[mythtv-users] [Slightly OT] solar power for all our gadgets

[Jeff Walther]

Marc wrote:

> On Mon, Mar 09, 2009 at 09:39:18AM -0500, Jeff Walther wrote:

> True, same here, but understand that similar subsidies are going into
> Solar or Wind plants. One of them might as well be on your roof :)

True, more or less.  Another option is to stop subsidizing overpriced
generating capacity, but that is not an individual decision.

>> While you might expect that 3000 watts of capacity would yield
>> approximately 3KW X 12 hours/day X 30 days/month = 1080 KWH/month, the
>> reality is that you'll get about 400 KWH/month if you're lucky.  Further
>> north, e.g. in Ohio, you could expect 300 KWH/month.
>
> The math isn't quite right,

Other than omitting the word "average" before my monthly figures, my math
is quite right--for Austin, TX.  We do not have the incredibly complex
rate structure that you do, so all that discussion about a KWH at noon,
vs. one at midnight is irrelevant here.  However, I can see where it is
terribly relevant where you are.

So again, one must do a careful analysis of the costs and benefits.  Part
of that analysis is going to be factoring in your local electricity rate
structure.

With our rate structure here, it makes no sense, which doesn't stop the
media from hyping it, nor our city from subsidizing it.   I hope our power
is never so expensive that it does make sense, although I suspect our
local enviro-weenies hope the opposite.

I must say, though, if your power is that expensive, you guys need about a
dozen new nuclear power plants, rather than futzing about with all those
subsidies for over-priced power.

Jeff Walther