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LetemEatCake Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:5,595 Points:1,201,110 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Jan 4, 2013 8:42:50 AM Ignore LetemEatCake Report Abuse MARIN COUNTY, Calif. (KGO) -- Seven On Your Side is hearing complaints from a lot of homeowners these days who have solar panels on their rooftops. Many say they are paid too little for the surplus power they feed to the grid. PG&E says rates are actually set by regulators. An estimated 65,000 PG&E customers have solar panels on their rooftops. The power they produce offsets their electric bills. However, many are producing much more energy than they use and by law their credits are wiped out at the end of the year. So some homeowners say that's a giveaway and now they're plugging in more appliances in an effort to use up their excess energy. Mary Minton makes good use of the sun that beats down on her Sonoma house. With 18 solar panels, she's producing enough power for her house Visit ABC News7 for full article

LetemEatCake

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Oklahoma City

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Message Posted: Jan 4, 2013 8:42:50 AM

Ignore LetemEatCake Report Abuse

MARIN COUNTY, Calif. (KGO) -- Seven On Your Side is hearing complaints from a lot of homeowners these days who have solar panels on their rooftops. Many say they are paid too little for the surplus power they feed to the grid. PG&E says rates are actually set by regulators.

An estimated 65,000 PG&E customers have solar panels on their rooftops. The power they produce offsets their electric bills. However, many are producing much more energy than they use and by law their credits are wiped out at the end of the year. So some homeowners say that's a giveaway and now they're plugging in more appliances in an effort to use up their excess energy.

Mary Minton makes good use of the sun that beats down on her Sonoma house. With 18 solar panels, she's producing enough power for her house
Visit ABC News7 for full article

