OT: Electricity generation: "Net Billing" arrangements

[Chip Fetrow]

Bob:

I agree with what you write except, "which also then saves them from  
having
to build additional distribution capacity."

They still have to build the additional distribution capacity because  
sometimes the wind doesn't blow, and sometimes the sun doesn't shine  
-- well, every day for the sun, but sometimes it is cloudy during the  
day.

Residential peak demand periods tend to be in the evening anyway, when  
solar is not producing any power.

Dominion Virginia power has the following demand periods:
___________________________

A. On-Peak Hours (Except certain holidays)
   1. For the period of June 1 through September 30, on-peak hours  
are:  11 a.m. to
10 p.m., Mondays through Fridays.

   2. For the period of October 1 through May 31, on-peak hours are:   
7 a.m. to 11
a.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Mondays through Fridays.
____________________________

Thus, they have to build additional capacity  anyway.

--chip

On Mar 23, 2011, at 9:33 AM, Bob Bruninga wrote:

> Since that was 10 years ago, I woiuld definitely re-check that for  
> today's
> climate.  Yes, originally Utilities wanted to do it that way,  
> because they
> saw it as an imposition onto their monopoly.
>
> But recently, even the utilitites see that solar and wind grid-tie  
> is such a
> benefit to them in the long run that they accept 1-fo-1 net metering  
> when
> pushed by the state.  The biggest advantage is that the power is being
> generated AT THE LOAD, and so they don't have to waste any  
> distribution
> losses to deliver it, which also then saves them from having to build
> additional distribution capacity... and also saves them 10-to-1 or   
> more in
> avoding them having to buy peak power at 10 times the going rate  
> during peak
> summer demand.
>
> So an educated utility will see it in their best interest to provide  
> 1:1 net
> metering.
>
> Bob, Wb4APR
>

>> Last I saw in California (and that was about
>> 10 years ago) they charged 12 cents a kW/h
>> for consumed power (retail) and about 4 cents
>> a kW/h for electricity put back into the system
>> (wholesale).