New solar panel info

[kandrathe]

The cost is the limiting thing on the solar cells. I've talked to a lady who had cells put on her house (a fairly average sized house too) to reduce the electric bill (not taken completely off the grid, but during the day they get it from their solar cells) and she told me that she hasn't paid anything to the electric company since she put them up. They also cost her $20,000. If that cost comes down, putting a couple cells on your roof becomes a very practical thing to supplement what you pull out of wires. The downside would be the electric company goes broke.:P

The power plant and the wires she depend on cost money, and currently due to incentives alternative energy is artificially cheaper. Tax payers are subsidizing her power use. If everyone had a solar array, subsidies would go away, then the cost of the power she does use will rise to cover the cost of the plant and wires. This lady is actually paying about $150 per month, plus the cost to maintain her own power system. She just paid for it in advance. She is not telling you the truth, since you have to pay for the connection itself, but maybe her power generation exceeds her use enough for the balance to be in her favor.