#1136 – The Expat Files: Energy Costs, Solar Power, and Bitcoin in the Modern World

Automatically transcribed from the original recording; names and wording may contain errors.

[00:00] South of the border down Mexico way That's where I fell in love when the stars above came up to play and now as I wonder Hello there all you ex-pat wannabes. I'm Johnny Mueller and you're listening to the expat files living in Latin America The show that tells you just what it's like to live work play and or retire down here in Latin America It's a mix of the good the bad the ugly and the great and it's all right here. So let's get started All right, just to start out with something completely different now I don't know if you know this or not But I've got lots of listeners in Asia and in Europe and many of them from the UK if you can imagine that Well, I can understand it because I lived in England for a couple of years and the weather there completely sucks

[00:48] I'd say for every three days you get one day of Sun. Could you live like that? I mean look they don't have a clothing brand named London fog for nothing Anyway, one of my longtime listeners Maddie from London writes Johnny, I just got this notice from my electric company It says and I'll read a little this for you because it's very interesting and it will be happening to you, too Anyway, it says hello, Maddie as you're probably aware the wholesale cost of energy has risen significantly in the past year It's now around four times higher than it was just a year ago The OFG M energy price cap is increasing to reflect this Unfortunately, we need to increase our prices to you too So from April 1st our prices will be increasing accordingly though not 400% all at once Then Maddie adds with disgust. In other words, we're not getting a rod up the arse all at once

[01:38] Anyway, Maddie's electric bill. He's got a wife and one kid living in the house as now risen He said to over four thousand dollars a year That's a pound to dollar conversion and his gas heating bill has risen accordingly to to almost $2,000 a year. So his combined heating and energy bill not even including gasoline for his cars around 6,000 bucks a year that's around 500 bucks a month now think about your own situation Could you afford to pay 500 bucks a month for electricity and heating in your house again? That's separate from your gasoline for your car Let me give you some of the particulars about what's happening in the UK according to Maddie now Of course most all these price rises and supply chain interruptions can be blamed on the Russian Ukraine conflict, of course, if you really analyze it every time there's a price increase or inflation increase

[02:26] It's always and I mean always trace back to fools and sociopaths in government I mean look it's not the oil companies who declare war, right? Then again, they've got the power to get governments to declare war anyway Maddie sent me this scanned of his recent electric bill with an unusual cover letter that came along with it It says dear Maddie your standing unit rate per kilowatt hour per day has been 24p By the way, that's about 32 cents a kilowatt hour, which is way higher than it is in the states More than twice as much the average cost in the states Depending where you are being around 10 to 15 cents a kilowatt hour for now anyway, but just wait Alright, then the letter to Maddie goes on to say your new charge per kilowatt hour starting April 1st 2022 will be 37p

[03:14] By the way, that's almost 50 cents a kilowatt hour. Now. I know what you're thinking. That's far far away from where you live That's in England. You're thinking what's that got to do with me? But I urge you to take out your latest electric bill now and look at the amount of kilowatt hours you do is for the month I know those bills are confusing, but there is a bottom line usage per month of kilowatt hours I just looked it up the average family of four in the United States uses around 900 kilowatt hours a month That means if you're paying 10 cents a kilowatt hour, you're paying 90 bucks a month Well, let me tell you that's not gonna last long because what's happening in England and Europe will transfer over here short So if you're using 900 kilowatt hours a month like the average American family does that means you'll be paying around 450 bucks a month for your electric bill based on what Maddie's pan How's that sit with you and that's not including your natural gas rule if you're heating your home with it cooking heating your water

