3 ms·

I'm from Spain, have panels and a bit of this mentality. The thing is the electric utility sells at market price (say 30 cents), but buys at incredible low pric

I'm from Spain, have panels and a bit of this mentality. The thing is the electric utility sells at market price (say 30 cents), but buys at incredible low prices (about 5 cents). That makes them a net earning of 25 cents for an energy they didn't invest a dime to produce, and in fact I have to pay to distribute (about 5€/month). My target is to net zero, but never net negative (put more in the grid that I consume), because that would be working for the utility. If I'm selling too much, a unneeded oven pyrolisis or AC it is. Pay me 80% of the market prices and I will contribute more to the grid. Also that I'm no hardcore hippie: I'm doing my part investing around 60K in PV, so I want my returns either as €€€ or in comfort, not in virtue. And I'm not taking ethical climate lessons from people who doesn't have any panel. It's like "oh, you bought a Tesla, you should give rides to your neighbors that still run gas vehicles. But Uber keeps 80% of the earnings".

tasuki 4y ago
You're providing electricity when there's large supply, and you're buying it when there's less supply and large demand. The prices actually make sense, as evidenced by you still selling despite the low price and still buying despite the high price.
- otherme123 4y ago
  I don't know in other countries. Here in Spain I sell at a fixed price. Right now, and you can check it at esios.ree.es, pool price if you're buying (i.e. a regular consumer without panels) is 24.4 cents. My panels are producing at peak right now at noon. I can't consume it all, and selling at about 3 cents. Obviously, at night, I have to buy, currently at 35 cents. This doesn't make any sense. In fact, there's a law that makes me meet a minimum kWh sold per year (which I carefully plan to meet in october) or I get fined. Once the minimum is done, I close the faucet until february. E.g if I'm not at home for the weekend, the extra energy goes to heat the house.
beej71 4y ago
If they paid 80%, would they still have a viable business as more people ran solar? They have to pay to run and maintain the grid. That money has to come from somewhere. For people on solar and battery power, the grid is a backup, but I don't think we can have this incredibly expensive backup system running to our houses for low cost. I could see a future where the grid is no longer viable, and people run solar and batteries with diesel backup.

tasuki 4y ago

You're providing electricity when there's large supply, and you're buying it when there's less supply and large demand. The prices actually make sense, as evidenced by you still selling despite the low price and still buying despite the high price.

otherme123 4y ago
I don't know in other countries. Here in Spain I sell at a fixed price. Right now, and you can check it at esios.ree.es, pool price if you're buying (i.e. a regular consumer without panels) is 24.4 cents. My panels are producing at peak right now at noon. I can't consume it all, and selling at about 3 cents. Obviously, at night, I have to buy, currently at 35 cents. This doesn't make any sense. In fact, there's a law that makes me meet a minimum kWh sold per year (which I carefully plan to meet in october) or I get fined. Once the minimum is done, I close the faucet until february. E.g if I'm not at home for the weekend, the extra energy goes to heat the house.

beej71 4y ago

If they paid 80%, would they still have a viable business as more people ran solar? They have to pay to run and maintain the grid. That money has to come from somewhere. For people on solar and battery power, the grid is a backup, but I don't think we can have this incredibly expensive backup system running to our houses for low cost. I could see a future where the grid is no longer viable, and people run solar and batteries with diesel backup.