local power company discourages solar installs

I have been off grid since 2010, when the local power company tried to charge me more that my neighbor even though I was putting power back in the grid
my bill should have been $60....instead they charged me $120....my neighbors bill was $90...
there is no way this was possible for reasons that take longer than I want to type
anyways, jump to 2017...I go pay $1500 fine (thats another story) buy wire and conduit totaling $350 to get grid tied again....understand I was the person that got them started on solar for homeowners... along with TN andy that is also a member here
the things that changed is TVA requires certified installers to do the installation or they have to inspect and sign off on it...ok, thats fine
then when I'm about to get connected, they tell me they require a $1 million liability policy
I went off.....why didnt they tell me this at the very beginning....there is no way I am going to pay just to have solar grid tied...because that would cost more than just having regular electric....I asked why they thought I would be ok with that and that should have been the first thing they told me
what this really does is discourages people from installing solar
I ask all of you, does your power company require anything like this
my bill should have been $60....instead they charged me $120....my neighbors bill was $90...
there is no way this was possible for reasons that take longer than I want to type
anyways, jump to 2017...I go pay $1500 fine (thats another story) buy wire and conduit totaling $350 to get grid tied again....understand I was the person that got them started on solar for homeowners... along with TN andy that is also a member here
the things that changed is TVA requires certified installers to do the installation or they have to inspect and sign off on it...ok, thats fine
then when I'm about to get connected, they tell me they require a $1 million liability policy
I went off.....why didnt they tell me this at the very beginning....there is no way I am going to pay just to have solar grid tied...because that would cost more than just having regular electric....I asked why they thought I would be ok with that and that should have been the first thing they told me
what this really does is discourages people from installing solar
I ask all of you, does your power company require anything like this
Comments
Fortunately I am grandfathered in on my original rate plan for 20 years (about 13 left)
http://members.sti.net/offgridsolar/
E-mail [email protected]
Main daytime system ~4kw panels into 2xMNClassic150 370ah 48v bank 2xOutback 3548 inverter 120v + 240v autotransformer
Night system ~1kw panels into 1xMNClassic150 700ah 12v bank morningstar 300w inverter
I am more surprised when I read of decency. You know that cigar shaped alien body that recently came close and left quickly? I figure that were looking for intelligent life .... and hightailed it.
I am available for custom hardware/firmware development
My cat wouldn't appreciate sharing his food, so I'd be looking at liability insurance even though the utility doesn't require it, if I was considering grid-tied here.
Main daytime system ~4kw panels into 2xMNClassic150 370ah 48v bank 2xOutback 3548 inverter 120v + 240v autotransformer
Night system ~1kw panels into 1xMNClassic150 700ah 12v bank morningstar 300w inverter
He tells his wife about is and says we can all share the bowl if we run out of food.
She says, I want my own bowl....
http://members.sti.net/offgridsolar/
E-mail [email protected]
The NJ BPU required the equipment to have a minimum number of years guarantee.
My local township required a Professional Engineer to design for local wind/snow loading (perhaps the Township thinks this get them some protection from liability, but no insurance was required.
Both the NJ BPU and my local utility waived their inspection.
Now, since the two largest utilities in NJ are still installing their own solar farms, I'll bet they would prohibit grid tied homeowners if they could. In NJ we still get Solar Energy credit (money) for kwh generated, the current price is just under $100 per MWH.
19 SW285 panels
SE5000 inverter
grid tied
I got to thinking about it, during sunny days my generator may come on 1 time during the night...not enough battery storage.....but it cost me maybe 12 dollars every 2 1/2 days to run that generator when the sun is down....thats still cheaper than most people pay for grid electric
and while I have to do a bit more to keep the electric on; checking the batteries keeping gas in the generator cleaning snow off the panels in the winter......
I dont have to bow down to the electric gods ( utility company) to keep the electric on, if I dont have electric, its on me....cant blame anyone else
you really do pay for convenience in one way or another