We’ve received a lot of feedback regarding the lack of utility rates for a user’s particular location. We already had an update in mind but your feedback helped to refine it. This what we’re releasing.
First, as you may or may not know, adding utility rates is primarily a human resource issue as opposed to a technology issue. And right now as a small startup we don’t have the bodies to add every utility rate for every region of the country. This will come, but not overnight. So here’s the immediate plan.
- If your location has a corresponding utility rate, it will use that
- If no corresponding utility rate, it will use your state average as published by the Govt.
- Or, if you know your price per kWh, there’s a field for you to enter that.
We feel this is a good intermediary step that gives users better information and more value as we continue to add exact rate data.
Another idea we’re throwing around and would love feedback on is using a Wiki method of gathering rates. This came about as we’ve seen numerous generous users emailing us links and data for rates. What do you think?
Tags: roof, solar, utility rates
August 22, 2008 at 8:32 pm |
Re: local util rates.. Can’t you use & save the info from our electric bills when we enter them? Here in LA where we are billed separaty ly for electricity generation & delivery… it’s VERY confusing to figure the actual rates per KWh at various usage levels (so don’t even ask), but you can ask good questions, like total Kwh, total current bill dollars. Then offer more exact answers by drilling down on the users bill more. Then ask them how many KWh were billed at tiers 1,2,3,& 4. And what the line item cost was for each.
Eventually, you’ll have a full data set.
HTH,
DN
August 23, 2008 at 1:43 am |
good intermediary steps chris, although its more complex then just entering in per kWh, there are tiered rates, time of use rates. a wiki seems like a good way to get more feedback on your software for sure!
August 23, 2008 at 2:12 am |
I hear ya – and I sort of lean that way – but most of the feedback I’ve received from installers and folks in the biz repeat the age-old montra KISS – “keep it simple, stupid”. So I don’t want to put too much info gathering options in the face of the user. I’d rather do it from a wiki point of view, where the users there really know what they’re in for.
That said I want to chew on the idea of total kwh used, total bill. I like it, hmm.