JKB, I didnt even know they made 3PH sumbs?
They make them for ag, industrial, municipal and such. Not too many residential areas have 3 phase available. We do have a couple (wealthy) residential customers with true 3 phase.
I can get 480V true 3 phase from about 3/4 mile away for an estimated cost of 60K, which that won't happen.
I also have 2 high voltage lines out front that they can tap into and they can do some funky things with transformers and get it really close, but it's a bit dirty as far as the sine wave side of things go, but works. We had this setup at our shop and everything worked fine.
Problem tho, is this rig could initially cost up to 20K, and I would get rebates over time, based on the amount of juice I was using. That kinda kicks trying to be energy efficient in the face a bit, don't ya think!
They will run 240V single phase for free. My next question will be about piping in 480V single phase? I have equipment that will run from a 480V single phase source, just have to enable phase loss and all is cool. Just have to see what they say.
The trend in Europe is to bring in 3 phase to new residential customers and convert over what they can. They have 3 phase appliances like refrigerators that don't suck hardly any juice. We are way behind!
My last electric bill was at $0.154/KWH, and we are not into AC season yet
5.2% of that is going toward paying for a new Wind Farm that another utility company installed, not the one where I get my power from.
At my rates, and I am sure others have higher rates, it's getting more reasonable for one to generate their own electricity, based on use.