[04:06] Having a gas clothes dryer if you do use natural gas in your home And I just looked this up in the States you're paying on average 1200 bucks a year That's a hundred bucks a month now you heard what's happening in the UK. That means over the next year They're gonna raise their rates by four hundred percent now Normally people scream bloody murder when their utility bills go up by just ten percent. We're talking four hundred percent now But this time the finger-pointing is a bit different. It's not to be blamed on greedy energy companies That's what the lamestream propaganda machines are spitting out Anyway, they say the blame goes squarely on the Russian Ukraine problem But it doesn't really matter who's to blame because the utility companies are holding everyone hostage Your utility bills are gonna skyrocket just like Maddie's think about what's happening and how it's gonna affect you

[04:54] You think the utility companies are gonna lose money? No, they're gonna pass all those increases on to you But what about all the poor and lower-class people in first world countries? Well, their governments will subsidize them and in the end You'll end up paying for that too because nothing's for nothing and you know politicians and government officials might sound weepy-eyed about it But they love it really because they get the excess tax revenue on those high remounts So bottom line fasten your seat belts and get prepared for a utility sticker shock. There's nothing you can do about it Well, I take that back. There is actually something you can do get real energy efficient with your appliances and lights, etc or the go solar Get the off the grid now. Here's the thing. I've been talking about going solar for 11 years now

[05:44] Ever since I started this show, I've given you all kinds of tips and pointers and all the do's and don'ts Believe me. I know I've ordered and installed three complete on and off the grid solar systems I've got my own throw it in the car portable. Take it anywhere system, too By the way, you want to know what my electric bill was last month one dollar Yep, I still get a monthly bill because I never called my electric company to dis install or cut me off from the grid In fact, I've got no idea. I've got solar panels and lithium batteries and I'm completely off the grid As far as they're concerned, I'm still connected That's why the bills keep coming and I get charged a dollar every month though Sometimes it's 90 cents other times about 40 shows you how much third world electric companies have their act together Funny how the electric company bureaucrats haven't picked up on that

[06:30] How can it even be worth it to send me a bill for a buck every month? Because I'll tell you up in the States if your electric bill suddenly and drastically dropped from let's say three or four 800 kilowatt hours a month to zero There'd be some electric company slug knocking at your door in a heartbeat thinking one of four things number one that you've gone away for a Couple of months and flipped the main breaker and no powers going in number two that the house has been abandoned or condemned number three you're somehow stealing power and you bypass the meter and I'll tell you every engineer knows how to do that we've all Contemplated it that's for sure. I remember way back when I was still living in the States I'd get my electric bill and I'd say to myself it would take me 45 minutes To cut this bill in half forever, but I never did it because if you get caught

[07:18] Big trouble though when hanging with my engineering buddies the topic would often pop up We all had the means but not the balls though one engineer buddy of mine had a big magnet And he'd clamp it on and off his meter just to test the proof of work and it did work now just Apathetically you're probably wondering how can you cut your power usage in half using the same amount of power? Well don't try this at home But since all electrical systems that come into a house in the US are 220 volts It's a split single phase system 110 volts on each side though You could tap 220 volts off the two hot lines off the 110 That's how you power up an electric stove or electric dryer Anyway, all you'd have to do is bypass one of those 110 volt lines. They're balanced

[08:03] They both go through the meter So with a couple of quick wiring changes one half of that 220 volt circuit would no longer be registered by the meter Which would seem to cut your bill in half. Anyway, most engineers are big on ideas and short on balls But these days in the advent of very cheap solar power You can go off the grid here in Latin America without telling the electric company. They don't have to know they really don't care actually So what I have is a master switch next to my circuit breaker box It allows me to switch in my solar system or switch it out and when I switch it out I go right back on the grid now. I never do that However, if I ever have to do any maintenance on my lithium batteries solar panels inverter slash charge controller Whatever just a flip of the switch. I'm back on the grid

[08:49] Then I could do the required maintenance or repairs Now a lot of people do ask how much maintenance is required for a big off-the-grid system like that Almost none and think of this most all solar panels have a 25 year warranty That means after 25 years, they're guaranteed to put out at least 80% of their rated output My lithium batteries a guarantee of twelve and a half years That means after twelve and a half years They guarantee they'll be able to store at least 80% of rated storage capacity But to have a twelve and a half year guarantee and not a rounded number Isn't that weird? But it seems every kind of lithium battery has a different kind of guarantee with Tesla power wall batteries having the best naturally and the other major component is the inverter or the old term was charge controller the warranties and guarantees are and those are

