Solar Makes Sense With Highest Electric Rates in the Country (SDG&E)

[davidcheok]

While I'm not sold on the argument, perhaps your utility provider is partially responsible for the failure of providing an incentive for customers to move over to solar, by providing energy costs that are simply too low, failing to justify a reason for its customers to move over to installing solar systems and exercise behaviors that focus on conservation.

Provider is the State. Honestly, its not the subsidies that I have a problem with but the lack of interest in pursuing a vision of a country that is low carbon or carbon free. Everyone just sits and waits for **** to hit the fan because scrambling to find an umbrella. While we have the resources to do so, we should invest in the technology and infrastructure to reduce both our cost and footprint. Anyway, maybe when the costs of silicon drops further.

[davidcheok]

Unfortunately until all countries decide to stop using fossil fuel (which IMO will never happen) a few home solar installs will not help my grandchildren. But how I spend my money will help them.so until I can financially justify installing panels I will just sit by.

Its ok. Its usually the people that use the least amount of energy that suffers first.. out of sight, out of mind.

[davidcheok]

Given that Brunei (where Davidcheck lives) derives most of its revenue from oil and natural gas, I'd guess the country is not big on subsidizing alternate energy.

Unfortunately we have even less incentives than the rest of the world to make the shift.

[solardreamer]

5 years ago, when I decided to install a solar rooftop system, that decision was easily made, given the fact that San Diego Gas & Electric Company had the highest rates in the Country. Nothing has changed. The cost of electricity for peak consumption during the summer months for TOU-EV2 was $0.68/kWh. This year that cost is increasing to $0.83/kWh. That represents a 20% increase in the cost. Not as bad as natural gas, with what is tantamount to a 100% increase since last January ($2.36/therm [1/2022] to $5.11/therm [1/2023]}.

One thing that has changed is NEM3.

[J.P.M.]

While I'm not sold on the argument, perhaps your utility provider is partially responsible for the failure of providing an incentive for customers to move over to solar, by providing energy costs that are simply too low, failing to justify a reason for its customers to move over to installing solar systems and exercise behaviors that focus on conservation.

Given that Brunei (where Davidcheck lives) derives most of its revenue from oil and natural gas, I'd guess the country is not big on subsidizing alternate energy.

[SunEagle]

I live in a country with probably the lowest electricity rates in the world and yet i decided to install my solar. Our first 600 kWh is 0.01 cts, 601-2000 is 0.08 cts, 2001-4000 is 0.10 cents and 4001 upwards is 0.12 cts. Its all heavily subsidised. It takes 12 yrs to recover my system at these rates. However, all the energy we use isnt subsidised by nature. All the CO2 produced by each kWh generated contributes to our childrens' suffering going forward. My view is we shouldnt be looking at all this simply from a selfish monetary point of view but from our ability to make a difference in our own way moving away from burning fossils. Its easy to make that decision when energy hurts our pockets and we view it just to save money but its a lot harder to invest in a better future for our kids.

Unfortunately until all countries decide to stop using fossil fuel (which IMO will never happen) a few home solar installs will not help my grandchildren. But how I spend my money will help them.so until I can financially justify installing panels I will just sit by.

[slinthicum]

While I'm not sold on the argument, perhaps your utility provider is partially responsible for the failure of providing an incentive for customers to move over to solar, by providing energy costs that are simply too low, failing to justify a reason for its customers to move over to installing solar systems and exercise behaviors that focus on conservation.

[davidcheok]

I live in a country with probably the lowest electricity rates in the world and yet i decided to install my solar. Our first 600 kWh is 0.01 cts, 601-2000 is 0.08 cts, 2001-4000 is 0.10 cents and 4001 upwards is 0.12 cts. Its all heavily subsidised. It takes 12 yrs to recover my system at these rates. However, all the energy we use isnt subsidised by nature. All the CO2 produced by each kWh generated contributes to our childrens' suffering going forward. My view is we shouldnt be looking at all this simply from a selfish monetary point of view but from our ability to make a difference in our own way moving away from burning fossils. Its easy to make that decision when energy hurts our pockets and we view it just to save money but its a lot harder to invest in a better future for our kids.

[slinthicum]

5 years ago, when I decided to install a solar rooftop system, that decision was easily made, given the fact that San Diego Gas & Electric Company had the highest rates in the Country. Nothing has changed. The cost of electricity for peak consumption during the summer months for TOU-EV2 was $0.68/kWh. This year that cost is increasing to $0.83/kWh. That represents a 20% increase in the cost. Not as bad as natural gas, with what is tantamount to a 100% increase since last January ($2.36/therm [1/2022] to $5.11/therm [1/2023]}.