REPLIES (newest first)Ignore Short Messages

LetemEatCake Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:5,595 Points:1,201,110 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Jan 5, 2013 11:51:11 PM Ignore LetemEatCake Report Abuse Thanks to everyone for such great comments!
Sneakers55 Champion Author Houston Posts:51,247 Points:2,139,925 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Jan 5, 2013 5:59:49 PM Ignore Sneakers55 Report Abuse It's only reasonable that people get paid the wholesale rate for what they return to the grid.
remay Champion Author Houston Posts:6,943 Points:2,113,390 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Jan 5, 2013 12:22:09 PM Ignore remay Report Abuse "Piotter took a different route. Instead of taking a small sum, he's using up his electricity. He said, "It would be a lot smarter for us just to use our electricity rather than sell the surplus to PG&E." Piotter replaced a gas heater with this electric one. It devoured his surplus and he cut down his gas bill. " There you go, problem solved! Man, people can't just be satisfied!
DanMtz Champion Author Oakland Posts:3,335 Points:1,239,425 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Jan 5, 2013 11:35:21 AM Ignore DanMtz Report Abuse The PUC is PG&E's best friend.
CityCouponer All-Star Author New Orleans Posts:913 Points:197,255 Joined:Aug 2012	Message Posted: Jan 4, 2013 10:24:26 PM Ignore CityCouponer Report Abuse It sucks that their credits are wiped out at the end of the year.
PDQBlues Champion Author San Diego Posts:7,054 Points:1,444,325 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Jan 4, 2013 5:22:19 PM Ignore PDQBlues Report Abuse California citizens receive nothing for the excess energy generated by solar power. PG&E is a horrendously lousy company and the legislators have been bribed to keep it that way.
tankumo Veteran Author Vancouver Posts:392 Points:67,435 Joined:Dec 2012	Message Posted: Jan 4, 2013 1:55:36 PM Ignore tankumo Report Abuse Before we install solar panel we need to work out the math. It may be better to use the money to invest in oil companies and receive the dividends to pay for our utility. For example, a $10,000 solar panel, use the money to buy oil company stock to receive 5% dividend, that's $500 a year. Can solar panel generate $500 power sold to electric company? We need to do intese math here.
BburgCW Champion Author Virginia Posts:2,684 Points:1,176,365 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: Jan 4, 2013 12:46:22 PM Ignore BburgCW Report Abuse Who paid for the solar panels in the first place?
bar1035 Champion Author Charlotte Posts:9,130 Points:1,294,220 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Jan 4, 2013 12:42:25 PM Ignore bar1035 Report Abuse For the life of me I don't see how plugging in more appliances helps their bottom line
dodsworth All-Star Author Salem Posts:757 Points:291,180 Joined:Jul 2012	Message Posted: Jan 4, 2013 12:32:07 PM Ignore dodsworth Report Abuse Too much energy? Just quibbling over who pays how much when and other contract issues? Nicer problem to have than the reverse.
peakkeller Champion Author Colorado Springs Posts:1,674 Points:774,325 Joined:Dec 2009	Message Posted: Jan 4, 2013 11:58:29 AM Ignore peakkeller Report Abuse Strange
HorizonChaser Champion Author Montgomery Posts:1,963 Points:451,810 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: Jan 4, 2013 11:57:38 AM Ignore HorizonChaser Report Abuse Fight! Fight! Fight! and in this fight the lawyers will be the big winners [Edited by: HorizonChaser at 1/4/2013 11:58:51 AM EST]
evowner Champion Author Salem Posts:2,157 Points:354,355 Joined:May 2012	Message Posted: Jan 4, 2013 11:29:00 AM Ignore evowner Report Abuse The corporate world protects its bottom line using lobbyists to write their laws.
mitt4prez Champion Author Tacoma Posts:1,727 Points:1,242,150 Joined:Nov 2007	Message Posted: Jan 4, 2013 11:07:02 AM Ignore mitt4prez Report Abuse Believe what the govt tells you---but won't put in writing---and you deserve what you get. Even if they put it in writing, you deserve what you get.
Sego Veteran Author Florida Posts:382 Points:70,185 Joined:Apr 2012	Message Posted: Jan 4, 2013 10:59:09 AM Ignore Sego Report Abuse Use it or lose it.
md11capt Champion Author Denver Posts:3,553 Points:707,405 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Jan 4, 2013 10:54:40 AM Ignore md11capt Report Abuse Smells like Enron
JamesCalvin Champion Author Lancaster Posts:3,171 Points:515,780 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Jan 4, 2013 10:36:14 AM Ignore JamesCalvin Report Abuse It is important to read the fine print, if there is any fine print to read!
Buckeyee Champion Author Maine Posts:4,581 Points:895,005 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Jan 4, 2013 10:33:37 AM Ignore Buckeyee Report Abuse If you can afford to have solar panels instlled, just be glad you have no electric bills.
crep1291 Champion Author Ottawa Posts:2,576 Points:480,635 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Jan 4, 2013 10:30:04 AM Ignore crep1291 Report Abuse 4c/kWh sounds a bit low...
YaBassa Champion Author Michigan Posts:2,410 Points:513,100 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Jan 4, 2013 10:25:31 AM Ignore YaBassa Report Abuse PG&E = Utilities rip off the best way around it: "Piotter took a different route. Instead of taking a small sum, he's using up his electricity. He said, "It would be a lot smarter for us just to use our electricity rather than sell the surplus to PG&E." Piotter replaced a gas heater with this electric one. It devoured his surplus and he cut down his gas bill."
