The NYT seems to be the flagship for conventional wisdom of this sort.

Isn't the latest wholesale price for coal electricty around 12 cents per kwh?  The contracts made for coal supplies made before the recent price rise put it at the older lower rates, but that is nearly history as those contracts are filled and expire.

Wouldn't it be a similar situation for natural gas, going up in price as rapidly as it is?

Good point on peak power cost, it is up to 42 cents per kwh with a timed rate plan.  And the PV will provide the power to bridge the 42 cent time period.  But what if it were possible to get a net metering plan that would credit the PV power sent back onto the grid at the peal time at 42 cents?

Then run the heating cooling and other high energy demand at night when the rate goes down to 6 cents per kwh?  This would seem to be a way to make solar really pay.

http://amazngdrx.blogharbor.com/blog John Schneider, Northern Wisconsin