Solar panels
81 MW: Just west of Omaha: Platteview Solar Project
5 MW: Just north of my house, east of Fort Calhoun
12.6 kW: My house, theoretical max:
- 20 panels "south-facing"
- 12 panels "east-facing"
System installed late 2025. Finally activated by OPPD Feb 12 2026.
Solar system designed, installed by: New Energy, LLC. They also replaced my roof and my electrical mains, installed a whole-house generator plug on the outer wall, and ran a line for a future electric vehicle in our garage. đ€
Dates:
- 2023-07-27: Solar Shield window tint installed
- 2023-09-27: modern attic insulation installed
- 2026-02-12: solar panels came online
20-year savings estimate
(Extrapolated by claude-opus-5-5, October 2026.)
AprâOct bills: $1,483.65 in 2025 vs. $213.03 in 2026. $1,270.62 saved (86%). JuneâAugust bills nearly vanished ($3.96, $12.58, $26.92).
No full winter with solar yet. The Feb/Mar 2026 bills ($274.60, $386.29) mostly cover usage from before activation. Assuming ~45% savings NovâMar (half the winter sun, higher usage) adds ~$500, so year-one savings â $1,750.
Savings â kWh produced Ă OPPD's rate, so the two big variables are rate increases and panel degradation (~0.5%/yr):
| Scenario | 20-year savings |
|---|---|
| No rate increases, 0.5%/yr degradation | ~$33,000 |
| Flat (no increases, no degradation) | ~$35,000 |
| 3%/yr rate increases, 0.5%/yr degradation | ~$44,500 |
| 4%/yr rate increases, 0.5%/yr degradation | ~$49,000 |
Caveats:
- Winter is the big unknown. 25% or 65% winter savings instead of 45% swings the total ±$5,000.
- Growing usage (2025 was ~20% above 2024) mostly adds to what I pay, not to what I save, unless I start using more of what I currently export (hello, future EV).
- OPPD net-metering / export-credit policy could change.
- Not included: inverter replacement (~$1,500â3,000 around year 10â15), time value of money, tax credits, or system cost.
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Résumé / CV