deputydog082 Champion Author Detroit Posts:1,766 Points:656,360 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Jan 4, 2013 10:12:20 AM Ignore deputydog082 Report Abuse it's all about the $$$
badbonita Champion Author Syracuse Posts:6,204 Points:1,349,710 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Jan 4, 2013 10:03:04 AM Ignore badbonita Report Abuse I know that pennies add up but seriously, PG&E's payments are not encouraging people to "sell" their excess energy to them.
humblepie Champion Author Toledo Posts:34,063 Points:2,367,370 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Jan 4, 2013 9:59:56 AM Ignore humblepie Report Abuse hahahahahahahaha
FPLREP Champion Author Virginia Posts:8,243 Points:2,444,290 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Jan 4, 2013 9:51:29 AM Ignore FPLREP Report Abuse People call me all the time at my job(I work for a small municipal utility) and state that they KNOW they didn't use as much as they were billed. I ask them what are they using as their way of telling. They have no idea what they are using. The excuses range from (I am never there, I work all day) I tell them I have yet to run across a motion-sensored thermostat!
MrDeath666 Champion Author Houston Posts:1,596 Points:240,190 Joined:Sep 2012	Message Posted: Jan 4, 2013 9:46:01 AM Ignore MrDeath666 Report Abuse It's California. What did you expect?
werich44 Champion Author California Posts:1,837 Points:464,955 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Jan 4, 2013 9:38:14 AM Ignore werich44 Report Abuse Just one more way California steals from the public.
skempton Champion Author Vermont Posts:1,124 Points:835,160 Joined:Apr 2010	Message Posted: Jan 4, 2013 9:37:56 AM Ignore skempton Report Abuse Should have read the contract first.
Rockyguitar Champion Author Tampa Posts:2,552 Points:1,198,995 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Jan 4, 2013 9:33:08 AM Ignore Rockyguitar Report Abuse This always seems to be the case. Conservation = lower revenues. Raise rates so profits keep increasing is the end result.
roadrunnin Champion Author Richmond Posts:1,743 Points:561,565 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Jan 4, 2013 9:33:01 AM Ignore roadrunnin Report Abuse surprised anyone expected the utility to "play fair" they are in business to make money
Point__man Champion Author Raleigh Posts:4,315 Points:873,695 Joined:Oct 2010	Message Posted: Jan 4, 2013 9:19:35 AM Ignore Point__man Report Abuse Doubt Marin County needs to worry; but, utilities in some parts of the country could go broke if the majority of their customers turned to solar during the day expecting free energy in return at night + getting paid for the excess. Doubt their overall expenses are going down any; yet their income goes down considerably. What would those solar customers do if the utility wasn't there to supply them at night ? Would think Marin county utilities could sell off that excess quite easily & rapidly in California.
craigsfrank Champion Author Arkansas Posts:2,193 Points:837,255 Joined:Jun 2010	Message Posted: Jan 4, 2013 9:14:50 AM Ignore craigsfrank Report Abuse Another solar flop! Way to go Obama!!!!
eschroth442 Champion Author Cleveland Posts:1,064 Points:328,970 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Jan 4, 2013 9:08:54 AM Ignore eschroth442 Report Abuse you expect the government or a government sponsored monopoly to be fair. What turnip truck did you fall off of.
bsnort Veteran Author Huntsville Posts:415 Points:230,950 Joined:Aug 2012	Message Posted: Jan 4, 2013 9:06:18 AM Ignore bsnort Report Abuse moonbeam to the rescue..................
peabeax55 All-Star Author Atlanta Posts:713 Points:185,415 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Jan 4, 2013 8:59:43 AM Ignore peabeax55 Report Abuse I would personally NEVER trust the state of California or PG&E to play fair. Let this be a lesson.
hotwire43 Sophomore Author Indiana Posts:180 Points:531,925 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Jan 4, 2013 8:59:37 AM Ignore hotwire43 Report Abuse Sounds like these people are not being rewarded for the big investment they made.
Luckylindy Champion Author Milwaukee Posts:4,494 Points:1,123,070 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Jan 4, 2013 8:56:31 AM Ignore Luckylindy Report Abuse Thats what happens when you give government subsidies.
drpepperTX Champion Author Texas Posts:8,924 Points:748,960 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Jan 4, 2013 8:55:51 AM Ignore drpepperTX Report Abuse These people sound mighty GREEDY! Quick plug in another appliance since we're not getting other people's money! [Edited by: drpepperTX at 1/4/2013 8:58:01 AM EST]
RAJNY All-Star Author New York Posts:575 Points:427,945 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: Jan 4, 2013 8:55:21 AM Ignore RAJNY Report Abuse what
bcline909 Veteran Author Virginia Posts:401 Points:80,170 Joined:Nov 2012	Message Posted: Jan 4, 2013 8:55:04 AM Ignore bcline909 Report Abuse hmm
gbs1 Champion Author Minnesota Posts:1,981 Points:738,600 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Jan 4, 2013 8:51:41 AM Ignore gbs1 Report Abuse It makes sense they are being paid the spot rate for their surplus Kwh since that is the wholesale rate utilities pay other suppliers.
HoosierDaddyKY Champion Author Kentucky Posts:1,257 Points:294,135 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: Jan 4, 2013 8:49:27 AM Ignore HoosierDaddyKY Report Abuse Well...
merlinCO Champion Author Colorado Posts:1,620 Points:337,395 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Jan 4, 2013 8:49:24 AM Ignore merlinCO Report Abuse They produce too much power at the generation plant and this is going to be a growing trend.