We installed solar panels on our roof last year, and we consistently generate more than we use (except in the three winter months), so I was hoping that the kiln wouldn't rip a huge hole in my bank account.
Here's the Smart Meter readings from the week before and after we got the kiln:
The change is quite obvious. Before we ran nice overages pretty much every day, generally around -13 kWh per day. After, we are in the red, around 8 kWh on fusing days and around 5 kWh on slumping days.
Each run of the Kiln takes about 15 - 20 kWh, which translates into around 80 cents at 4 cents per kWh. With the solar panels, it's half that in the summer. In Winter, when we aren't generating overages, the cost will be higher, but it doesn't look like it will break the bank.
With both of us working, I'm anticipating that we won't be running the kiln quite as often as we did in the first week - so it's likely that we will just break even on the electricity cost. Which means that our studio is (almost) solar powered!
