How did this Blenheim resident reduce his monthly power bill to just $1.60?

Blenheim resident, Stephen Gould, made the move to renewable energy in October 2018 when Harrisons installed 16 Solar Panels on his roof. His power bills for November and December 2018 were $17 and $1.60 consecutively.

And this family isn’t shy about using power over the summer months either, with two teenagers off school for six weeks, air conditioning cooling the home, as well as a spa pool to heat. The energy generated from his Solar Panels feeds into the town's power grid, which is then deducted from his monthly [power] bill.

One of the most rewarding elements of solar is it starts saving you money from day one. “We went from $250 a month (in power bills) down to about $20 for the whole of summer," Gould said.

Gould had a large $16,000 System installed and expects it to pay for itself in approximately seven years. Harrisons’, Guy Jacobsen (who installed Gould’s Panels) said most homes average between $8,000-$12,000. In investment terms, if you live in the home long enough the Panels will pay for themselves, or if you decide to move, Solar Panels are a big drawcard for home buyers adding dollars to the sale price. It’s a win-win situation.

So, has this worked for Gould and his family because they live in a warm part of the country? In a word, no. Solar is not dependent on heat; it is dependent on light. Following the natural course of things, Solar will produce less power in Winter, simply due to fewer daylight hours. That said, you can still generate a lot of power – certainly enough to see a significant decrease to your power bills.

Learning to understand your new Solar System can take some tweaking, but when a Harrisons Solar Power Expert visits your home, he/she will show you ways to use Solar energy efficiently. By studying your recent power bills, they can see where improvements can be made. For starters, washing clothes, running the dishwasher and having showers during sunlight hours means homeowners can make the most of their free energy.