[09:38] all over the place and Mine is from the German company SMA and they give a five-year warranty all and all solar systems need very little maintenance That's why they have such long long guarantees though If you live in a dusty dirty city environment and your solar panels are Relatively flat on your roof because the Sun is directly overhead as in the tropics You might have to go up on the roof or send someone up there with a hose and a squeegee every six months to Get the buildup of dust off the panels However, if your panels are at a 10 degree or more angle from the horizon You won't have to worry about that because the rain will wash off the dust So how do you know if you have to get up there and clean them? Well, you know, there's three major parts to a solar system The panels the batteries and the inverter box formerly called the charge controller the inverter box

[10:27] They'll have a little LED screen on it It'll tell you how many watts are coming out of your bank of solar panels And you just look at that at midday when your panels are putting out the maximum wattage and you can see Instantly if your panels are putting out their rated wattage and as they accumulate dust and bird poop the wattage will start dropping So then how low is too low? Well, for example, if you have an inverter that puts out 5,000 watts You have to have a slightly over 5,000 watts going in from the solar panels for it to convert it to 5,000 watts of AC For your house. So normally people size their system so that they have about 20% more wattage going in the inverter than it needs for its rated output So that even if the panels drop in their voltage a little bit It's still putting out the max if you need it So in that example, you'd have 6,000 watts worth of solar panels going into a 5,000 watt inverter

[11:18] That extra thousand watts going in his breathing room And that's why in many cases, it's not necessary to clean your solar panels at all Just the natural rainfall washing over them is adequate Funny thing is people who've seen my solar system. They say Johnny, it's complete You're off the grid. You haven't paid a bill in more than a year. Why do you stay hooked up to the grid? Why even pay the hookup charge of one buck a month? It's what they charge to keep the meter online whether you use it or not Well, I just told you why I don't want to disconnect completely But you're also getting the idea of just how easy it is to set up your own solar system here in Latin America without any Involvement at all from the government. Nothing needed from the electric company either Unless you decide to sell some of your power back to the grid because that's always an option, you know Though personally, I'm against it. You heard why on a previous show. I went into great detail on that

[12:05] By the way, I listened to how Bill Maher got solar power in his house in California He said he got the batteries three months before the installation and California law made him build a separate garage a shed To house those things for three months till they actually put him into service that besides the other 12 permits and inspections He needed to have at the site completely ridiculous Now I'm talking about this today because I've been getting so many inquiries about solar power And since the field is changing so fast and things are getting so much cheaper and easier to install I just want to mention that if you're really interested in going solar and getting a very good cutting-edge system for the lowest price possible Send me an email the expat files at gmail.com and I'll send you the latest and greatest dope on all that

[12:50] I've got a new set of recommendations that supersede the solar stuff I recommended even a year ago and you know without this inflation coming online at least in the technology sector Prices are actually dropping but most of the high-tech stuff anyway So it's now or never before your electric prices double triple even Quadruple like they are in England and the rest of Europe. I suggest you get on this solar thing right away Send me an email the expat files at gmail.com. I did all legwork for you already. So Here's your golden opportunity. What have you got to lose? Oh, and of course the bottom line is what's it gonna cost you? Well, if you're here in Latin America, especially in the LT Plano where you've got no heating or air conditioning I think you could go completely off the grid for around 10 grand But up in the states double that so then what's the payback? Well, imagine your electric bills 300 bucks a month. And if it's not that now, it will be shortly

