Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

To: woodbutcher1963
My advice to your son-in-law is to prepare financially and technically for net metering to go away. Other states with net metering changed the law on existing solar users. Some states grandfathered in existing solar users, other states didn't.

In a way I'm fortunate that Alabama wasn't a net metering state when I researched whether or not to go solar. Thus, my inverters have the feature to turn off the grid sell (which means no putting power onto the grid so I don't experience the extra charges that go with that, and the extra regulations that go with that). Plus, my financial calculations for when it pays for itself doesn't depend on making money from the grid. So for most of the almost 3 years I've had solar I didn't sell power to the grid.

Half a year ago I changed my settings and began selling power to the grid. That was after having solar long enough to know that the extra costs for selling power to the grid are less that the money I get back per kWh (about 1/4th the rate I pay when I pull power from the grid).

As far as the regulation that all states have (rightly so) to require solar users to automatically disconnect from the grid if the grid power goes down (to protect linemen working on the grid), my inverters automatically do that without cutting power to the house. If that regulation changes and I'm required to cut off power to my house when the grid goes down (if I'm selling power to the grid), fine. I'll quit selling power to the grid with a few settings changes (no having to buy inverters with that feature because it was already accounted for when picking the equipment).

13 posted on 03/22/2024 7:21:11 AM PDT by Tell It Right (1st Thessalonians 5:21 -- Put everything to the test, hold fast to that which is true.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies ]


To: Tell It Right

I can’t remember what the law NH gov Sununu signed, but I believe it locked in the NET Metering price for at least the next 5-6 years.

I recall in NV they changed it after so many home owners bought solar panels. It literally was making it unprofitable for the utility in NV. So, they got the three person Public Utilities Commission to lower the rate they were paying.

I suspect something like that will happen in California once everyone has solar panels on their roof.

FYI, IF I owned the property across the street from my house I would install a small hydroelectric generator. There is a fifteen foot wide brook that runs year round. Right now it is 2’ deep. Even in the middle of August it still is about 6” or more. It also very rarely freezes over in the winter because it runs so fast. It would generate power probably 9-10 months/year.


23 posted on 03/22/2024 11:23:52 AM PDT by woodbutcher1963
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson