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> "I want your cashiers to buy them from me at the retail price!" It's not anywhere near that simple. Electric power prices change dramatically throughout the
by ekidd 4y ago
> "I want your cashiers to buy them from me at the retail price!"
It's not anywhere near that simple. Electric power prices change dramatically throughout the day. For example, even retail prices may more than double during peak hours, if you have time-of-day billing.
In some markets, peak demand is caused by day-time air conditioning during a few weeks in July or August. The extra generation capacity needed to cover that tiny window of time is idle the rest of the year. Those peak hours are very expensive, in real terms.
In a market with small amounts of solar, that solar is helping offset some of the most expensive electricity of the year. And I've seen power companies push their major clients to install solar so that the power companies can avoid large investments in new power generation and transmission capacity.
With net metering, power companies pay retail when wholesale electricity is most expensive. And they credit it back during the night, when wholesale power is cheaper. (The early evening window is trickier, and the hours of sunlight depend on latitude.)
But once solar capacity is sufficient to offset air conditioning, the numbers for the power company get a lot worse.
(Full disclosure: I signed a 10-year net metering contract which would barely break even in 12-15 years, in a market with little existing solar. The power company instituted separate grid fees a couple of years later, which substantially changed how the contract worked. And so my system will probably never pay for itself. Win some, lose some.)
- worik 4y ago> The power company instituted separate grid fees a couple of years later, which substantially changed how the contract worked. Is that legal? Sounds like you were defrauded
- ekidd 4y agoAs far as I know, the power company made the changes to their fees with the full approval of state regulators. They still provide net metering for the electricity that I buy, as per the contract. They just broke out a ~$35 monthly fee for grid maintenance, separate from what I pay for electricity.
- silisili 4y agoEvery place I've lived in the US, 7 places now, has had a power monopoly. Yes they defraud us, no there's nothing we can do about it.
- landemva 4y agoIf you own your land, you can install and run a generator. Likewise, you can also roll your own services for whatever else you desire to consume. Nobody forces electricty consumption.
- chris222 4y agoThis is false. Many places require a grid connection and most utilities have a fixed monthly fee as part of the bill.
- landemva 4y agoPlease cite a code that requires a land owner to contract with the electric company. People enter electric contracts voluntarily, but maybe you can cite code from one of the municipalities in USA.
- lazide 4y agoCalifornia used to require it in Title 24, and might still do so. [https://www.cailaw.org/media/files/IEL/Publications/2016/grid-detection-vol10no1.pdf https://www.cailaw.org/media/files/IEL/Publications/2016/gri...] And most municipalities will refuse to allow on-site grid independent generation, AND refuse to issue a certificate of habitability unless you have reliable power. Practically, 99% of urban or suburban residences lack the space and other infrastructure to have a safe and effective off grid system up to the relevant codes anyway, especially when the relevant fire codes come into play. With how weird a setup it is, most municipalities would just refuse to figure it out with you, so good luck getting through that mountain of red tape. Rural of course, is entirely different.
- chris222 4y ago