[XCSSA] Cheaper solar power heads mainstream
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xcssa@xcssa.org
24 May 2007 02:45:58 -0500
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I've followed the solar conversation here on XCSSA, and I've got
something to point out that you might not know about.
There have been a LOT of people forking out BIG bucks to put in solar
electricity installations. But if you think you're going to hook them
up -- you might be in for a rude awakening! A LOT of power companies
(including CPS) are VERY rude about personal electricity generation. If
you want to hook it up in your house (and still stay connected to the
grid) -- they are VERY demanding. (When I use "they" below -- I mean
your local power company. It doesn't matter which one!).
1) They require a very expensive switch system that shuts off your
outgoing power to the grid when there are line problems. It monitors
the company's supply TO your house and cuts off YOUR supply if theirs
goes down. Their excuse is so their workers don't get juiced by your
power when working on downed lines. Logical -- but expensive. (Seems
it would also prevent you supplying your neighbors when the power
company cuts off your neighborhood. Humm....)
2) They require a insurance bond against problems caused by YOUR power
generation & connection to THEIR grid. Last time I heard this discussed
-- it was a $1M or $1.5M bond. Not so logical unless you're worried
about the dam lawyers!!
3) They require an expensive power meter replacement at your house --
one that can run backward to not only track your usage from their grid,
but also your output to the grid. Again, logical -- but expensive.
4) They will NOT pay you the same as you pay them for each kilowatt of
electricity. Last I heard -- while you pay >$.07 per kilowatt, CPS will
only pay you about $.03 or less for electricity you generate and provide
to their grid. Their claim is "That is the wholesale price we can get
it or generate it for. Why would we pay YOU more!". Again, logical --
but it means that you aren't going to pay for your installation as
quickly as you might have calculated. And I'm not so sure I believe
their claimed "wholesale" prices. One Austin company that was in the
news was offering only $.017 per kilowatt -- that's right, just 1.7
cents per!
I learned most of this about a year ago. I looked into it after hearing
a radio interview with some poor sap living near Austin. He'd spent
more than $25,000 on a complete solar hot water, PV electrical system,
and a wind generator with his new house. After installing it all, he
wasn't allowed to hook it up to his house -- or the local company would
disconnect him from the grid. He described how it had gone round and
round. But in the end, more than a year had passed and he will wasn't
generating any power nor selling any to help pay for his equipment (his
plan from the beginning).
He also described trying to find, qualify, and afford an insurance bond
for the connection. Between licensed/bonded electrician work/checks,
inspections by the power company's people and contractors (that the home
owner had to pay for), and everything else -- he wound up forking out
almost another $10,000. And the power company still wouldn't let him
hook up.
Face it guys -- power companies ARE a monopoly in most places. And the
AREN'T friendly to anyone who wants in on their monopoly. They will do
any stupid thing they can, drag their feet intolerably, and require the
moon before they'll let you hook up. Don't believe me -- ask CPS what
their requirements are. I did it about a year ago and it was some of
the stupidest things I've ever heard!
After that, I decided that when I build my own (and I WILL put in my own
generation) -- I'll make sure I use it/store it there on site. I figure
that if I can just replace my own electrical usage like air-conditioning
-- I'll be ahead. And screw the local power company. I won't even tell
them I've got it!! But I WILL store as much as I can afford to -- so
when CPS is down, I won't be!
Chuck
On Wed, 2007-05-23 at 19:54, xcssa-admin@xcssa.org wrote:
On Wed, 2007-05-23 at 15:40 -0500, xcssa-admin@xcssa.org wrote:
> Some news about cheaper photovoltaic panels.
>
> > Subject: Cheaper solar power heads mainstream
> >
> >
> > Cheaper solar power heads mainstream Reuters - 2 hours, 39 minutes
> > ago
> >
> > NEW YORK (Reuters) - Solar power should become a mainstream energy
> > choice in three or four years as companies raise output of a key
> > ingredient used in solar panels and as China emerges as a producer
> > of them, according to a report by an environmental research group.
> >
>
> Charles
>
>
I, for one, really appreciate all the information on solar power. It
seems that I miss the best XCSSA meetings (Legos, for instance) - oh
well, life can be a bit contrary at times.
