[conservatism_IS_compassion]

20% of the houses in our neighborhood have solar. On sunny days, 90% of the days, we give back 3-5 KWH of power each day. This means that the electric coop doesn’t have to buy as much peak power

. . . and that is a good thing in summer when the peak load is air conditioning. But the critical issue is installed peak capacity requirement. But if you require power for air-conditioning when the sun isn’t shining, the generating capacity required for that capability defines the peak generating capacity required, which drives the capital cost of that capacity.

The upshot is that the more peak watts you require, and the less often you actually use it, the more expensive your peak power will be to the utility - and thus to yourself, late or soon.

[SubMareener]

Gas Turbines can answer the peak power problem. While the capacity has to be there, you don’t really pay for it until you need it.