Marching Bravely Into The Future: As Solar Power Spreads, Diverse Users Fight Utility Attempts To Penalize It greencarreports.com 21 Mar 2015 You'd be surprised how much a rooftop...

9th Marines

As Solar Power Spreads, Diverse Users Fight Utility Attempts To Penalize It
greencarreports.com 21 Mar 2015

You'd be surprised how much a rooftop solar panel can make utility-company executives sweat. Home solar installations are on the rise in the U.S., and that has electric utilities worried.

Now they have a new worry: A remarkably varied group of advocates and interest groups is fighting efforts by utility lobbyists to restrict, penalize, or boost the consumer cost of solar electricity. Utilities have long operated on a traditional, century-old business model: They generate electricity at huge central power plants, and sell it to homes and businesses, distributed via a one-way electric grid.

Distributed solar panels disrupt that model, cutting utilities' revenue from customers getting power from the sun's rays--yet still saddling them with the costs of maintaining expensive infrastructure as a backup. And like most established industries facing new competition, utilities aren't taking this perceived threat lying down.

Utilities are waging a state-by-state campaign that started in legislatures and is now moving to public utility commissions, according to industry tactics laid out by The Washington Post.
Documents from the Edison Electric Institute trade group show that as far back as 2012, the industry was planning to limit or suppress solar power.

The first phase of the campaign involved pushing anti-solar bills through state legislatures. Most of these bills involved outlawing or increasing the cost of net metering--which allows homeowners to gain credit for the electricity their solar arrays feed back into the grid, effectively forcing utilities to "buy" that power.

Legislation pertaining to net metering has been introduced in nearly two dozen states since 2013. In some instances, the bills were virtual copies of model legislation drafted by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC)--a lobbying group associated with the Koch Brothers. However, this effort has largely failed--in some cases spectacularly.

Most of the bills considered so far have been rejected and vetoed. The drafters apparently expected widespread Republican support for these bills--but were disappointed. It turned out that legislators pretty much across the board weren't all that keen on the government regulating how they got their electricity.

As attempts to get legislation passed proved less than successful, lobbyists began to court public-utility commissions instead. These state-level commissions set the rates and fees utilities can charge customers, and are typically made up of political appointees--insulating them from public opinion compared to legislators who must campaign for ree******n.

Last month, an Arizona utility was given approval to institute a monthly surcharge of about $50 for net metering. Utility commissions in Wisconsin and New Mexico are considering similar measures.

But whether those measures pass or fail, the solar industry will likely continue to grow. The price of photovoltaic cells has fallen 60 percent since 2010, bringing them into the reach of more consumers. And while some state governments support anti-solar measures, others subsidize solar installations as a way to cut greenhouse-gas emissions.

Ironically, even the utilities stand to benefit somewhat from the current solar boom. More solar-generating capacity helps balance utility grids during times of high demand, taking some strain off the existing infrastructure. As utilities fight to protect their bottom lines, though, that may well not provide much consolation.

jimahrens Loc: California

Solor is wonderful idea but it's time is not here yet. Only when an deep cell battery is invented then maybe. Until then we rely on electric grid.

9th Marines wrote:

As Solar Power Spreads, Diverse Users Fight Utility Attempts To Penalize It
greencarreports.com 21 Mar 2015

You'd be surprised how much a rooftop solar panel can make utility-company executives sweat. Home solar installations are on the rise in the U.S., and that has electric utilities worried.

Now they have a new worry: A remarkably varied group of advocates and interest groups is fighting efforts by utility lobbyists to restrict, penalize, or boost the consumer cost of solar electricity. Utilities have long operated on a traditional, century-old business model: They generate electricity at huge central power plants, and sell it to homes and businesses, distributed via a one-way electric grid.

Distributed solar panels disrupt that model, cutting utilities' revenue from customers getting power from the sun's rays--yet still saddling them with the costs of maintaining expensive infrastructure as a backup. And like most established industries facing new competition, utilities aren't taking this perceived threat lying down.