I had sent the following email to CPS but have yet to receive any reply
- I'm wondering if anyone has thoughts on how to approach the local
utility about solar power - is there an avenue through which they would
be receptive to offering information? maybe I used the wrong email
address? I sent this message to "feedback@cpsenergy.com".
Hello,
We are longtime San Antonio residents, currently residing at 131
Teakwood Lane, and a friend was directing me to the following URL as a
possible means of using alternative energy:
http://renu.citizenre.com/
I like the idea of solar power but am wondering what guidance and/or
caveats would you feel are important for me to consider. When I read
about what Citizenre has to offer I wonder what are the chances that CPS
will offer solar panels in the future? I do understand that Citizenre
has no actual installations yet, but this is certainly going to be an
avenue to explore in the future.
How should I best explore possibilities for solar/alternative power?
Thank you,
-J. Kevin Jennings
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I've followed the solar conversation here on XCSSA, and I've got something to point out that you might not know about.
<BR>
<BR>
There have been a LOT of people forking out BIG bucks to put in solar electricity installations. But if you think you're going to hook them up -- you might be in for a rude awakening! A LOT of power companies (including CPS) are VERY rude about personal electricity generation. If you want to hook it up in your house (and still stay connected to the grid) -- they are VERY demanding. (When I use "they" below -- I mean your local power company. It doesn't matter which one!).
<BR>
<BR>
1) They require a very expensive switch system that shuts off your outgoing power to the grid when there are line problems. It monitors the company's supply TO your house and cuts off YOUR supply if theirs goes down. Their excuse is so their workers don't get juiced by your power when working on downed lines. Logical -- but expensive. (Seems it would also prevent you supplying your neighbors when the power company cuts off your neighborhood. Humm....)
<BR>
<BR>
2) They require a insurance bond against problems caused by YOUR power generation & connection to THEIR grid. Last time I heard this discussed -- it was a $1M or $1.5M bond. Not so logical unless you're worried about the dam lawyers!!
<BR>
<BR>
3) They require an expensive power meter replacement at your house -- one that can run backward to not only track your usage from their grid, but also your output to the grid. Again, logical -- but expensive.
<BR>
<BR>
4) They will NOT pay you the same as you pay them for each kilowatt of electricity. Last I heard -- while you pay >$.07 per kilowatt, CPS will only pay you about $.03 or less for electricity you generate and provide to their grid. Their claim is "That is the wholesale price we can get it or generate it for. Why would we pay YOU more!". Again, logical -- but it means that you aren't going to pay for your installation as quickly as you might have calculated. And I'm not so sure I believe their claimed "wholesale" prices. One Austin company that was in the news was offering only $.017 per kilowatt -- that's right, just 1.7 cents per!
<BR>
<BR>
I learned most of this about a year ago. I looked into it after hearing a radio interview with some poor sap living near Austin. He'd spent more than $25,000 on a complete solar hot water, PV electrical system, and a wind generator with his new house. After installing it all, he wasn't allowed to hook it up to his house -- or the local company would disconnect him from the grid. He described how it had gone round and round. But in the end, more than a year had passed and he will wasn't generating any power nor selling any to help pay for his equipment (his plan from the beginning).
<BR>
<BR>
He also described trying to find, qualify, and afford an insurance bond for the connection. Between licensed/bonded electrician work/checks, inspections by the power company's people and contractors (that the home owner had to pay for), and everything else -- he wound up forking out almost another $10,000. And the power company still wouldn't let him hook up.
<BR>
<BR>
Face it guys -- power companies ARE a monopoly in most places. And the AREN'T friendly to anyone who wants in on their monopoly. They will do any stupid thing they can, drag their feet intolerably, and require the moon before they'll let you hook up. Don't believe me -- ask CPS what their requirements are. I did it about a year ago and it was some of the stupidest things I've ever heard!
<BR>
<BR>
After that, I decided that when I build my own (and I WILL put in my own generation) -- I'll make sure I use it/store it there on site. I figure that if I can just replace my own electrical usage like air-conditioning -- I'll be ahead. And screw the local power company. I won't even tell them I've got it!! But I WILL store as much as I can afford to -- so when CPS is down, I won't be!
