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Not practical in the upper midwest (Minnesota). Xcel Utilities will only pay a maximum of OVER 10% of your average monthly use based on your past year. So if my average monthly use is $60 for last year, that would be $66 bucks. Any amount above that average made by solar panels goes into the meter and Xcel sells all excess from everyone over dumped by solar into the meter at spec electric prices..and make a killing. Also they currently claim that my electric rate is 8.79c kWh.
In reality after fees, last month's usage it was 17.29c per kWh. Maybe my winter rates may be 15c kWh. My current data hall rates for ONE S9i thru buddy (Maxumark) is 10c kWh. So, I did pressure Xcel and find out of a large rooftop flat dormer on the roof. I could split it. 2 panels. Say use 1kw a month out of 9kw a month for Xcel to a panel of my own. and that would leave 8kw for my own use. With Minnesota and Night and All ...say average I would have MAYBE 4kw average maybe I could draw upon? Maybe? That would be what maybe 2 s9i's or so underclocked?
The price, last I looked with solar rebates this year was 21K (from 29k) to put up the above mentioned 9k solar setup complete. But rebates are going away end of 2019. All I think? Also 30% tariff on Chinese Solar Panels (maybe on top of regular tariffs as well? could it really be 57.6% with fees). Beyond dorked we are on this idea.
This does not work on so many levels as more or less impossible to justify for my home electric use. Maybe with a hobby farm or something, but as it is it is a no-go in a big way. My brother however put up a 20kw setup 7 years ago the utilities had to grandfather him in..he makes $250 to $300 a month profit I think. None of this 10% limit crap. Amazing how once being an entrepreneur works dandy in 2012 or so now the big guys come along in 2019 and change the rules to be more centralized an't it? You can't make money as a utility if every homeowner can take a chance and overbuild by 1/3 and sell the electric back. Thus change the laws and keep the Ad's going on T.V. for your Xcel centralized wind and solar farms here in Minnesota along with Nuclear. Got to keep all the marbles, don't ya know. No profit in this decentralized approach if you are a utility.
So no go. Indeed, by next year it will be a hell no, never can be done no-go, even if you use a lot more electric than I use. Regulation has killed this idea of using solar in this part of the country deader than dead.
Anyone have a nice 6c kWh solar farm someplace I can sneak a few miners in, let me know. I still may only be breaking even at these prices and with the tariff but on hope and prayer for 2020 future of BTC/halving/prices...I might take that action. By my lonesome in Minnesota with above stuff going on...er not so much.
later
Brad
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I sent them all a message. I will post on here what the actual real price is dividing your FULL KW and any monthly fees by the bill paid each month. And/or if they vary the bill each month vs their on spec electric costs on market. (Some data halls due such). We will see. But at 7.5c kWh, I'm assuming this is the same more or less game that I tried to find out last year. Which came out close to 10c kWh with shipping of units and setup costs per unit and the rest per monthly bill on a 6-month contract and/or 12-month contract complete. When you add it all up, it came to around 9.5c to 10c kWh. That is from those who actually would do the math for me legitimately. 1/2 just gave me the kWh and did not answer the rest of it in any manner I was satisfied with.
Hopefully, times have changed and I am surprised. Still, have the frigging 27.6% tariff with shipping to contend with on new equipment, that may kill this information I may get anyway. But I'm bored, so I sent them a quick note, to all of the above links you mention. We will see. (Did not bother with the 50 miner minimum one..that would be silly)
Brad