For the first few months at my bar, I was sharing an electrical panel with my landlord. Not really ideal, as I wasn't sure who was getting the better end of the deal. So I was super excited finally when CFE (the Mexican electrical company) came out and set up my own meter. I was NOT so excited to get my first bill, which was prorated for 3 days, which totaled 1500 pesos, which is 75 USD.
OUCH! Run that out to 30 days/ a month, and my electric bill would equal $2,250 USD. No bueno! I would not be able to survive with that high of a bill.
It should not be that high, but I'm pretty sure they messed up and set me up as a residence instead of a business. So essentially, I hit all of these escalators which multiplied my bill by a massive amount, clearly.
Regardless, even if it was 1000 USD a month, I needed a better option, and I'm not even running an AC units, which really eat you up down here.
My best and most obvious option, was to purchase solar panels. The sun shines a ridiculous amount down here. Even during the rainy season, it's not that much of an issue, seeing as it rains mostly at night, and the sun shines during the day.
As I sit here and type this right now from the second level of my bar, there isn't a cloud in the sky.
It wasn't fun shelling out $8000 USD for 12 solar panels, but the ROI was clearly too good to pass up. They also last for 25 years or so, so even if I leave this spot, I can take them with me wherever I go.
I'm still waiting for CFE to come out and change my meter to accommodate the panels, but the install is done and they are oh so pretty.
I'm looking forward to seeing what my electric bill will be once I have a full solar month under my belt.
I'll be sure to let you know :)
Do you have solar panels?
What are the electrical costs like where you live?
Thanks for reading, and Hive on!
I was looking at solar for the project (that is on pause looking for an angel investor), how many watts you got there for 8k usd?!
I'm getting 29kw per day. I'm told that should be enough to suffice all my needs. Time will tell.
Great move, at the price you were paying for electric the panels should be paid off pretty quickly.
It's also nice knowing that you have your own meter and will only be responsible for the electric YOU use.
Keeping that beer nice and cold is a must!
"Coldest beer in the Bay!" It's a competition believe it or not...figured everywhere would have cold beer. But some people keep their coolers a little higher to cut on electric costs. Other places don't have the fridge capacity and can't keep the rotation long enough for the warm ones to get cold. I think I'm doin' aight.
Do you think its possible you will produce more energy than you consume? Is so, does the electric company down there pay for for the extra?
It’s possible. But they won’t buy it. However, it goes into a bank, essentially, so if I ever go over the solar limit, I can use the reserves.
I don't have solar yet, but I have started investigating a beginner setup. There's a lot to consider base don panel type, charge controller type, battery type, inverters, and frames.
Lots of different options, depending on what you're trying to do. I didn't have to do much research regarding that, thankfully. I just had two companies bid for it and told them to give me the best for my situation. We'll see how that all turns out when I get my first bill :)
Nice setup man.. I just have three 100w panels for some landscaping lights. But one day I would like to do it more large scale like you did.
Thanks dude. Getting started is the first step. Let me know when you get the big one going.
Awesome idea. And yeah keep upgrading and really get ahead.
I've got a 100 watt and solar generator and as well a high efficiency 305 watt panel so I'm.set for the beginning of my off-grid solar system if needed.
Yeah man...
Love it beautiful!!!!
And you can also do other solar projects I bet shortly. And sell the meter company power too.
Yeah, I thought so too. The initial investment was not so fun, lol. But in the next 6-8 months it will have paid for itself, so kind of a no-brainer.
That's awesome man. I def plan on having solar at any place we end up buying down here. It's just too economical not to.
I'll have to look into more solar project opportunities for sure.
Absolutely you have to have options. And having a big huge pile of solar power is really a powerful option.
Absolutely it is an extremely worthwhile investment.
And the harbor freight solar panels that I've got going on are pretty incredible with the really interesting amorphous silicone panels.
I seen a guy run an air conditioner with just 1, 25 watt panel and the sunlight was filtered through a double pane window.
Definitely can't wait to see even more from this technology.
That is awesome! I am really interested in solar panels where I live, but like you said that upfront cost is killer. Plus my wife and I aren't sure how much longer we are going to be in this house, so I don't want to shell out a ton of money for nothing. I look forward to your update in a month!
You're in Michigan, ya? Not sure your ROI would be a fast as mine. Similar to MN, not the sunniest state, but it could eventually work out if you stay long enough.
Thinking of moving somewhere else?
Yes in Michigan and probably here for quite some time yet. At least as long as my parents are around. We had a big tree cut down at our current house so there is full exposure on the east and west. Like I said though, we may be moving eventually. Too many stairs in this house for when we get older.
That looks like a great investment, and its green too. I cant believe how expensive electricity is there. Here in the rainy UK solar panels aren't so efficient for most of the year and electricity is a lot cheaper (although energy prices rising like mad at the moment).
I saw in the comments 6-8 months ROI which is awesome. Can you get more and sell electricity back to the grid?
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