Well we finally bit the bullet, and courtesy of the renewable energy scheme, we are now putting electricity back into the grid. Our little 0.003 MEGAwatt solar farm is up and running. Today was rather cloudy and dull, and our roof was turning the meter backwards!
.
It took 3 days to install,and only 6 months of government paperwork
life is good
Looks great been contemplating one ourselves.
What was your out of pocket expense if you don't mind me asking?
Niccccccccccce one landyacht 
but tell me, why you have the two Gnomes on your roof [}:)]
We discovered by accident that kalgoorlie WAS a remote area and after means testing we were good for a 50% rebate. by the time it was istalled , rising material costs made it around45%.
Im told that the best rebate you can get now is $8000. that would be 50% of a 1kw system.
Our s set us back about $19000 (plus the $16500 of the rebate).
our meter starts runnig backwards at about800watts, but our FRidge /freezer set up is big and old, and we havent started seroiusly working on our power us yet.
the decision to go for it was based on long term thinking. The solar water system is 15 years old and still going strong ,. when we installed that it our friends said the cost was too high but they have all gone through plenty of water heaters in that time. so this was the obvious next move.
I look at it by comparing it to replacing the car with a new Commodore or Ford( not that you would)and the car fueled itself for the next 25years
if big fancy homes, cars and boats are not you thing, then I reckon this is a great way to upvalue your house AND get a return
I wouldnt be waiting too long if you really want it-
landyatch paid
$19,000 (own money)
$16500 (gov. subsidy)
--------
$35,500 TOTAL COST
Assuming you are in metro and can get the full rebate
$35,500 - 8,000 = $27,500 IF YOU GET IT NOW.
Guarantee when the state and federal governments realise they have money problems, these rebates will vanish forever.
Got mine on the way...hopefully being installed within net 2 weeks! (after waiting 6mths to get approval). Landyacht, that's a huge system, especially for WA, you guys get a better deal than us...you might make a small profit off that one...eventually!
I went with the 1.4kW system (7 panels) with the option to extend it once cashed up, I saved $3.5k by jumping on board with a company that offer 'bulk' lot discounts. About 25 locals have signed up with another 30 trying to get the next batch...handy if you live a fair distance from a capital city.
I guess the gov't are busy trying to get the economy going, the first-home buyers grant is taking preference over green energy...tough call?
one of the reasons for this big a setup was that the inverter can take another 4 panels, I just have to extend the verandah next.
We did get lucky with the zoning and thus the rebate, If it had just been an $8000 rebate the system would have ende up being a 1.5kw system rainy and overcast today , but still cranking out the kwatts
Warning......careful....have a friend who is seriously muffed with his own bulk buy build crowd, has told me that he should have checked the fine print 
also inverta problems. So i know two with inverta meltdowns
ahving kept up the readings for a few days has been good to get a fee of what the system can do. weve had mixed sun /cloud today, system put out 12kwh for 10hrs sun
in 24hrs the meter ran backwards by 1.4kwh ,which when the smart meter finally goes on will add up to 30c in our favour!!!!!!!!!.
That means it will take ONE year to recover the Application fee for the smart meter!6 more years for the cost of the smart meter!.
its all too much to think about really
also inverta problems. So i know two with inverta meltdowns
All our gear is German, The present system of payback for your power(in WA ) mean that we sell for about 22c per kwh, and buy for as low as6c.
with the rebate scheme ending they are trying to introduce a bill so that the sell price is uniform 60c per kwh across Australia. I would be happy with that, now Im up and running.
3.4kwh into the grid today
As of 1 july solar credits increase 5 fold
www.environment.gov.au/climate-change
thats justthe carbon credits, not about the amount being paid for your power once you start producing.
our REC's went towards the initial cost of the system.
on reading that document, i get a sense of " lets confuse people so they go away"
