The nice people at Switch Kingston were quick to fix the two bugs I reported in their useful spreadsheet. So if you’re using it, make sure to download the last version (September 2010) and check your results. Depending on your specific case, you may get a significant difference in Cash Position after 20 years (cell X36).
SearchingForGreen
Increase or decrease in cash position after 20 years, Vasile?
Thanks,
Dan
Hi, Dan!
The original spreadsheet depreciates a little bit more than the value of the system, so the corrected value of the cash is certainly lower (less deduction for CCA in the last year means more taxes to pay).
A second error involves the connection fee, which was not taken into account in the cash position. This should also decrease the cash position in year 20.
The exact difference depends on your system’s power and connection fee, but in all cases the cash position is lower than initially estimated with the original spreadsheet. So, bad news
Regards,
Vasile
You asked about how the SWITCH calculator designers arrived at a 3% annual increase in the price of electricity. As one of the people involved in that decision, I can tell you that it was our absolutely lowest imaginable figure, given the increases we had seen in past years, and the fact that Ontario pays almost the lowest electricity rates in the whole world. (Only Québec and perhaps one or two jurisdictions have lower rates).
Personally, I would be betting on a 6% or higher increase, which I presume to be necessary to encourage conservation. I think our electricity costs will double well before the date currently predicted by the government. If it doesn’t then we will all be in much bigger trouble than increased energy costs…
Hi, Mark!
Thanks for stopping by! And also thanks for the work on the spreadsheet, it was really useful to me and certainly to many others.
I don’t mind the increase, it will probably reduce the power waste. I’m totally against hidden subventions on power. If I know the right price of anything, I will adjust my life accordingly.
6% yearly over 20 years results in more than 3 times the current price. Does this include the transmission and distribution too (they account for more than 1/3 of the current price paid by consumers), or just the electricity per-se?
Since the govt announced today their estimate of 3.5%, we may all expect that the real number will be a lot higher
Your web site has the BEST information out there. I felt it was non biased but just showed the facts. Using your spreadhseet was enlighteening. I still think I’m going ahead with my 10kW solar project. I know not as much return as people tell you, but maybe a baby step for the environment. If enough of these systems get installed, costs will come down, technology improve and we can use more and more green energy generating systems.
Hi, Andrew! Just to be clear, that’s NOT my spreadsheet, Switch Kingston people developed it. I consistently thank them for it, because it’s the most complete model I found. I have a modified version which I’m using, to take into account the future value of money ($100 today is more than $100 in 5 years). One day I will probably post it online.
A 10 kW system it’s probably worth it even given the new fees and red tape that started to appear in the last few months. I would probably install it, too. It’s just that my space is only enough for 3kW, and the numbers look a lot worse.