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
Chuck
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
On Wed, 2007-05-23 at 19:54, xcssa-admin@xcssa.org wrote:
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<PRE><FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I>On Wed, 2007-05-23 at 15:40 -0500, xcssa-admin@xcssa.org wrote:</FONT></FONT></I>
<FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I>> Some news about cheaper photovoltaic panels.</FONT></FONT></I>
<FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I>> </FONT></FONT></I>
<FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I>> > Subject: Cheaper solar power heads mainstream</FONT></FONT></I>
<FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I>> > </FONT></FONT></I>
<FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I>> > </FONT></FONT></I>
<FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I>> > Cheaper solar power heads mainstream Reuters - 2 hours, 39 minutes</FONT></FONT></I>
<FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I>> > ago </FONT></FONT></I>
<FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I>> > </FONT></FONT></I>
<FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I>> > NEW YORK (Reuters) - Solar power should become a mainstream energy</FONT></FONT></I>
<FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I>> > choice in three or four years as companies raise output of a key</FONT></FONT></I>
<FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I>> > ingredient used in solar panels and as China emerges as a producer</FONT></FONT></I>
<FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I>> > of them, according to a report by an environmental research group.</FONT></FONT></I>
<FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I>> > </FONT></FONT></I>
<FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I>> </FONT></FONT></I>
<FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I>> Charles</FONT></FONT></I>
<FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I>> </FONT></FONT></I>
<FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I>> </FONT></FONT></I>
<FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I>I, for one, really appreciate all the information on solar power. It</FONT></FONT></I>
<FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I>seems that I miss the best XCSSA meetings (Legos, for instance) - oh</FONT></FONT></I>
<FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I>well, life can be a bit contrary at times. </FONT></FONT></I>
<FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I></FONT></FONT></I>
<FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I>I had sent the following email to CPS but have yet to receive any reply</FONT></FONT></I>
<FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I>- I'm wondering if anyone has thoughts on how to approach the local</FONT></FONT></I>
<FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I>utility about solar power - is there an avenue through which they would</FONT></FONT></I>
<FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I>be receptive to offering information? maybe I used the wrong email</FONT></FONT></I>
<FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I>address? I sent this message to "feedback@cpsenergy.com". </FONT></FONT></I>
<FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I></FONT></FONT></I>
<FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I>Hello, </FONT></FONT></I>
<FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I></FONT></FONT></I>
<FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I>We are longtime San Antonio residents, currently residing at 131</FONT></FONT></I>
<FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I>Teakwood Lane, and a friend was directing me to the following URL as a</FONT></FONT></I>
<FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I>possible means of using alternative energy: </FONT></FONT></I>
<FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I></FONT></FONT></I>
<FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I>http://renu.citizenre.com/</FONT></FONT></I>
<FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I></FONT></FONT></I>
<FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I>I like the idea of solar power but am wondering what guidance and/or</FONT></FONT></I>
<FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I>caveats would you feel are important for me to consider. When I read</FONT></FONT></I>
<FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I>about what Citizenre has to offer I wonder what are the chances that CPS</FONT></FONT></I>
<FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I>will offer solar panels in the future? I do understand that Citizenre</FONT></FONT></I>
<FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I>has no actual installations yet, but this is certainly going to be an</FONT></FONT></I>
<FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I>avenue to explore in the future. </FONT></FONT></I>
<FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I></FONT></FONT></I>
<FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I>How should I best explore possibilities for solar/alternative power? </FONT></FONT></I>
<FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I></FONT></FONT></I>
<FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I>Thank you, </FONT></FONT></I>
<FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I>-J. Kevin Jennings </FONT></FONT></I>
<FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I></FONT></FONT></I>
<FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I></FONT></FONT></I>
<FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I>_______________________________________________</FONT></FONT></I>
<FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I>XCSSA mailing list</FONT></FONT></I>
<FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I>XCSSA@xcssa.org</FONT></FONT></I>
<FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I>http://xcssa.org/mailman/listinfo/xcssa</FONT></FONT></I>
<FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I></FONT></FONT></I>
<FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I>-- </FONT></FONT></I>
<FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I>This message has been scanned for viruses and</FONT></FONT></I>
<FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I>dangerous content by MailScanner, and is</FONT></FONT></I>
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</PRE>
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