Utilities are waging a state-by-state campaign that started in legislatures and is now moving to public utility commissions, according to industry tactics laid out by The Washington Post.
Documents from the Edison Electric Institute trade group show that as far back as 2012, the industry was planning to limit or suppress solar power.

The first phase of the campaign involved pushing anti-solar bills through state legislatures. Most of these bills involved outlawing or increasing the cost of net metering--which allows homeowners to gain credit for the electricity their solar arrays feed back into the grid, effectively forcing utilities to "buy" that power.

Legislation pertaining to net metering has been introduced in nearly two dozen states since 2013. In some instances, the bills were virtual copies of model legislation drafted by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC)--a lobbying group associated with the Koch Brothers. However, this effort has largely failed--in some cases spectacularly.

Most of the bills considered so far have been rejected and vetoed. The drafters apparently expected widespread Republican support for these bills--but were disappointed. It turned out that legislators pretty much across the board weren't all that keen on the government regulating how they got their electricity.

As attempts to get legislation passed proved less than successful, lobbyists began to court public-utility commissions instead. These state-level commissions set the rates and fees utilities can charge customers, and are typically made up of political appointees--insulating them from public opinion compared to legislators who must campaign for ree******n.

Last month, an Arizona utility was given approval to institute a monthly surcharge of about $50 for net metering. Utility commissions in Wisconsin and New Mexico are considering similar measures.

But whether those measures pass or fail, the solar industry will likely continue to grow. The price of photovoltaic cells has fallen 60 percent since 2010, bringing them into the reach of more consumers. And while some state governments support anti-solar measures, others subsidize solar installations as a way to cut greenhouse-gas emissions.

Ironically, even the utilities stand to benefit somewhat from the current solar boom. More solar-generating capacity helps balance utility grids during times of high demand, taking some strain off the existing infrastructure. As utilities fight to protect their bottom lines, though, that may well not provide much consolation.

As Solar Power Spreads, Diverse Users Fight Utilit... (show quote)

AuntiE Loc: 45th Least Free State

I cannot provide the link or anything else; however, several months ago, I read an article concerning this matter. The most interesting fact was the greatest lobbying against solar is occurring in the very states it would be the most successful such as Florida and other "sunshine heavy" states and geographical areas.

9th Marines wrote:

As Solar Power Spreads, Diverse Users Fight Utility Attempts To Penalize It
greencarreports.com 21 Mar 2015

You'd be surprised how much a rooftop solar panel can make utility-company executives sweat. Home solar installations are on the rise in the U.S., and that has electric utilities worried.

Now they have a new worry: A remarkably varied group of advocates and interest groups is fighting efforts by utility lobbyists to restrict, penalize, or boost the consumer cost of solar electricity. Utilities have long operated on a traditional, century-old business model: They generate electricity at huge central power plants, and sell it to homes and businesses, distributed via a one-way electric grid.

Distributed solar panels disrupt that model, cutting utilities' revenue from customers getting power from the sun's rays--yet still saddling them with the costs of maintaining expensive infrastructure as a backup. And like most established industries facing new competition, utilities aren't taking this perceived threat lying down.

Utilities are waging a state-by-state campaign that started in legislatures and is now moving to public utility commissions, according to industry tactics laid out by The Washington Post.
Documents from the Edison Electric Institute trade group show that as far back as 2012, the industry was planning to limit or suppress solar power.

The first phase of the campaign involved pushing anti-solar bills through state legislatures. Most of these bills involved outlawing or increasing the cost of net metering--which allows homeowners to gain credit for the electricity their solar arrays feed back into the grid, effectively forcing utilities to "buy" that power.

Legislation pertaining to net metering has been introduced in nearly two dozen states since 2013. In some instances, the bills were virtual copies of model legislation drafted by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC)--a lobbying group associated with the Koch Brothers. However, this effort has largely failed--in some cases spectacularly.

