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In Florida, amendments require 60% of the vote to pass, so I'm hoping this one won't. But the electric companies have spent over $18 million in support of this

In Florida, amendments require 60% of the vote to pass, so I'm hoping this one won't. But the electric companies have spent over $18 million in support of this amendment, ten times the opposition. There are constant ads on TV now, and none that I've seen that are against the amendment. https://ballotpedia.org/Florida_Solar_Energy_Subsidies_and_Personal_Solar_Use,_Amendment_1_(2016) https://ballotpedia.org/Florida_Solar_Energy_Subsidies_and_P... At the same time, my electric company is asking to raise rates by $811 million. It's pretty much a monopoly/oligarchy. http://protectingyourpocket.blog.palmbeachpost.com/2016/10/26/psc-to-decide-is-fpls-811-million-settlement-deal-in-the-public-interest/ http://protectingyourpocket.blog.palmbeachpost.com/2016/10/2... My roof was damaged from hurricane Matthew, and I'm drooling over the new SolarCity/Tesla solar roof, but it looks that won't be an option for us in Florida anytime soon, especially if this amendment passes.

zeusk 10y ago
To an electric utility, how is it (panels + powerwall) different from just conserving electricity? From their side, it is just decreased consumption. Sure, it hurts their profits and bottom line but how will they even enforce this BS?
- makomk 10y ago
  From their side, it's just decreased average consumption. They still need to have the generation and infrastructure to power everyone when there's a prolonged dull spell. A lot of energy company initiatives recently have been about reducing their peak-to-average power ratio because it affects their costs, and this has the potential to make it a lot worse.
  - OrwellianChild 10y ago
    The utilities may well need to rely on energy storage systems to time-shift generation to usage, but having Powerwall + Solar systems in place effectively drops peak power usage, which should be a net gain to the grid's peak-to-average ratio.
omfg 10y ago
Interesting. I haven't seen one vote Yes sign or commercial. But vote No is pretty much everywhere.

zeusk 10y ago

To an electric utility, how is it (panels + powerwall) different from just conserving electricity? From their side, it is just decreased consumption. Sure, it hurts their profits and bottom line but how will they even enforce this BS?

makomk 10y ago
From their side, it's just decreased average consumption. They still need to have the generation and infrastructure to power everyone when there's a prolonged dull spell. A lot of energy company initiatives recently have been about reducing their peak-to-average power ratio because it affects their costs, and this has the potential to make it a lot worse.
- OrwellianChild 10y ago
  The utilities may well need to rely on energy storage systems to time-shift generation to usage, but having Powerwall + Solar systems in place effectively drops peak power usage, which should be a net gain to the grid's peak-to-average ratio.

omfg 10y ago

Interesting. I haven't seen one vote Yes sign or commercial. But vote No is pretty much everywhere.