[13:38] That's about thirty six hundred bucks a year. That means the payback time on a 10 grand system three years Double that for a 20 grand system like you'd need up in the states still considering It's a fantastic deal because the batteries have a 10 to 15 year life and the solar panels 25 years when the batteries could last 25 years or even more to as long as you don't deeply discharge them every night and then Recharge them up to 100% every day that 10 or 15 year life on batteries is worst-case scenario Fact is most people I know who've got an off-the-grid solar system only discharged your battery down to 30 or 40 percent during the night They've bought batteries with a little excess capacity Instead of discharging a smaller battery down to 10% which as mentioned shortens the life to about 10 years or so

[14:24] Oh, and don't forget down here in the tropics or the near tropics You can get one of those really cheap solar hot water heaters to for an additional grand You'll never have to pay for hot water again And those things only need maintenance maybe twice a year to you go up there hose them down and take a soft bristle brush To the bird poop. All right yank in the wheel here I don't know if you've heard the news but the president of Honduras is in meetings with the president of El Salvador to make Bitcoin legal tender in Honduras. Hey, we always knew the snowball would keep rolling downhill Wrong analogy, I guess since El Salvador and Honduras have never seen a snowball Anyway, it looks like nothing can stop Bitcoin. I know people out there are saying that governments can shut it down Well, guess what? I just saw a poll a survey that said that one in four households in the United States owns crypto

[15:13] You know what? That means don't you if some idiot politician decided to run on a platform of making crypto illegal? Let's say an ignorant malignant wrinkly old pussbag with the last name of Warren for example Well, if some rat's ass of an inside trader like her were to actually push that platform You'd completely piss off an alienate one out of every four voters In other words banning Bitcoin or crypto would be the kiss of death for that particular political anal wart on election day But you knew that already, right? I'm bringing this up just in case you're a crypto owner yourself And you're afraid what the government might do But the fact is though there are a few government turds out there who want to kill Bitcoin and crypto I can't believe they're so dumb. They don't know it's the kiss of death for reelection

[15:59] Even so the US government seems to be totally afraid of what El Salvador is doing with Bitcoin So afraid is big bad Goliath of little David's slingshot Turns out three whiny spineless US senators James Rish Bill Cassidy and Bob Mendes Have put together a bill called the aces act short for the accountability for cryptocurrency in El Salvador act Really? They're trying to pass a bill to punish El Salvador's use of Bitcoin In short and I'm reading this directly from the bill It says the bill's details seek to identify and prepare to face potential risks that could accrue to America From El Salvador's adoption of Bitcoin as legal tender. Can you believe that by the way yesterday in a press conference

[16:46] Senator Rish sponsored the bill said as El Salvador has adopted Bitcoin as legal tender It's important. We understand and mitigate the potential risk to the US financial system from that act Are you getting this? So we've got little El Salvador who never got any press before ever in the international news unless it was a revolution massive volcano or earthquake Suddenly the US Congress is running scared in fear that the US financial system is in danger from Salvador using Bitcoin Well, I hate to clue you but America's financial system is in grave danger Anyway without itty-bitty El Salvador's help even crazier get this the IMF The entity that third world countries have to get on their knees and beg to get a loan

[17:35] Well, they too are so afraid of Bitcoin that when Argentina went to him for a loan just last month The IMF made the loan contingent on them signing a deal or they would never accept Bitcoin as currency The Argentines even with their financial system going down the drain said up yours. We won't sign or agree to such a thing Turns out Bitcoin and cryptos are a big part of Argentina's economy now ever since they've been hit with 50% year-over-year Inflation in the peso dropping like a rock So bottom line is you can see the US government and the IMF running scared of crypto Which I say the big dogs getting kicked off his throne move over Rover. Let Bitcoin take over Oh and by the way when the US government tried to force El Salvador's president buccal a to ditch the Bitcoin standard

