PGE is required by law to pay the going rate for the electricity fed into the grid.
That amount is deducted from the homeowner’s electric bill.
If a homeowner isn’t using energy during those five days and energy is being fed into the grid, the balance sheet will look that much sweeter at the end of the billing cycle.
Something should be noted here.
Instead of having to build massive new power plants, the electric company, the state, and the federal government are creating a large power grid that incorporates these homeowner’s solar collectors.
That is a good thing.
If the homeowner has a battery system installed too, so much the better.
I have a family member that can run their home for a week or so without power grid assistance, if they are careful.
Folks, these systems aren’t a scam. They work and reduce the strain on the grid. Even if you don’t have one of these systems they do help you. They help reduce the demand on the grid making it less likely of a brown/black out. It also helps keep your rates lower, as the companies don’t have to pay a full load cost of a new power plant to provide power to your home.
This was a misstatement.
They can run their home indefinitely without the utility.