Most of the bills considered so far have been rejected and vetoed. The drafters apparently expected widespread Republican support for these bills--but were disappointed. It turned out that legislators pretty much across the board weren't all that keen on the government regulating how they got their electricity.

As attempts to get legislation passed proved less than successful, lobbyists began to court public-utility commissions instead. These state-level commissions set the rates and fees utilities can charge customers, and are typically made up of political appointees--insulating them from public opinion compared to legislators who must campaign for ree******n.

Last month, an Arizona utility was given approval to institute a monthly surcharge of about $50 for net metering. Utility commissions in Wisconsin and New Mexico are considering similar measures.

But whether those measures pass or fail, the solar industry will likely continue to grow. The price of photovoltaic cells has fallen 60 percent since 2010, bringing them into the reach of more consumers. And while some state governments support anti-solar measures, others subsidize solar installations as a way to cut greenhouse-gas emissions.

Ironically, even the utilities stand to benefit somewhat from the current solar boom. More solar-generating capacity helps balance utility grids during times of high demand, taking some strain off the existing infrastructure. As utilities fight to protect their bottom lines, though, that may well not provide much consolation.

As Solar Power Spreads, Diverse Users Fight Utilit... (show quote)

JMHO Loc: Utah

9th Marines wrote:

As Solar Power Spreads, Diverse Users Fight Utility Attempts To Penalize It
greencarreports.com 21 Mar 2015

You'd be surprised how much a rooftop solar panel can make utility-company executives sweat. Home solar installations are on the rise in the U.S., and that has electric utilities worried.

Now they have a new worry: A remarkably varied group of advocates and interest groups is fighting efforts by utility lobbyists to restrict, penalize, or boost the consumer cost of solar electricity. Utilities have long operated on a traditional, century-old business model: They generate electricity at huge central power plants, and sell it to homes and businesses, distributed via a one-way electric grid.

Distributed solar panels disrupt that model, cutting utilities' revenue from customers getting power from the sun's rays--yet still saddling them with the costs of maintaining expensive infrastructure as a backup. And like most established industries facing new competition, utilities aren't taking this perceived threat lying down.

Utilities are waging a state-by-state campaign that started in legislatures and is now moving to public utility commissions, according to industry tactics laid out by The Washington Post.
Documents from the Edison Electric Institute trade group show that as far back as 2012, the industry was planning to limit or suppress solar power.

The first phase of the campaign involved pushing anti-solar bills through state legislatures. Most of these bills involved outlawing or increasing the cost of net metering--which allows homeowners to gain credit for the electricity their solar arrays feed back into the grid, effectively forcing utilities to "buy" that power.

Legislation pertaining to net metering has been introduced in nearly two dozen states since 2013. In some instances, the bills were virtual copies of model legislation drafted by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC)--a lobbying group associated with the Koch Brothers. However, this effort has largely failed--in some cases spectacularly.

Most of the bills considered so far have been rejected and vetoed. The drafters apparently expected widespread Republican support for these bills--but were disappointed. It turned out that legislators pretty much across the board weren't all that keen on the government regulating how they got their electricity.

As attempts to get legislation passed proved less than successful, lobbyists began to court public-utility commissions instead. These state-level commissions set the rates and fees utilities can charge customers, and are typically made up of political appointees--insulating them from public opinion compared to legislators who must campaign for ree******n.

Last month, an Arizona utility was given approval to institute a monthly surcharge of about $50 for net metering. Utility commissions in Wisconsin and New Mexico are considering similar measures.

But whether those measures pass or fail, the solar industry will likely continue to grow. The price of photovoltaic cells has fallen 60 percent since 2010, bringing them into the reach of more consumers. And while some state governments support anti-solar measures, others subsidize solar installations as a way to cut greenhouse-gas emissions.

Ironically, even the utilities stand to benefit somewhat from the current solar boom. More solar-generating capacity helps balance utility grids during times of high demand, taking some strain off the existing infrastructure. As utilities fight to protect their bottom lines, though, that may well not provide much consolation.

