Secondly, the death toll in the U.S. continues to rise unchecked, and most believe that going into winter it can only get worse. At last count nearly 237,000 dead, including over 19,000 in Texas. Then there are the thousands more with long term medical issues that will become pre-existing conditions under their bizarre health system.
Here in Australia the virus seems to be under control, and may even be eliminated in the community if they can successfully manage the quarantine system from now on. The only new cases for the past week have been in the managed quarantine for returning travellers, and there have been no new cases for over a week in Victoria. The death toll still stands at 907. The border controls have either eased or been completely removed between states, and New Zealand travellers are able to enter without restrictions. They are planning flights between New Zealand and Tasmania in January. The long nightmare of 2020 may finally be over? Does this mean we have to furnish the annexe in case we get visitors?
The solar panels are going well. We have had a couple of sunny days where they produced nearly 50 Kw, but with the efficiency curve of the inverter and that fact that it won’t start exporting to the grid until it reaches a minimum voltage we lose a few Kw in the early mornings and evenings. After 16 days with the new feed-in meter, we are averaging 35 Kw per day produced, 24 Kw feed-in credit, and 6 Kw self use per day. If it keeps going at this rate we will get at least $180 credit and $285 worth of self use at the end of the billing quarter. We definitely don’t expect that much in the winter here, and it will be 12 months before I get a more accurate picture. At this stage using the estimates for this location it could take 6 years to pay off everything. That’s not too bad.
The patio screen is finished apart from the end bits and we are really noticing how much privacy we have from the workshop next door and having to see that all the time. We have the blinds open all the time now on that side of the house, which is nice. We will eventually get some shrubs and trees growing up between the properties, but this is pretty good for now.
