Excellent description of a specific problem, but more importantly, highlighting the general problem of inflated concerns over an issue that ought not be that concerning, and is not according to most people (as per the poll results.) Climate hysteria is the very definition of a grift
Bingo! Reverse Robin Hood effect. Utilities must charge the non-solar customers to cover the fixed costs solar customers avoid in self-generation. The net metering customer generates surplus power and feeds electricity to the grid and the utility is compelled to buy that power at full retail price. But, as the genuses who put this scheme in place know, as do we all, the nature of solar energy is it's intermittency, so the solar users getting the benefits need backup power which is covered by the non-solar rate payers. And, as is always the way, most solar installations and all of the government benefits flow to Americans of some means. Meanwhile, we have the EPA issuing the most profound emissions control standards to power plants, especially, the EPA's biggest nemesis of all, coal powered plants. And, in the wake of the philosophy majors who are in charge of the EPA the mass mandates for extreme emissions reduction tests by power plants cannot be reached since the means to attain such levels does not exist. But, hey, the think tank overlords just demand it and as they say, they'll just punish them until the power goes out. So, problem solved.
Yup. 1:1 net metering is terribly unfair to the utility companies, who are forced to act as a free battery, and to their customers who don't have solar, who end up subsidizing those who do.
Now ask me if I feel guilty for having it? Nope. I didn't make those rules. I'm required to play by all manner of rules that our idiot politicians and bureaucrats impose on us, most of which penalize me in one way or another, so if this one happens to benefit me, well, I'll take the benefit.
Ok so I’m putting solar panels on my house to avoid the insanely high electricity costs in Southern California, and putting in a battery to hopefully cover most of my usage when the sun is not shining and I’m somehow the bad guy because I have the means to do so even though I’m having to finance the cost.
I looked into getting solar about 25 years ago, but the battery life issues and costs made me hesitate. I am really glad I didn't now, especially because now I know the systems emit EMFs that few discuss. A fireplace would be a more practical choice for me, as the gas heat is now more than twice the cost of wood heating.
The fundamental rate design problem is the requirement that most of the utilities' fixed costs be recovered in the variable portion of the rate. This rate design was intended to keep the cost of connecting to the grid low for the benefit of low income consumers. California is currently considering adjusting the fixed portion of utility rates based on customer income, to further distort the rate structures. "Socialism is the "ism" dismalest of all."
The on peak residential rate in San Diego is 66 cents per kwh. It isn’t bad rate design. There is no way to cover all the mandated costs of the transition without high rates. Rooftop solar is but a tiny part of it
Excellent description of a specific problem, but more importantly, highlighting the general problem of inflated concerns over an issue that ought not be that concerning, and is not according to most people (as per the poll results.) Climate hysteria is the very definition of a grift
Kotkin is the best!
Exactly the issue!
But…. I WANT TO BELIEVE!!!
Bingo! Reverse Robin Hood effect. Utilities must charge the non-solar customers to cover the fixed costs solar customers avoid in self-generation. The net metering customer generates surplus power and feeds electricity to the grid and the utility is compelled to buy that power at full retail price. But, as the genuses who put this scheme in place know, as do we all, the nature of solar energy is it's intermittency, so the solar users getting the benefits need backup power which is covered by the non-solar rate payers. And, as is always the way, most solar installations and all of the government benefits flow to Americans of some means. Meanwhile, we have the EPA issuing the most profound emissions control standards to power plants, especially, the EPA's biggest nemesis of all, coal powered plants. And, in the wake of the philosophy majors who are in charge of the EPA the mass mandates for extreme emissions reduction tests by power plants cannot be reached since the means to attain such levels does not exist. But, hey, the think tank overlords just demand it and as they say, they'll just punish them until the power goes out. So, problem solved.
Yup. 1:1 net metering is terribly unfair to the utility companies, who are forced to act as a free battery, and to their customers who don't have solar, who end up subsidizing those who do.
Now ask me if I feel guilty for having it? Nope. I didn't make those rules. I'm required to play by all manner of rules that our idiot politicians and bureaucrats impose on us, most of which penalize me in one way or another, so if this one happens to benefit me, well, I'll take the benefit.
Ok so I’m putting solar panels on my house to avoid the insanely high electricity costs in Southern California, and putting in a battery to hopefully cover most of my usage when the sun is not shining and I’m somehow the bad guy because I have the means to do so even though I’m having to finance the cost.
I looked into getting solar about 25 years ago, but the battery life issues and costs made me hesitate. I am really glad I didn't now, especially because now I know the systems emit EMFs that few discuss. A fireplace would be a more practical choice for me, as the gas heat is now more than twice the cost of wood heating.
The fundamental rate design problem is the requirement that most of the utilities' fixed costs be recovered in the variable portion of the rate. This rate design was intended to keep the cost of connecting to the grid low for the benefit of low income consumers. California is currently considering adjusting the fixed portion of utility rates based on customer income, to further distort the rate structures. "Socialism is the "ism" dismalest of all."
The on peak residential rate in San Diego is 66 cents per kwh. It isn’t bad rate design. There is no way to cover all the mandated costs of the transition without high rates. Rooftop solar is but a tiny part of it