As Solar Power Spreads, Diverse Users Fight Utilit... (show quote)

Solar power works great, but it is not cheap. I live off grid, and I have a solar system with a back-up 14KW generator. I am completely off grid, with no connection to a electric utility. The main drawback to cheaper solar is the battery bank. My 48-volt 1100 amp hour battery bank cost $11,000 and should last 12 to 14 years with proper care. Nickel-iron will last about 25-30 years, and needs no maintenance, but it a comparable system would cost me around $26,000 to $30,000. Like I said, it's not cheap. Solar panel costs are the cheapest they have ever been, but it's the battery bank cost that is not coming down.

9th Marines

JMHO wrote:

Solar power works great, but it is not cheap. I l... (show quote)

Hopefully, there will be a drop in electrical storage that parallels that of digital storage. It may take quite a bit longer, but let's hope it materializes. Thanks for taking the time to read the article.

jimahrens Loc: California

Do the math cost of solar - monthly electric bill how long before you realize a savings. then you have to replace batteries. you will never see a savings. Not on a residential level.

9th Marines wrote:

Hopefully, there will be a drop in electrical storage that parallels that of digital storage. It may take quite a bit longer, but let's hope it materializes. Thanks for taking the time to read the article.

JMHO Loc: Utah

jimahrens wrote:

Do the math cost of solar - monthly electric bill how long before you realize a savings. then you have to replace batteries. you will never see a savings. Not on a residential level.

The payback is around 16-20 years. But, I don't have to depend on anybody...it is my own power, that I control.

jimahrens Loc: California

That is the only thing that I agree with. Now make sense out of this. To supply Solar Power to the United States at just today's rate of consumption you would need a solar field 5 miles wide from the West coast clear to the East Coast. Does that sound Practical to you. And by the way it does not supply 100% of your needs.

JMHO wrote:

The payback is around 16-20 years. But, I don't have to depend on anybody...it is my own power, that I control.

JMHO Loc: Utah

jimahrens wrote:

That is the only thing that I agree with. Now make sense out of this. To supply Solar Power to the United States at just today's rate of consumption you would need a solar field 5 miles wide from the West coast clear to the East Coast. Does that sound Practical to you. And by the way it does not supply 100% of your needs.

Never said it would be practical as a major power provider...too expensive. A planned solar project in southern Nevada was canceled when none of the local utility providers would buy their electricity...too expensive. It is only practical as a minor/supplemental producer, and for off-grid homes, like mine.

jimahrens Loc: California

Yes I agree. Also Electric cars are a good Idea until you have to spend the thousands of dollars to replace the battery's. Have to face it the technology is not there and won't be for at-least a decade or more.

JMHO wrote:

Never said it would be practical as a major power provider...too expensive. A planned solar project in southern Nevada was canceled when none of the local utility providers would buy their electricity...too expensive. It is only practical as a minor/supplemental producer, and for off-grid homes, like mine.

9th Marines

jimahrens wrote:

Yes I agree. Also Electric cars are a good Idea until you have to spend the thousands of dollars to replace the battery's. Have to face it the technology is not there and won't be for at-least a decade or more.

So do we sit on our hands and do nothing? Remember the cost of the first television sets, both b-w and color, or the first personal computers. It will probably be a long time before the price drops precipitously, and everyone--with any sense--agrees that solar energy will not replace more conventional sources of energy, but it seems ludicrous to let the sun's energy go untapped. Personally, i think the only primary source of power is nuclear.

jimahrens Loc: California

Yes all of Europe is building Nuclear Plants so what does U.S.do, we build windmills. I like Solar two but until such time as we have proper storage it seems stupid to think on a grand scale.

9th Marines wrote:

So do we sit on our hands and do nothing? Remember the cost of the first television sets, both b-w and color, or the first personal computers. It will probably be a long time before the price drops precipitously, and everyone--with any sense--agrees that solar energy will not replace more conventional sources of energy, but it seems ludicrous to let the sun's energy go untapped. Personally, i think the only primary source of power is nuclear.