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I live in Kentucky, we have a net metering law but it is only that the power company has to give you back whatever you put in. They can sell your “green” energy for more if they want but they don't give you anything for it.

I make about 60KW a day and only use about 30-40 a day depending on how much a/c is required. My batteries will give me about 10 to 15 days of storage but I would really never take my battery down that far. If I ever need more than 5 days of battery I would start the generator and charge the battery. My generator is only 16KW and really only gives me about 15KW which only gives me about 62 amps to charge with. Maybe 85 to 90% of that will go into the battery so that if I run 6 or 7 hours every other day I can probably get by especially if I don't run A/C.

I have quite bit of money invested in my system but one of the reasons I did it was because of Federal Tax incentives. Basically I get a tax credit of up to 1/3rd of my expenditure up to $50,000. It is hard to spend less that 50G’s for full house solar with a battery and generator backup unless you do ALL the labor. There are a few electrical changes that have to be made by a licensed electrician and inspected but I have done nearly all the labor.

If I live long enough it will pay for itself.

I really doubt if I would have gotten it without the subsidy but my purpose was independence not cost savings. If we have an Ice storm or tornado that takes the rest of the area out I will still have power. If the SHTF I'm still able to have a freezer and hot water and normal electric. I expect I will have to put up blackout curtains if I want to turn the lights on at night if everything goes to hell in a handbasket.

I don't agree with subsidies but, they were there so I took advantage of them.