PSC to vote on net metering policy (FL)

[jpak]

http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/stories/2008/02/25/daily59.html

The Florida Public Service Commission is to vote Tuesday on a policy that would enforce a billing system that would let people with their own energy and solar electric systems return excess power to the utility and receive retail billing credit.

Bruce Kershner, of the Florida Solar Energy Industries Association, said the policy, called net metering, will promote the use of solar energy and create a more robust solar energy industry in the state.

"Solar customers can start realizing more of a payback of their investment," Kershner said.

He said the current system only requires utilities pay consumers 4 cents or 5 cents for each kilowatt (hour). Under the proposed system, credits will accumulate at retail rates and continue to offset customer billing for a year, after which any remaining credit will be paid to the customer at the utility's avoided cost.

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[Clovis Sangrail]

1. I don't understand the 'for a year' part

:shrug:

do they mean they only pay retail for the first year somebody has solar?
I think in Ca you sell back to the grid at the current price/kwh ... regardless of how long you've had the solar installed.

[jpak]

2. Electricity sold to the grid will be tallied up and credited to homeowner at the end of each year

He/she wil receive one check from the utility each year - every year (not just the first)...

[Clovis Sangrail]

3. ah... tnx

so the utility maintains control over the money for the year and gets some benefit from it rather than paying out with monthly bills.

Is that how it currently works in Fl? (aside from the price paid)

[jpak]

4. With net metered PV systems, your meter runs more slowly or backward on sunny days

The homeowner gets the lion's share of the economic benefits (reduced electric costs from the grid on sunny days) - they also get a check back each year in addition to their savings...

The homeowners also benefit from not having to invest in batteries that would increase the up-front costs of their PV systems.

win-win