The power company becomes like a tax collector, you harvest solar energy, send it to your neighbors and the power company decides how much to take from your trade, just because it has basically meters at your houses.
With low-cost sensors, computing tech, and all of these smart meters, technically it is possible to track energy flow and give FAIR COMPENSATION to distributed small generators…however, this is not happening soon unless the utilities are pressured somehow.
If the grid continues to be used abusively as a monopoly, people will develop methods to reduce their reliance on it even in harsh climates. Ground source heat pump, seasonal borehole thermal energy storage, families shared solar PV, multiple houses private DC link for peer-to-peer energy exchange, vehicle battery to house power transfer, smart energy management systems ….. all will be used to make sure the energy flow through the utilities meters is minimized.
As you said a socialist business model is needed, this is the way to prevent a drastic drop in customers base/revenue and preserve the good things the grid can bring to the energy transition.
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Elias OUEDRAOGO
Business Developer
Future Energy Company
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Original Message:
Sent: 12-25-2023 12:13 PM
From: william fitch
Subject: Why PG&E use such low prices to buy solar power sent to the grid?
In my specific case, on my 50KW trans I have two of my neighbors literally on my secondary. SO all my over production goes DIRECTLY to them without even gong out on ANY main line. As far as the grid is concerned, all three of us are just one load which is heavily subsidized by me. SO the power company gets to charge three times for one load trans.
It just doesn't get any better, except of course that my production which is net zero and GROWING is SCREWING them out of profit. To bad so sad for their monopoly business model.
Being off grid is not the answer for many, many climates. However, how the currency flows for a highly distributed grid needs to change. A socialistic model has to be adopted.
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william fitch
Owner
www.WeAreSolar.com
Original Message:
Sent: 12-23-2023 01:58 PM
From: Elias OUEDRAOGO
Subject: Why PG&E use such low prices to buy solar power sent to the grid?
Buy low sell high evolved into buy very low sell very high! This is how utilities want to maximize their profits before the system collapses. While PV cost is going down, electricity retail price is going up. Residential PV systems are not that big so overproduction is probably fed to your neighbors (paid at 0.42$/kWh) or didn't even leave the substation. Still, 0.24$/kWh is charged for transport! At some point, everyone will say well, why don't I go off-grid? or just use the grid as a backup only?
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Elias OUEDRAOGO
Business Developer
Future Energy Company
Original Message:
Sent: 12-22-2023 10:42 AM
From: FRED YI
Subject: Why PG&E use such low prices to buy solar power sent to the grid?
I'm a PG&E customer. Last year (from 12/12/2022 - 11/12/2023), i had Net Usage of -2230. PG&E's statement shows that the estimated total NEW charges is -$507.11. However, the calculated my Net Surplus Compensation (NSC) is -$157.24 (-2230 kWa@$0.070510/kWa). Between 10/13/23-11/12/23, their NEW charge is peak@$0.42818 and off peak @0.38957. When I called PG&E, they explained that among the $0.42818 about $0.18 is electricity charge and others are for transporting power. Even that, it means PG&E sell power to me @$0.18 and buy power from me @$0.07. Anyone know more about this and explain why?
Thank you. Appreciate.
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FRED YI
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