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This is just... odd! In the UK, the Government pay me (via my energy company) for every kWh I generate. I also get paid for every unit I export. Once a quart

by edent 11y ago

This is just... odd! In the UK, the Government pay me (via my energy company) for every kWh I generate. I also get paid for every unit I export. Once a quarter (or automatically if I have a smart-meter) I take meter readings and email them to the Energy Company. A few days later they transfer the cash to my account. Why bother with this middleman? What's the use of an inefficient 3rd party? Energy is fungible. Unless you've actually got a direct wire between your panels and your neighbour's property, this is just nonsense.

wjnc 11y ago
International perspective from a different country: In the Netherlands there is quite a large tax on kWh. When producing for your own consumption you don't have to pay that tax. As soon as you are 'distributing' (or, sharing in this context) you have to pay the energy tax. This led to the situation that where a block of houses installed a common system, they all had to pay taxes, more or less destroying any chance of a decent return on investment. I own a windmill in a shared context, but the return is about 1%, so more of a 'green' than financial argument. (The legal decision stems from this month, so after the link in story above.)
jonwachob91 11y ago
Not every region of the world is as green energy progressive as the UK. In the US, states make their own regulations on energy - and it is reflected in the state of Florida. FL only has 5 utility companies, but Duke (the largest utility in the country) and FPL (the 3rd largest in the county) control most of the state (the other 3 utility companies purchase power from Duke and FPL, essentially making them the only 2 providers in the state). FPL's parent company NextEra is the largest supplier of Solar Energy in North America. Duke is a top 5 provider of solar energy in North America. Yet it is illegal for me to power my home on solar panels that I buy. If I do buy the panels, I still have to pay my utility for every kWh I use even if I didn't get it from the utility (negating any financial benefits). Two of the top providers of solar energy on the continent control the utilities in FL and their lobbying is what keeps us from getting any solar benefits. OUR NICKNAME IS THE SUNSHINE STATE!!! Hopefully, companies such as Yeloha can show our legislators and their constituents the power of home owner solar and it's sharing capacity. They could provide a lot of data to empower change.
- jonwachob91 11y ago
  An article came out a few days ago about the fight for rooftop solar in FL - http://grist.org/news/enviros-tea-partiers-and-the-christian-coalition-all-agree-florida-needs-more-rooftop-solar http://grist.org/news/enviros-tea-partiers-and-the-christian... It'll give you some insight into the legal landscape for rooftop solar in FL (and a few other states).
- outworlder 11y ago
  What if you have no contracts with any utility companies whatsoever? Are you still required to pick one and pay them?
  - jonwachob91 11y ago
    We don't get to pick, we have one that services our house and we are required to use them. If we don't connect the panels to the grid - they send out inspectors to homes that are drawing below the norm power and look for panels. If they find panels or any renewable energy source they call the cops and start a lawsuit.
grecy 11y ago
Because the power companies in the US are enormous, entrenched multibillion dollar enterprises, and doing as you suggest would be bad for profits. I honestly believe in the next 10-20 years one of the biggest challenges we have to overcome is dealing with these companies and the many layers of government protection they have. Off the top of my head I'm thinking about power, oil, heathcare, automotive, maybe transport.
antaviana 11y ago
In Spain the Goverment is issuing a law where you have to pay about a 60% of the power you generate for your own compsumption if you are connected to the grid. Clearly, our Governtment truly believes that we do not need renewable energy.

by edent 11y ago

wjnc 11y ago

International perspective from a different country: In the Netherlands there is quite a large tax on kWh. When producing for your own consumption you don't have to pay that tax. As soon as you are 'distributing' (or, sharing in this context) you have to pay the energy tax. This led to the situation that where a block of houses installed a common system, they all had to pay taxes, more or less destroying any chance of a decent return on investment. I own a windmill in a shared context, but the return is about 1%, so more of a 'green' than financial argument. (The legal decision stems from this month, so after the link in story above.)

jonwachob91 11y ago

Not every region of the world is as green energy progressive as the UK. In the US, states make their own regulations on energy - and it is reflected in the state of Florida. FL only has 5 utility companies, but Duke (the largest utility in the country) and FPL (the 3rd largest in the county) control most of the state (the other 3 utility companies purchase power from Duke and FPL, essentially making them the only 2 providers in the state). FPL's parent company NextEra is the largest supplier of Solar Energy in North America. Duke is a top 5 provider of solar energy in North America. Yet it is illegal for me to power my home on solar panels that I buy. If I do buy the panels, I still have to pay my utility for every kWh I use even if I didn't get it from the utility (negating any financial benefits). Two of the top providers of solar energy on the continent control the utilities in FL and their lobbying is what keeps us from getting any solar benefits. OUR NICKNAME IS THE SUNSHINE STATE!!! Hopefully, companies such as Yeloha can show our legislators and their constituents the power of home owner solar and it's sharing capacity. They could provide a lot of data to empower change.

jonwachob91 11y ago
An article came out a few days ago about the fight for rooftop solar in FL - http://grist.org/news/enviros-tea-partiers-and-the-christian-coalition-all-agree-florida-needs-more-rooftop-solar http://grist.org/news/enviros-tea-partiers-and-the-christian... It'll give you some insight into the legal landscape for rooftop solar in FL (and a few other states).
outworlder 11y ago
What if you have no contracts with any utility companies whatsoever? Are you still required to pick one and pay them?
- jonwachob91 11y ago
  We don't get to pick, we have one that services our house and we are required to use them. If we don't connect the panels to the grid - they send out inspectors to homes that are drawing below the norm power and look for panels. If they find panels or any renewable energy source they call the cops and start a lawsuit.

grecy 11y ago

Because the power companies in the US are enormous, entrenched multibillion dollar enterprises, and doing as you suggest would be bad for profits. I honestly believe in the next 10-20 years one of the biggest challenges we have to overcome is dealing with these companies and the many layers of government protection they have. Off the top of my head I'm thinking about power, oil, heathcare, automotive, maybe transport.

antaviana 11y ago

In Spain the Goverment is issuing a law where you have to pay about a 60% of the power you generate for your own compsumption if you are connected to the grid. Clearly, our Governtment truly believes that we do not need renewable energy.