[18:24] He said quote you dickheads. Well, I said that you have zero jurisdiction over a sovereign independent nation We are not your colony or your backyard or your front yard stay out of our internal affairs Don't try to control something. You can't control Unquote, I gotta admit the guy has balls because you know in the past what the CIA has done to certain people in Central America You've heard the term regime change right? Well, the CIA Perfected that playbook. However, it was infinitely easier in the 20th century But admittedly even now in the 21st century The so-called legitimate press are bought and paid for and mostly cowards. Yeah, right Legitimate press what a joke that's like saying the retired ascians have legitimate butts for that matter legitimate brains

[19:11] Hmm as for me, I prefer the illegitimate press They've got less to lose fewer bosses to report to and their noses are a lot less brown Now said about that way too much said about that. Anyway, remember a couple of weeks ago An Irishman named Darby wrote in about st. Patty's Day and how us non Irish people get it all wrong Apparently, I've got more Irish people listening to this show than I ever thought I mean Irish people actually live in an Ireland like for example this email that came in from Carney Callahan He says Johnny my boy. I was delighted to hear you give so much time to our st. Patty's Day events Andy says in regards to Latin America I found out a long time ago with that my great great great Grandfather an immigrant to the United States who joined a US Army Irish Brigade who ended up in 1847?

[19:59] Deserting along with the whole brigade to work for the Mexicans during the Mexican-American war why he and the Irish Brigade switched sides Partly for the money as soldiers of fortune, but also being Irish Catholic They were in solidarity with their fellow Catholics in Mexico at the time Mexico was virtually a hundred percent Catholic and the US mostly Protestant on top of that They resented the bigoted treatment. They received in the US upon arrival the derogatory terms used to describe them like shanty Irish mix and patties, etc Unfortunately in 1848 the war was over Mexico lost and they lost half of their territory to the US including Texas in California Then he says by the way Johnny Did you know that the Irish battalion that fought for the Mexicans during that war was called the st. Patrick's battalion and its ringleader's name?

[20:49] John Riley who claimed Mexico had everything an Irishman could possibly want except good Irish whiskey So then did those Irishman switch to tequila who knows? Then Carney finishes by saying nearly signed up for your February seminar, but had a logistics problem be at the next one though Then he says PS. I don't drink Johnny Walker. So I'll be bringing me own whiskey Alright, thanks for that carnie. Hope to see you there. All right now. Let's talk about all those haters out there Yeah, the woke snowflake cancel culture retards are out there in force But since I don't have insta crap fake book dick talk or twaddle I never get to see all those negative reviews nor hate pieces But I know they're out there along with fake news and websites I hear about it secondhand a couple of my know for sure created by one 40 something gringa named Jennifer bird

[21:39] Byrd who stole more than twenty thousand dollars from this seminar fund through PayPal fraud But that was a couple of years back long story short She was forced to leave Guatemala in a hurry or face criminal charges She thought she could get a modicum of revenge by creating a couple of fake websites But anyone with a half a brain knows you could buy a website domain on GoDaddy for 15 bucks and create a website in about a half an hour By the way, the authorities in various countries down here are looking for Jennifer bird Now if you want to help put a criminal away, I'll send you a picture of her and her son Lucas They high-tailed it back to the states. Just send me an email the expat files at gmail.com Oh, and there's a first world hospital down here after her too because she stiffed them on a bill for 20 grand Meanwhile comes this email from mr. A. He's an attorney longtime listener to the show and I'll paraphrase this he says Johnny

[22:30] I've got haters to just google me if you want a good laugh Especially the reviews on Yelp from folks who have never even met me let alone hired me as an attorney I guess they just don't like my anti BLM and me too stands So there's lots of fake news out there But the real review is about me as a lawyer from actual clients are on a VBO calm Seriously, Johnny if you want to check out some reviews about me from people who have never used my services or met me I promise you'll find them extremely amusing. These are just idiotic fools We'll say anything to try and cancel me the irony is Johnny the people who never met me who claim They're my clients somehow don't realize I canceled myself and haven't even accepted a new client in almost four years So I get what you're saying Johnny fake news and character defamation are out there

