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Blizz, your supply charge is currently $21.91. My other charges for electricty usage are currently $90 running everything including my 2 mega aircons over summer.
Okay, it does add a lot of value to your home having solar power and solar hot water. But should I go out and buy it now? Big NO for me. For a brand new built home, I would demand it but not for retro-fitting.
Okay, I have bought electricty running my power system, and have gas hot water and cooking. And use the gas for heating during the week but have a wood fire for weekends.
Assume that the cost for electricity and for my gas consumption averages out about the same over the whole year. Comes to about $80 per month = $1,000 per annum (excluding service fees - have to have that connection just in case).
Then you have to think about the power companies having to have the service available just in case it is needed while most people are going solar but it might be cloudy. The power companies have simple choices...do they charge the users who need power $20,000 a year because they are the few who always rely on them providing power or do they up the ongoing maintenance charge for those who may want it on occasion ........... but they need to have to have the power plant running just in case. If you want a service available on demand, expect to pay.
Then it comes down to how you have 'purchased' the solar power units and what it cost you to service the loan or the loss in 'buying power' when you don't have that cash to buy what you want.
Okay, in 6.3 years you will be on par with me regarding today's cash cost. By then old timers will probably be well and truly taking over and I will forget to pay the power bills and my daughter will definitely put me in the nursing home