Electricity bills

[outback]

I couldn't find an existing thread on the topic after a search so I thought I'd create a thread on what is everyone's monthly/quarterly electricity bills?

Reason for the thread is to work out if there are better electricity deals out there and if anyone has some helpful hints or advice for reducing bills.

If you could add what reptile you own that would be helpful, I think that turtles probably cost the most to keep as they require water heater, basking light, uvb light, air bubbles and filter to run.

Now obviously bill totals will include every other appliance you run in the house such as computer, TV, fridge etc. but I think we would all probably have a similar setup in terms of appliances.

My monthly electricity bill is just under $200, I have turtles. Keeping in mind also that I have a pond pump running for about 12 hours in the pond out back, so take away the pond pump and it would probably be closer to $140-$150 a month.

 

[Flaviemys purvisi]

Get solar panels. Before I got solar 3 years ago my bill was around $900/quarter.... now my bill is non-existent... My last statement was $347 in credit.

 

[Shaughan]

Solar is the way i have 10 tanks 4 lizards 2 snakes 1 frog tank and 1 turtle tank and 2 6ft fish tanks plus all the normal house hold running stuff and i pay nothing
I'm planning on getting more lizards snakes and a salt water tank next and my bill still won't change
So solar is the go

 

[Herpetology]

Get solar panels. Before I got solar 3 years ago my bill was around $900/quarter.... now my bill is non-existent... My last statement was $347 in credit.

Solar is the way i have 10 tanks 4 lizards 2 snakes 1 frog tank and 1 turtle tank and 2 6ft fish tanks plus all the normal house hold running stuff and i pay nothing
I'm planning on getting more lizards snakes and a salt water tank next and my bill still won't change
So solar is the go

But how much did u spend on the panels? And how many panels do u 2 have? I’m moving to a house that has like 8 panels soon

 

[Shaggers89]

Solar is the way to go sent down 750 a quarter solar panels installed last bill was at 250 in credit
setup at my place is 10 panels

 

[Shaughan]

I spent 5and a half on my solar setup and it works great but next year I'm buying a property and im putting a massive 37kw system on it and it's going to cost $25000 but it's full of grid no mains just what the sun and wind can give me is what I will have

 

[Flaviemys purvisi]

But how much did u spend on the panels? And how many panels do u 2 have? I’m moving to a house that has like 8 panels soon

I got a $12,000 6.4KW System (22 × 290 watt panels - their top of the line ones made in Singapore) through solarhart... on 48 months interest free. It's basically no excuse really these days to say that solar isn't an affordable option.

 

[Herpetology]

I got a $12,000 6.4KW System (22 × 290 watt panels - their top of the line ones made in Singapore) through solarhart... on 48 months interest free. It's basically no excuse really these days to say that solar isn't an affordable option.

Wow 22 dayum

How much of that 12000 did the solar panels pay for?

 

[Flaviemys purvisi]

the system pays for itself in no time. Soon I'll be getting a battery installed, my system is already battery ready.

 

[Herpetology]

the system pays for itself in no time. Soon I'll be getting a battery installed, my system is already battery ready.

I was looking at tesla battery haha
Very fancy shmancy

 

[Flaviemys purvisi]

I was looking at tesla battery haha
Very fancy shmancy

I'm waiting for the price to come down a bit... 3 years ago when my system was installed, the batteries were $18,000.

 

[Shaggers89]

the system pays for itself in no time. Soon I'll be getting a battery installed, my system is already battery ready.

