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A few weeks have passed since my solar power installation went live. More importantly, the monitoring system has been in place for about a month now.

Before I dive into the details of power generation numbers and the impact on my electric bill, it’s worth discussing a few key points about this particular installation.

The entire array consists of 27 panels. Each panel has a peak rating of 225W (nominal rating 207W). Nine panels face south, 18 face west. Total peak output of the array at the panel is 6.1KW.

It’s summer here in California, so it’s the peak season for solar power generation.

On the other hand, you may have read about all the fires that have been burning in Northern California. I’ve had to go up about once a week to rinse the ash off the panels.

I have a minor tree problem. After about 7:30PM, a large tree several hundred yards away effectively blocks the sun. Since it’s late in the day, it’s well past the peak generating time, but it’s still worth noting.

Additionally, I’ve received my first electric bill since the installation, although it’s only for 19 days, not the usual 29 or 30.

So what was my electricity bill for 19 days?

$11.34.

Continued…