Keystone State Thread

I signed a new contract last December I think for fixed rate .0589, no fees, 24 month. Happy with that. You have any solar generation @ home?

 

They don't make compact trucks anymore that's why I'm holding on to my 1st gen. Parked next to this guy the other day not sure if it's anyone on here

 

1/2 day. Better than whole i guess.

 

Sorry man. I am am keeping busy around the house though. Have a quick work day and a great Friday evening.

 

Not now. I am intrigued by solar , virtually free almost, but my electric bill is only ~$85 a month, a bit more in summer for AC , so let's say $1200 a year . The little I know it wouldn't be cost affected? Now if I would over install then sell back ? Who knows? I do know it seems like every year as technology increases and manufacturing costs decrease the cost for solar does keep coming down. You have any?

 

Just curious is that your charge for the actual distribution electric power or the lines that supply and transmit it? I used to shop for the best rate. A few years ago I was not as diligent as I should be. I got a great rate for 6 or 12 months, then watched my bill triple or quadruple and that is not hyperbole. On the small print was a stipulation that once the great rate ended I would be signed up for all green energy electric company. I paid the first bill then promptly cancelled.

 

If I can comment about shopping for electric rates , always pick a plan free of any fees,especially no early termination fee, this allows me to switch to another low rate contract before the existing contract expires and jacks up the rate. But u are correct about ur bill , the transmission rates are fixed , the generation rates is what u can shop for.

 

I was considering an install after putting on a new metal roof last fall. The payback for a small system for our home just isn't worth it to me. Now if the feds or State open up a few descent incentives that's a different story. But for now, no.

 

Not having natural gas lines means just about everything where I live runs on electric. I do have a 400 gallon propane tank for my furnace and could tie my cooktop, washer, dryer, hot water tank, etc. into it as they become obsolete, although that presents a challenge in and of itself. My electric bill last month was $134, and I have seen as high as $300, when the hot summer months require my heat pump to function as an air conditioner. On the other hand, with a well and septic, my costs are minimal to maintain those. It probably is a wash in the long run. I know the city of Pittsburgh has outrageous water and sewer bills. A guy from a solar company came by my house about 2 months ago, to see if I was interested. He told me most homes in this part of the state aren't going to get real efficiency with solar, but my big, open back yard on the south side of my house would. The investment is steep, probably too steep for this point in my life.

 

Correct.

 

My one buddy from the south hills was approached also by a solar company and talked up a good sales pitch about savings..... but one big red flag that he told me was he would be buying his electric through this solar company and they could raise rates at will. I said WTF. They were acting like a middle man , and this system was just a leased system , plus he had to sign a long term contract . He smartly declined. There seems to be a lot of variables that doesn't protect the customer, plus it was a non battery system so he still had to buy electric at night.

 

Love this view Bill!

 

Even better, I'm working today AND tomorrow... We have to work any holiday (even Christmas) if we're scheduled to work that day.

 

I listened to this man for about 10 minutes on my front porch, it was a cold but sunny day, so I didn't get (or remember) all the details. This one though seemed to be to buy because he said his company could finance it over 20 years, which is about as long as they last. He did say that I would still need to get electric from DLC. When I mentioned how will I replace my shingles in about 5 years, he said that I would have to take all the solar equipment off, but that cost could be billed to my insurance company. After he said that would cost about $750 or $800, I told him that wouldn't be any help, with my deductible. He then stated they have a roofing company associated with theirs, which would give me a competitive rate for a new roof, now. Not being one to replace things before their time, and considering me and my family and friends did the roof the last time ourselves, I told him I wasn't interested. Truth be told, when we did the roof back in 2000, we were all much younger. I can't see lugging those shingles up the roof at my age, but I just didn't like the offer he was giving.

 

Has anyone upgraded their radio? 2nd Gen specifically? I think my radio took a dump. Started cutting my music in and out with static , now it don’t play anything at all. Super frustrating

 

I was on a roof about 4 years ago, no problems, just minding my own business -- suddenly a sign lit up in front of me. It said:
YOU SHOULDN'T BE UP HERE!!
Yes, I had an attack of the willies - shaking like a leaf I finished my work and crawled to the ladder. I haven't been on a roof since and also mostly avoid ladders.
Sometimes your body/brain tell you things - sometimes it is best to listen.

 

Gotta keep those boxes movin'! They might let the package handlers off, but us maintenance guys (and girls) gotta work to try and keep shit running... We've been running almost 24/7 since the start of this whole "situation". We had an ice storm a couple months ago that they canceled the sort. That was an eerie feeling the building being all quiet. Wasn't used to it, so I just went out in the Kubota and salted the sidewalks and steps. Don't know why the silence freaked me out. I guess total building silence at this point means a big failure...

 

That's their racket. Best thing to do is buy the system outright and not pay any middle man anything. It's a heck of a big up front cost though.

 

For almost 15 years I was the guy who locked up and had thousands of hours in the building alone. The silence after everyone left, machines off and the air pressure bleed off was the best part of my day. It was amazing how much I could accomplish in an hour or two with everyone gone.
Now I have the quiet of my garage -- without all the headaches -- perfect.

 

From what I gathered, for somebody like myself, mainly using electric to power things and quite a bit of it, it could be $20-$25K?