I understand that in California the power customer is required to donate all his solar power to the grid supply
I read that the lobbyists got the FL legislature to hatch a scheme like this, but that Gov. DeSantis vetoed it (Whew!)
Here in Palm Beach county, it’s impossible to remain totally unconnected to the grid. FP&L has to get their piddling monthly administrative fees from every customer! Still, I shouldn’t complain - some things are up to each municipality to decide, and the town next door does not even allow residential solar installations, if you can imagine that!
Our solar system took them long enough to complete (yes, we got 9 batteries, which was what took them forever to synch up to the system) and now it’s done and working, but still too early to tell how much extra it makes to sell back to the power company (at wholesale of course), or how soon it will pay for itself. Like you, we got it also partly in anticipation of blackouts, so as not to have to rely on the gasoline generator, which was a pain.
Oh, my DH turns 78 next month, but evidently doesn’t have as much energy as you do. (Silly pun intended.)
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***still too early to tell how much extra it makes to sell back to the power company (at wholesale of course)***
Ah... you don't have the grid-tied arrangement - if you are selling power wholesale. In the grid tied system you use your own power so that the meter is not turning {as much}.
Similarly, whatever power I use from my own system instead of through the meter saves me that much money. Tying into the grid system can often obligate many regulations in different places. Like California, I think the govt wants control over all power - except small fueled generators. Thus the govt does not have one penny invested in my system... for what it is worth in the nonce.
A friend had a solar array and battery pack installed at his house. It is fully controlled by the power company. Even when the power is out due to storms, since connection is lost with the power company, the system can’t instruct the house to use the battery backup. What’s the point???