Mines battery ready as well and im seriously considering having one installed

 

[dragonlover1]

We have 21 dragons,8 pythons and 5 skinks in the house. ( the lacies are outside ) I spent $10K on 19 x 270W panels and $6.5K on a battery and I still get a $500+ bill every quarter. No A/C, no dishwasher , no dryer
I had to pay extra to get the battery setup as backup power and it runs 1 power point which is the fridge because it is full of rats etc. Last time we had a blackout the fridge only lasted 3 hours with everything else in the house turned off.
Needless to say I'm not real impressed

 

[outback]

We have 21 dragons,8 pythons and 5 skinks in the house. ( the lacies are outside ) I spent $10K on 19 x 270W panels and $6.5K on a battery and I still get a $500+ bill every quarter. No A/C, no dishwasher , no dryer
I had to pay extra to get the battery setup as backup power and it runs 1 power point which is the fridge because it is full of rats etc. Last time we had a blackout the fridge only lasted 3 hours with everything else in the house turned off.
Needless to say I'm not real impressed

Whats your average kw hour generated from your system? And are the panels orientated north facing?

 

[dragonlover1]

According to the bill I received today I am generating 2KW per day and yes the panels face north, 10 on the angle roof and 9 on the flat roof of the verandah ( the salesman told me it only increases the performance by 1-2% to lift the angle so the extra expense isn't worth the increase)
The worst part is they charge 37cents per KW but only pay 6cents for what I generate. So a tip for future players is do NOT get a grid tied system, you want 1 that feeds into your house first and then buys in any extra needed last

 

[Kate91]

Only have 1 spotted python, heat mat, heat lamp (5watt mat, 40watt globe), thermostat, extension cord.
Got my 1st bill since having her and come to $262 (no discounts) for 3 months. No solar.

 

[Flaviemys purvisi]

I have 22 panels facing north... generate way more than I use in a day. Ergon called me yesterday to tell me I'm over $450 in credit now and wanted to know what I wanted done with the $$.

 

[Shaggers89]

I have 22 panels facing north... generate way more than I use in a day. Ergon called me yesterday to tell me I'm over $450 in credit now and wanted to know what I wanted done with the $$.

same here i've only got 10 panels facing north and with the animals and me i'm pretty much constantly in credit last check i was 550 in credit. or you can go the way my grandfather did up a miniture hydro electric generator in the creek that runs through his property.

 

[Diggit]

I thought all systems feed into your home and you only pay for the extra required? Im looking at getting an installation done so keen on this thread. Cheers

 

[Flaviemys purvisi]

This is my System, Got it through Solar Hart, 22X290 watt REC Solar panels. They are frikkin AWESOME. ALL facing north, slightly North-East.


This lot of panels doesn't even take up 1/4 of my entire available roof space. Pity I wasn't allowed to cover the entire house! They are not shaded at all throughout the day except by any cloud cover.


The inverter is positioned perfectly on the southern side of the house by the back (laundry door). It never receives sunlight so is cool all the time even in summer.

[doublepost=1597364902,1597359994][/doublepost]

We have 21 dragons,8 pythons and 5 skinks in the house. ( the lacies are outside ) I spent $10K on 19 x 270W panels and $6.5K on a battery and I still get a $500+ bill every quarter. No A/C, no dishwasher , no dryer
I had to pay extra to get the battery setup as backup power and it runs 1 power point which is the fridge because it is full of rats etc. Last time we had a blackout the fridge only lasted 3 hours with everything else in the house turned off.
Needless to say I'm not real impressed

Something doesn't sound right there... the system isn't operating correctly or your panels need a serious clean. I get up on the roof once a fortnight with an extendable soft bristle broom and electric leaf blower and remove the layer of dust from my panels. Solar panels create a lot of static electricity and any dust in the air is attracted to them and if you haven't had a decent shower of rain in a while they'll be filthy and likely covered in dust and bird excrement. I keep mine looking like brand new and they operate superbly. They're not a "install and forget" thing, they need to be maintained and a lot more often than the suggested "once a year" spin. When on my roof cleaning my panels I often look at my neighbour's panels and think they wouldn't be generating any electricity at all, they haven't been touched since they were installed in 2012 and would need about 10 litres of industrial degreaser and truck wash sprayed on them and a powerful gurney to clean them up.

The tiniest film of dust/dirt on the solar panels can reduce their output by 10% so you definitely want to keep them shiny clean.