Some Maine homeowners denied solar because there's no room left on grid

[NickB79]

https://www.bangordailynews.com/2022/12/23/mainefocus/maine-solar-grid-stressed-by-demand-joam40zk0w/

Some Maine homeowners looking to set up solar panels are having their requests denied by their electric utilities, who say there is too much demand to connect to an aging grid that is running out of capacity.

Solar panels are more affordable now than ever before, decreasing in price by more than 70 percent over the past decade, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association. The panels can also earn homeowners a federal tax credit to reduce their federal income tax bill.

But as more Mainers have been taking advantage of the now-competitive pricing and incentives, they are sometimes encountering a problem: There is not always room on the wires to hook them up.

[ret5hd]

1. uhhhmmm...unless I am missing something really big...

this doesn't make sense at all. The panels would decrease the load on the grid, not increase it.

[NickB79]

2. Too much solar at one time can create negative electricity prices

While this sounds good to some people, it's a very bad thing for a power company that needs to maintain their infrastructure.

Us, the article discusses voltage swings burning our electrical systems.

[Eugene]

3. Grid-connected solar is two-way. The outdated grid wasn't designed for the load coming back.

Central Maine Power's excuse is that surplus power coming back from the homes will make grid voltage too high. There are technical fixes for that. Of course, that means capital investment in stuff like upgraded substations and regulators on the poles.