Dear Source:
When I did some extensive remodeling of my home I put in 2 solar hot water panels with the appropriate storage tanks, etc. I have lots of hot water and save money on each month's WAPA bill, but it will take between 12-15 years to break even based on what it cost me to put these in. My monthly consumption of electricity went down about 16% on average, but my WAPA bill now, 3 years later is about 60% higher.
Individuals cannot cost effectively turn away from WAPA. I suppose new construction designed with solar collectors as an integral part of the building and sufficient space for back up batteries, etc. could work efficiently and take away all reliance on WAPA, but there is a compromise one has to make. We rely on WAPA to have the power on so we don't have to do anything but flip a switch. With our own system we would have to maintain batteries, make sure the panels are clean of the Sahara and Montserrat dust and worry about the effects of a storm on the panels on our roof.
As I get older I have no choice but to rely on WAPA.
Jack Egnatinsky
St. Croix
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