I built a solar home near Traverse City in 2016. You really need batteries for this to make sense economically with the changes to distributed. Batteries will prevent you having to buy back the electricity your panels put into the grid. Ceiling fans also lower cooling costs.
A dilemma well explained. I too am considering signing up for the DTE program promoting renewable energy sources. I understand that I would not actually get 85% of required power to my home from renewable sources but would be subsidizing overall costs promoting wind and solar generated power. Governor Whitmer received significant financial support from DTE for her campaign. Does she have a public policy on how DTE is managing this necessary transition?
I'd like to see government programs that encourage landlords to install solar. I've been a renter most of my adult life, and it irks me that I can't get solar as a renter. It seems like apartments could use solar as an incentive to renters, but with the costs you describe, I see why it doesn't happen.
The rate structure is a bit more fairer than you represent. There is no free lunch: You, as a generator, must pay "transportation costs," the costs incurred by DTE in maintaining the transmission lines that transport your power out into the grid. Therefore, you should not expect to receive the identical price that you pay as a user.
Bona fides: I have had two grid-connected arrays with DTE for 12 years. The transmission rate has always exceeded the rate paid (and earned) for generation. My residential connection is off-peak pricing (which is favorable to me) but my business connection is flat rate. However, I have often wondered if DTE pays an equal rate to private generators (like me) as paid to commercial suppliers. Do you know?
I'm a renter also and wish there was also a program for landlords. I do pay monthly a membership fee to dte for help them convert to solar. I feel as though it is a rip-off since solar energy is cheaper. I don't want to think about it.
I built a solar home near Traverse City in 2016. You really need batteries for this to make sense economically with the changes to distributed. Batteries will prevent you having to buy back the electricity your panels put into the grid. Ceiling fans also lower cooling costs.
A dilemma well explained. I too am considering signing up for the DTE program promoting renewable energy sources. I understand that I would not actually get 85% of required power to my home from renewable sources but would be subsidizing overall costs promoting wind and solar generated power. Governor Whitmer received significant financial support from DTE for her campaign. Does she have a public policy on how DTE is managing this necessary transition?
I'd like to see government programs that encourage landlords to install solar. I've been a renter most of my adult life, and it irks me that I can't get solar as a renter. It seems like apartments could use solar as an incentive to renters, but with the costs you describe, I see why it doesn't happen.
A.El-S:
The rate structure is a bit more fairer than you represent. There is no free lunch: You, as a generator, must pay "transportation costs," the costs incurred by DTE in maintaining the transmission lines that transport your power out into the grid. Therefore, you should not expect to receive the identical price that you pay as a user.
Bona fides: I have had two grid-connected arrays with DTE for 12 years. The transmission rate has always exceeded the rate paid (and earned) for generation. My residential connection is off-peak pricing (which is favorable to me) but my business connection is flat rate. However, I have often wondered if DTE pays an equal rate to private generators (like me) as paid to commercial suppliers. Do you know?
C.R. MacC
Williamston
I'm a renter also and wish there was also a program for landlords. I do pay monthly a membership fee to dte for help them convert to solar. I feel as though it is a rip-off since solar energy is cheaper. I don't want to think about it.