Might have found a way to make it worth it in TX

[AirWindSolar]

I have Oncor, and TXU. Oncor seems like a bit of a joke, half the time they route your call to china. A tree fell on my power lines and was RESTING on the lines, and they wouldn't come fix it. They said it was the city's problem, the city said it was their problem. Ended up having to pay a tree service $400 to get rid of it.

As far as getting the incentive from Oncor, don't worry about it; assign it to your installer. Any good installer already knows exactly who to pester to get the money, and at any rate, it's not your problem anymore.

[Photonfanatic]

I have Oncor, and TXU. Oncor seems like a bit of a joke, half the time they route your call to china. A tree fell on my power lines and was RESTING on the lines, and they wouldn't come fix it. They said it was the city's problem, the city said it was their problem. Ended up having to pay a tree service $400 to get rid of it.

[AirWindSolar]

Well I'm all ears. I'll be happy to listen to what you have to say then, regarding how to make it worth it in TX.

Ok, so who's delivering the power to your home and maintaining the lines? It's not Green Mountain, and some of the delivery providers have great incentives.

[russ]

Well I'm all ears. I'll be happy to listen to what you have to say then, regarding how to make it worth it in TX. Which of course was the point of this thread. I'm not closed minded, I'll certainly listen. But from reading this thread, I'm not optimistic.

Some places solar works and some places no - outside of Austin, Texas is not a state for solar due to low power costs and the state not handing out free money. California has high power costs so it is more attractive.

It has nothing to do with bad companies or people denying anything - it has to do with economics.

[Photonfanatic]

I have read the lot - as I do with all threads - funny! Complaints against the utilities, generators etc are generally made by people having no idea. Corruption often means people are not getting things to go their way.

Well I'm all ears. I'll be happy to listen to what you have to say then, regarding how to make it worth it in TX. Which of course was the point of this thread. I'm not closed minded, I'll certainly listen. But from reading this thread, I'm not optimistic.

[SunEagle]

Russ... the longer I hang out here the more I realize how much I actually agree with you. When I first came here, you and I definitely did not see eye to eye. It just makes me laugh to think how ignorant and stubborn I was. I have learned quite a bit since joining this forum, and I appreciate everything that all of you have taught me.

I just wish everyone that visited this forum would do it with open ears and minds and realize they are being told the truth by people that know what they are talking about.

green

I too didn't quite agree with russ in the beginning but have found out that he and Sunking, Naptown, inetdog, Mike and others are the experts and that they bring the real knowledge of solar to this forum. Glad you now see the light like me.

[green]

Just complaining and making false statements seems to be the preferred route.

I don't love the utilities, government or anyone else in that group as in many cases they are only following established policy - just keep it real and don't repeat silly statements from either extreme.

Blaming utilities, big oil, big pharma, big ag etc is just a waste of hot air.

Russ... the longer I hang out here the more I realize how much I actually agree with you. When I first came here, you and I definitely did not see eye to eye. It just makes me laugh to think how ignorant and stubborn I was. I have learned quite a bit since joining this forum, and I appreciate everything that all of you have taught me.

I just wish everyone that visited this forum would do it with open ears and minds and realize they are being told the truth by people that know what they are talking about.

[russ]

If you don't like the laws of your chosen state it comes down to two options. Well three actually
1 work to change them
2 move to another state where the laws are in line with your thinking.
3 do nothing but complain about it.

Just complaining and making false statements seems to be the preferred route.

I don't love the utilities, government or anyone else in that group as in many cases they are only following established policy - just keep it real and don't repeat silly statements from either extreme.

Blaming utilities, big oil, big pharma, big ag etc is just a waste of hot air.

[Naptown]

Well, I've learned a lot from this thread. Mainly, that electricity is subject to such corruption, and good ol boy politics that it really doesn't matter what you do. If you live in a state with good net metering laws, its likely that state is in such dire straits when it comes to power that in the long run it may not matter anyway. If you live in a state with bad net metering laws, you're much better off just trying to conserve and buying it from the man. Guess I won't be going solar, and have no reason to return to this forum. Consider this my last post. See ya!

If you don't like the laws of your chosen state it comes down to two options. Well three actually
1 work to change them
2 move to another state where the laws are in line with your thinking.
3 do nothing but complain about it.

[russ]

As a mod I know you feel some obligation to defend the existence of the forum you're moderating. Or you didn't read most of the thread.

I have read the lot - as I do with all threads - funny! Complaints against the utilities, generators etc are generally made by people having no idea. Corruption often means people are not getting things to go their way.

[Photonfanatic]

As a mod I know you feel some obligation to defend the existence of the forum you're moderating. Or you didn't read most of the thread.

[russ]

Mainly, that electricity is subject to such corruption, and good ol boy politics that it really doesn't matter what you do.

Spoken in the best OWS fleabagger style! Unless you care to define the corruption you are talking about.

[Photonfanatic]

Well, I've learned a lot from this thread. Mainly, that electricity is subject to such corruption, and good ol boy politics that it really doesn't matter what you do. If you live in a state with good net metering laws, its likely that state is in such dire straits when it comes to power that in the long run it may not matter anyway. If you live in a state with bad net metering laws, you're much better off just trying to conserve and buying it from the man. Guess I won't be going solar, and have no reason to return to this forum. Consider this my last post. See ya!

[SunEagle]

So you're saying they don't charge for all that? Its all just free? As far as the state and any permits or licensing is concerned.

Well you have to get over the fact that rules and regulations cost you weather you like it or not. Some states it costs more others less. But like taxes you gotta pay.

On the flip side anarchy will end up costing you more because no one has a plan and it becomes complete chaos which if bad for all.

[Ian S]

California is part of WSCC and no power from Texas (ERCOT) is sold to WSCC. Very little powe ris exchanged between operating divisions. The interconnects have very limited capacity. Besides you cannot transport power more than a few hundred miles.

Well you cowboys are even worse off then since you'll have to build your own generating capacity and so far
you're not doing it:

The state will need to add about 20,000 megawatts of power- plant capacity, the equivalent of 10 major coal or nuclear stations, to keep up with demand over the next decade, Samuel Brothwell, an analyst for Bloomberg Industries, said in an April 27 report. Texas only has one major power project under construction, a 1,000-megawatt coal plant, he said. Calpine is planning to add 520 megawatts of gas-fired capacity by 2014.