Post B5Z4rGQNs1D22f1sK8 by azonenberg@ioc.exchange
(DIR) More posts by azonenberg@ioc.exchange
(DIR) Post #B5Z4rGQNs1D22f1sK8 by azonenberg@ioc.exchange
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Just threw some historical numbers in my spreadsheet... the price I've paid for electricity has gone up by 53.4% since January 2024 ($0.216/kWh after taxes and fees, vs $0.141). And it shows no signs of slowing down.
(DIR) Post #B5Z4x2XsNxv4jZHuhk by ManyRoads@mstdn.social
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@azonenberg Yes but I bet you're not tired of winning yet. 😜
(DIR) Post #B5Z5CMVET0HIyTMDTc by axel_hartmann@digitalcourage.social
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@azonenberg - it only needs to double and we'll be on a similar level!Unless you're talking about superchargers for the car, then you can double once more...
(DIR) Post #B5Z5LF0Rhy2wKYBuUK by azonenberg@ioc.exchange
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The solar company estimated my array would take 17.8 years to pay off.But that estimate was based on a 3.78% per year rate escalation.Actual power usage and bills:April 2024: $668.87 for 4.48 MWhApril 2025: $740.52 for 4.29 MWhApril 2026: $889.36 for 4.12 MWhDespite me *reducing* consumption by ~10% over those two years, my bill went *up* by over $220.
(DIR) Post #B5Z65zna4DI4m9T4Pw by azonenberg@ioc.exchange
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Looking at the trend, I don't see it getting better soon if ever.I generated ~0.7 MWh last month which means that my actual consumption sans solar was more like 4.8 MWh.Back in December 2025 (pre solar) I paid $920 for about that much power, but the rate went up 14.8% between December and April so had I used that much power in April it would have cost me $1056.In April 2027 if I get another 25.5% price jump like I did between April 2025 and 2026, the same consumption would be $1326.
(DIR) Post #B5Z6fWpXFSq1MAKEoi by azonenberg@ioc.exchange
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Using the solar company's 9 MWh/yr rough estimate for generation since I don't have actual numbers for the year yet, and my current power price rather than what it was when I quoted, and the actual rate of price increase, extrapolating...2026: $1944 savings2027: $24392028: $3062...2033: $9532, total since install $39.2KThat's roughly 8 years to breakeven, not 18. Of course, who knows if power prices will keep climbing at this rate (and how much I can cut my consumption between now and then with some of the other upgrades I have planned).I'm also not looking forward to what the same math extrapolates would be a nearly $60K/year power bill in 2033 if I can't cut my usage dramatically!
(DIR) Post #B5Z7iS7RJxkDZGes2C by axel_hartmann@digitalcourage.social
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@azonenberg - weird thing is that people don't do these calculations until they have the PV or are at least firmly committed. Very few actually collect any data more detailed than just the yearly sum before installing PV...Once you have the easy access to your actual usage, you understand so much more...
(DIR) Post #B5Z7oEthOL44IbzSxU by azonenberg@ioc.exchange
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@axel_hartmann I had usage data before from the utility, and one of the things leading me to do the install when I did was seeing how rapidly my bills were skyrocketing despite usage remaining relatively flat.That, and the tax breaks expiring at the end of tax year 2025, meant I didn't want to put it off any longer.
(DIR) Post #B5Z7xaMmwHMhUV3NBY by azonenberg@ioc.exchange
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@LabSpokane I'm curious what will happen over the next few years WRT the increasing deployment of utility-scale renewables and hopefully the AI bubble collapsing and demand from all of those GPUs going away.I can't imagine a 25% YOY long term rate increase is sustainable.
(DIR) Post #B5Z8dLIjLHSQve4Bns by azonenberg@ioc.exchange
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@LabSpokane The utility won't let me see billing data >2 years old in my online account and my spreadsheet only has summary data back to January 2024, but before I went paperless I saved a bunch of old statements.In March 2019 the rate was around 10.7 c/kWh but those numbers aren't directly comparable because it was during the house renovation and I didn't have the lab online, so the base "having service" fee was a significant contributor to the monthly bill compared to usage.But still, that's ~40% less than I paid in 2024.
(DIR) Post #B5Z8ns3kP0TRQH4wbo by azonenberg@ioc.exchange
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@LabSpokane One of the things I liked about living out here when I moved was the abundant, cheap, mostly renewable electricity making a lab the size of mine reasonably cost-effective to operate (roughly half the rate as NY where I was moving from)I'm not sure how rates elsewhere in the country are changing but around here they seem to be going crazy.