[23:19] Then he gives me a link that sends me to a place called chartable comm where people are reviewing me and my show So strap yourself in I'm gonna read some of these Let's start from the top five stars with this one It says best source of Latin expat information a rare find honest actionable and reliable source for expat info I have been listening to Johnny since 20,000 10 next review five stars, too It says I don't live in Latin America, but I wish I did after listening to this podcast It's fun to listen to and hear a little bit more about what things are like on other parts of the world Next I get a one-star review. He says he should rename his podcast to hate Mexico and poor people Then he says while I did learn a couple of things like the origins of a Samana Santa and their version of April Fool's He spends a lot of time talking about his personal hatred of Mexico sounds like he's lonely and needs someone to talk to

[24:10] Next review one star two terrible It says do not waste your time in this podcast if you're looking for a helpful info on moving to Latin American countries I really do understand the intent of this podcast It seems he only wants to bash those countries and the selfish gringos who want to move their his implication Not mine truly awful and hateful podcast a complete waste of time Here's an update from April 2021. I decided to give this podcast another chance. Honestly, it wasn't intentional I downloaded it forgetting that I already had done so Even though I hated it years ago I got about 15 minutes into it and now it seems he's expanded his hateful rhetoric to include Biden and anyone who's actually taking the Coronavirus seriously calling people who chose to get the vaccine cold idiots. I

[24:55] Wouldn't be surprised in at least if this guy gets a correspondent job with Fox News any day now, what a joke Here's another one star review It says we were excited to listen to a progressive expat podcast since we lived in Latin America for a year and can't wait to go Back. I'm beyond confused though how this guy got to be labeled progressive He abuses everyone who doesn't meet his exacting standards without addressing systemic issues I can't even begin to describe how abhorrent he is Even his ad for some camera security systems have racist overtones the cameras he says are made by Chinese like him or not and then he read a letter from a fan about Socialists and snowflakes and how Bernie Sanders and his friends want the government to take over everything. All right next reveal five stars He says two shows a week isn't enough. I drive ten hours a day listen to a lot of podcasts

[25:43] This is my favorite of all full of good information presented in a funny sometimes snarky way Johnny is the best next another five-star review John Mueller's program provides some top tips for relocating to Latin America What I get from the program is that much of what he presents is not only applicable to Latin America But the rest of the world thanks for the enjoyable podcast that one came from New Zealand Next one five stars again. It says if you like what's going on in the US. Why would you listen progressive or not? Great info though. Let the haters find something else to listen to Johnny Keep expressing your opinion and I will keep listening Next review a one star. Oh, he says white supremacy in podcast form truly disgusting I hope you consider returning to the US to defend your rapey

[26:30] Treasonous slave owning statues that you love so much. I prefer to learn my history from books and listening to the indigenous Here's another five-star one. It says great podcast Johnny The jokes are pretty funny, especially the snowflake reviews that just can't stand you Here's one five stars. He says sometimes I cringe a little at how non-pc this is I wouldn't repeat some of his opinions to my Latin friends, but it never fails to be entertaining and informative It's gotten me through lots of long bus rides in South America. I'm sure other people on the bus are wondering what the hell I'm laughing at All right. Another five stars is very informative and entertaining I look forward to it twice a week, but not PC at all if you are easily offended by uncensored free speech This podcast is not for you. I guess that one says it all. No wait one more one-star review

[27:19] It says John hates the Obama's and Clinton's obviously a Trump supporter who lives abroad Nope listener. You're wrong. They're all malignant sociopathic puss bags And I mean that in the kindest most Christian sort of way You've been listening to the expat files living in Latin America If you need some help with your own plan B We can schedule a one-on-one phone or Skype consult Just send me an email the expat files at gmail.com And if you want to get on the waiting list for my next week-long expat insider seminar in Central America Where you're guaranteed to get a two to five year head start on your plan B Send me an email the expat files at gmail.com