< Think of government offices, they're putting in new ones everyday, I know I do it! >>

RawMustard, there is certainly a lack of will in the public service to try and set any sort of an example. I know, I’m in it!

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<< Two more solar panels and i won't have a power bill at all. They are the greatest things ever. >>

Sounds good Desmond. But of course we need to consider the total costs, not just the power bill.

I wonder how much the solar panels cost to manufacture, install, service and decommission, both in monetary terms and CO2 output.

Then I wonder how this compares to the same electricity production from coal via the grid?

Do you get a government subsidy for the installation of solar panels?

Are they likely to be damaged in a big storm, with high winds or big hailstones?

Desmond;

You bill is down by $754 for 1518 KWH !
75400/1518 = 49.67 cent per kwh ?
Where do you live that has electricity so expensive ?

There has to be some other factor in your costs.

kwh Used 4435
1575 watt solar array
1518 kwh's generated
1430 kwh's imported @ .20 cents / kw = $ 286.
750 kwh's Exported @ .60 cents / kw = $ 450 Paid as credit
737 kwh's generated used in house
A power loss of 2/cent
12.15 kwh's used / day / year in house
average / year for generation = 6.4285 kwh's / day
Savings on previous year $ 754.
Cost for year $ 286.
I am counting the cost of kwh's not service fees which we don't have any control over. Maybe a good thing lower service charges for those with solar power.
2/cent of power disappears in the system between the power converter and the meter.

Desmond, OK tks understand now.
What happens if you amortise the installation over say 5 or 10 years ?
Do you have batteries on it ?
If not it looks like your night time load is small.