- cross-posted to:
- news@lemmy.world
- cross-posted to:
- news@lemmy.world
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Why don’t we just change the revenue model for power companies. I understand they need money to maintain the infrastructure and pay employees. If power generation becomes so cheap that it can’t sustain the company then don’t rely on that for revenue. I’d rather pay a flat rate for the infrastructure and operating costs than a fluctuating generation charge. And public utilities should not be for profit.
Many places already do charge a “line charge” if you have solar power and use little or no utility company power. You pay for being hooked up to the grid even if you barely use it.
This. This is the way. It solves this problem completely, but utilities somehow refuse it. It’s almost like their argument is not in good faith …
This is how it works in my area. I pay about $12/mo in fees, the rest is handled by solar. They don’t pay me for excess solar, instead I get credit (in kWh, not dollars, thankfully) for it and any electricity I use at night or in the winter comes from that pool. Essentially, it makes the power company a big battery for me.
That’s what your public service commission is for! (In most states). They come up with how the costs of the utility gets passed to consumers. I agree that making sure that infrastructure costs get passed to people who have solar panels, especially if they are relying on that infrastructure at sun-not-being-in-sky hours.
If power generation becomes so cheap that it can’t sustain the company then don’t rely on that for revenue.
I’m not aware of anywhere power generation is that cheap yet. That may be a problem for the future when commercial fusion is viable, but thats likely a lifetime away.
I’d rather pay a flat rate for the infrastructure and operating costs than a fluctuating generation charge.
I think everyone would, but the cost for generation is always fluctuating because the variation in the market for the fuels that generate electricity, supply, and demand of electricity on the market. If its a flat rate, and that rate is below the cost of generating the electricity, who pays?
plug a solar panel into a large battery backup, plug the major appliances into that.
Utility companies don’t need to know shit.
If your business is critical for modern human living, it should be non-profit. It should be guided by the best management plan of the time, debated and approved by the majority of shareholders. It should open its books and stay open.
Really, it should be government.
“Non profit” “shareholders”. Pick one.
I assume they meant stakeholders…cuz like yo, that’s us!
Capitalism. Anyone who tries not to buy my shit is my enemy.
In Florida I’m calling out FPL the local power company.
You would think in Florida having solar panels is a no brainer, but FPL fought it for years.
FPL successfully lobbied to have insurance companies deny coverage if panels are installed on a roof. You can’t get windstorm insurance with panels unless you paythrought the nose.
FPL successfully lobbied to force homeowners with powerwalls and panels to take out a 1 million dollar insurance policy payable to FPL in case there’s an accident that damages the grid…an accident that has never happened, ever.
FPL then has the gall to advertise solar energy and all the benefits, you can sign up for solar power provided by FPL for a slight increase in your bill to help the environment.
Mother fucking FPL
I just got off the phone with a solar installer and they had 2 products, one which cost nearly 60-100k to install and could be done right away because of a deal with my local gov and electric utility. Also the net metering rate and credits are getting reduced by the same utility which is actually making a return on investment harder.
OR
Another solar product costs 40k but it may take years to get approval which is not guaranteed because so far every attempt for approval from the local gov and electric utility have been in limbo or flat out denied.
🤔
that’s so blatant
We should also use public banking to allow apartment complexes where the majority want regular solar to have it installed and paid back as a cut of the solar savings.
I’m really interested in this technology. I can’t get a roof solar installation. I want a add a few panels but I don’t know where to practically start.
Buy a corn farm and change the crop from corn to solar. Between 25% and 48% of the corn in the US is turned into ethanol for cars. You’d be doing double duty combating climate change, and living the capitalists wet dream of one time investment with constant return.
I would stop at buying a house. I worked on a farm. I now work with computers. It is on purpose.
Totally understandable why you’d change career paths from farming to computer related things, that shit is hard AF and a nightmare.
Solar farms though are way easier than other kinds of farms though, in fact I’d say it’s closer to computer work than farm work.
Basically monitor output, keep the panels clean, and keep debris to a minimum around the panels. Oh and of course repairs, but without moving parts those repairs are gonna be happening less often than other kinds of power generation.
LoL… Career path. I worked on a farm and it wasn’t mine. I’m pretty certain I can’t afford a farm.
I do appreciate your optimism and advocacy on solar farming. A house with a roof full of solar is all I really wanted. I’d like a few panels that I an plug in for my patio. The technology in the article is right up my alley.
If you can learn to write a business proposal, you don’t have to be able to afford it. A bank will practically shit themselves to give people loans that can show that an initial investment of less than $500,000 to $750,000 (for a 150 acre farm) will produce an average of $1,200,000- $1,500,000 per year every year for the next 25 years.
Edit: the previous reply in this chain wasn’t me. I appreciate their support though.
Edit 2: if you don’t know how to write a business proposal, librarians can and will help with that.
Didn’t read article, but can tell headline is BS already
Whew, his comment history.
Acronyms are beyond his reach.
