I generated more electricity than I used this month. That's much earlier in the year than I expected that to happen. This is a big goal, finally generating more than I'm using, and what I am using is supposed to be from wind sources, although I know that's at least partially bullshit. And once I've had a chance to do some more insulating and whatnot, I should generate more than I use all but 2 or 3 months out of the year except on the coldest winters. Woohoo!
This is how my brain works though....I have signed up for, and pay a premium for, electricity that is 100% generated by wind. But I pull from the grid just like everybody else, so the likelihood of the electrons I'm pulling actually coming from a wind source are pretty minimal since it's all mixed in with the much more predominate source of coal. Well fine, as long as wind is generating sufficient power to cover my usage, it's at least in the system so I'm helping cut down on the amount that has to be generated by coal by subsidizing the wind sources. Except I have no way of knowing that, and I'm positive that Xcel would gladly double dip on anything they thought they could get away with. So while I know they have a shitload of turbines around here, and I have heard they generate a lot of wind energy, there is no real way for me to know if my needs are covered by that source or not. For all I know there are 2000 of us all slotted for that one allotment of wind generated energy, all paying the premium for it, but since it can't really be separated out of the general grid, we're all double booked for it.
But now...now I know where the majority of my electricity is generated. Right on top of my own fucking house, that's where. And if I had the money, I'd buy one of those Phillips house grade UPSs and install that fucker and know that every bit of the electricity I used I generated without ever touching any of Xcels energy. But...I'd have to pay my way out of the contract with Xcel to do that...so it'd cost me something like $23,000 on top of the cost of the UPS and the installation.
So...we'll save that for a day shortly after I win the powerball. Which I don't play, because I understand math too well.
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2 comments:
Congrats! I have to say, it's pretty impressive to be generating all the power you use in March. You're going to be selling power in the summer for sure. Can you feel the envy?
I expect to be selling power this month, in fact. I hope I can get a good monitor at some point so I can do better stats, but this'll have to do.
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