My Solar Power Stats: 2 years

Recently I reviewed my solar power generation stats as we passed the 2nd year anniversary of their installation

• Household size: 4 Adults
• System size: 1 kW
• E total: 2433 kWh
• H total : 8337 hrs
• Feed in to Grid: 684.5 kWh (meter was installed 1 month after the panels, due to various factors)
• Feed in Tariff (pFIT): 66c per kWh
• Total $$ Generated with FIT : $451.77
• Yearly Total : $225.88
• Yearly Total $$ Generated if FIT is .25c per kWh: = $171.25/2 = $85.5

So does this help with the power bills?
Yes but only at the higher FIT. I would need a much larger system to overcome the current >10% yearly rise in electricity bills. (Most of which is due to electricity network upgrades, not any carbon tax impost as yet).
At the time I bought my system, a further 1 kW would have cost another $10,000. Now this cost has plummeted due to the immense increase in world wide production of panels. Even the Germans use the Chinese production capabilities.
The Australian Consumer Association (Choice) along with help from the ATA,  has reviewed  solar power payback times again (sept 2011) and perhaps will do other reviews in years to come. The payback times have now increased to a level seen by many householders as not worth bothering with.

From Choice Website: http://www.choice.com.au

 Interestingly, I recently received a letter from my Electricity distributor, informing me that should I make any changes to my "Embedded Generator System" then I must inform them. So if I add any more panels I must inform both Retailer and Distributor. I hear also that the Victorian Smart Meter program roll-out is being reviewed. My dwelling was slated for a smart meter in October but that seemed to be put on hold once I informed them I had a Solar System with appropriate Feed-In meter.
Lets hope this summer the sun shines more than last summer (quite cloudy) but not so strongly to give us those 42-46 degrees C days of 2 years ago, leading to the inferno of Black Saturday!