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Comment by khuey

6 months ago

> PG&E wants to charge solar power users $80+/month just for the privilege of connecting to the grid even if they are fully self-powers through solar

If you're "fully self-powered through solar" just disconnect from the grid.

If you're using the grid as a battery where you feed power into it at 4PM and draw power from it at 4AM, that costs money.

This. 100%. The ability to draw 200Amps from the grid at no notice, 24x7 has real value, and costs real money to provide. If you want that ability, you should pay for it.

We really need to separate the reliability and grid maintenance costs from the usage costs. Bundling them together worked when electricity was a true monopoly, but it isn't that anymore.

  If you're "fully self-powered through solar" just disconnect from the grid.

That's likely illegal.

  • Somehow I doubt walking out to your breaker box and throwing the main switch is illegal.

    I can't see any prosecution or charge resulting from never throwing it back on again, a day off is OK, so is a week, ...

    Where there might be a problem is refusing to pay any connection charge for the X-monthly bill that now shows 0 units consumed.

    Sounds like they'd need to throw the breaker and cancel any existing contract.

    •   I can't see any prosecution or charge resulting from never throwing it back on again, a day off is OK, so is a week, ...
      

      Who said anything about prosecution or charge? A building inspector will happily red tag your residence and the sheriffs will happily escort you out. Easy peasy.

      In California it's going to vary city by city but there are typically interconnect requirements for single family homes and ADUs. You're welcome to go full sovereign citizen and the city or county is welcome to deem your house uninhabitable and use force to evict you.

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