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CA: Big changes coming for utility customers & Net Metering 2.0

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  • CA: Big changes coming for utility customers & Net Metering 2.0

    California will overhaul the way most utility customers are billed for home electricity and lift current caps on the amount of renewable energy and rooftop solar installations, under legislation that cleared its last major hurdle on Monday.

    The bill advancing Monday would extend until July 2017 the current equation for so-called net metering, which allows utility customers to credit energy production against consumption with some additional credits. By mid-2017, utility regulators are required to establish new terms and conditions for rooftop solar -- dubbed "Net Metering 2.0" by industry watchers.

    http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/...s-will-change/

  • #2
    This really puts a BIG question mark on the 20/25 yr payback calculations that everyone is banking on in CA.

    The bill gives PUC the power to grandfather people from NEM into the new system, and set what the compensation rate will be. Right now you get full value of the watt you give back to the grid based on the current rate for that time of day. That could change to just a fraction or even worse.

    The only comforting thing is that it's not just in the hands of the inverstor-utilities to just do what they want but with the PUC, so remains to be seen if PUC will short-change the folks that decided to invest in solar.

    Also they are allowing the utilities to charge up to $10 on the fix fee, which everyone will pay even if you have solar.

    We just signed, but all this uncertainty really makes investing in solar even more risky right now in CA. NEM 2.0 doesn't necessarily mean a "better" deal for solar customers - the new rate compensation could be much worse. Utilities have been touting that solar customers should pay their "fair share" of using the grid.

    >>>
    The utilities commission would need to come up with a replacement program for compensating solar homeowners after that limit is reached. And by the end of March next year, the commission would have to decide whether and how long to continue giving current net metering customers the same level of compensation for their power after the current net metering program ends.
    <<<


    Originally posted by vasans View Post
    California will overhaul the way most utility customers are billed for home electricity and lift current caps on the amount of renewable energy and rooftop solar installations, under legislation that cleared its last major hurdle on Monday.

    The bill advancing Monday would extend until July 2017 the current equation for so-called net metering, which allows utility customers to credit energy production against consumption with some additional credits. By mid-2017, utility regulators are required to establish new terms and conditions for rooftop solar -- dubbed "Net Metering 2.0" by industry watchers.

    http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/...s-will-change/

    Comment


    • #3
      Here is a juicy thread on the Tesla Motors (owners, etc .) web site

      http://www.teslamotors.com/forum/for...rs-about-ab327

      I was going to post this link to get Derek (Sunking) salivating and maybe even posting over there.
      PowerOne 3.6 x 2, 32 SolarWorld 255W mono

      Comment


      • #4
        From the article, ", you will now have to at least pay a per month fee to help maintain the grid".

        What is wrong with that? Tesla is just whining and asking for more freebies for people with money.

        A more balanced assessment is available in several articles -

        http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Far-reaching-energy-bill-a-step-c...
        http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/california-senate-votes-yes-...
        http://content.sierraclub.org/press-releases/2013/09/ab-327-passes-calif...
        [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

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        • #5
          This sounds identical to what happened in Virginia.
          However this is more onerous. Seems everybody pays in Ca.
          In Va it is only those who have solar over 10KW iirc that pay a standby fee
          NABCEP certified Technical Sales Professional

          [URL="http://www.solarpaneltalk.com/showthread.php?5334-Solar-Off-Grid-Battery-Design"]http://www.solarpaneltalk.com/showth...Battery-Design[/URL]

          [URL]http://www.calculator.net/voltage-drop-calculator.html[/URL] (Voltage drop Calculator among others)

          [URL="http://www.gaisma.com"]www.gaisma.com[/URL]

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          • #6
            Pure genius…get the sucker homeowners and taxpayers to pay for your distributed grid system infrastructure by dangling the “good-deal” carrot, then yank the rug out from under them, buy their power at wholesale or less and sell it to their next door neighbor for retail prices.
            1150W, Midnite Classic 200, Cotek PSW, 8 T-605s

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            • #7
              Originally posted by thastinger View Post
              Pure genius…get the sucker homeowners and taxpayers to pay for your distributed grid system infrastructure by dangling the “good-deal” carrot, then yank the rug out from under them, buy their power at wholesale or less and sell it to their next door neighbor for retail prices.
              And the problem is?

              What most people do not know at the time when states mandated utilities to offer Net Metering, the states also allowed utilities to raise electric rates on everyone to cover the losses incurred by the electric company. Over time people figured out what was going on and threw a fit. Not only do rate payers have to pay higher electric rates but also higher taxes to cover for all the incentives and rebates. Why should your neighbor who can afford to pay full price use your money to pay for his luxury when you cannot afford to take part? It is not fair, and people are now figuring out what is going on and putting a STOP TO IT.

              Every company is entitled to make a profit period. It is the whole point of being in biz. Even electric companies. You would not work for free, why should a company give their product away? You are not entitled to free energy.
              MSEE, PE

              Comment


              • #8
                Originally posted by Sunking View Post
                And the problem is?

                What most people do not know at the time when states mandated utilities to offer Net Metering, the states also allowed utilities to raise electric rates on everyone to cover the losses incurred by the electric company. Over time people figured out what was going on and threw a fit. Not only do rate payers have to pay higher electric rates but also higher taxes to cover for all the incentives and rebates. Why should your neighbor who can afford to pay full price use your money to pay for his luxury when you cannot afford to take part? It is not fair, and people are now figuring out what is going on and putting a STOP TO IT.

                Every company is entitled to make a profit period. It is the whole point of being in biz. Even electric companies. You would not work for free, why should a company give their product away? You are not entitled to free energy.

                You may have me confused for a liberal, my post was literal. It is pure genius on the part of the POCO in response to big gubment injecting itself into the free economic process. Perhaps one day the gen pop will realize that government can't save them (can't even save itself) and that any involvement by government in any process only sets it back and causes problems down the road (i.e. CARB, fleet MPG mins etc)
                1150W, Midnite Classic 200, Cotek PSW, 8 T-605s

                Comment


                • #9
                  Originally posted by thastinger View Post
                  You may have me confused for a liberal,
                  No not singling you out. Just pointing out what is going on. People are starting to think and take a look asking themselves WTF have we done.
                  MSEE, PE

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                  • #10
                    Power companies look at charging customers for solar energy

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                    • #11
                      Maybe in other areas, but not (yet) in California:
                      California utilities were going in the same direction, but state legislators voted to allow the state’s solar rate plan to continue and even expand.
                      Powerfab top of pole PV mount (2) | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
                      || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
                      || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

                      solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
                      gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister

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                      • #12
                        The entire article is blather
                        [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

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