What does the group think about this article on solar power net metering?

[PamW]

2. Easily fixable

The whole problem is that the utility like PG&E is forced to buy power at retail rates.

The power is "at" the home of the solar generator, and PG&E has to move it over their transmission lines to who ever they are reselling the power to. The resale is at the retail price that PG&E paid for it.

This is really unfair to PG&E; because it forces PG&E to "eat" the line losses which average about 7%. That is, if a solar generator sells 100 kw-hrs to PG&E at retail price, and PG&E resells that power to someone else, then on average the amount of energy resold is only 93 kw-hours because, on average; 7 kw-hrs will end up as resistance heating in the transmission lines. Therefore, not only does PG&E not make a profit; it has to "eat" the cost of the 7 kw-hrs that end up as transmission line loss. Additionally, PG&E had to provide the transmission line capacity, and doesn't get paid for it.

Solar generators should be treated like any other electricity supplier to PG&E. PG&E should pay the solar generator the wholesale cost of the electricity like they do any other electricity provider.

PamW