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anyone else thinking the Utilities might have to be made Public? Or at least not-for-profit?
Many are, but even public utilities are finding that rooftop solar PV power generation is a disruptive technology that is not easy to manage for. So there will be some bumps for a while.
The article you posted from Bloomberg is actually not up-to-date on the situation in Hawai'i, where the penetration is about 10% solar PV, vs about 2% in California, so we're hitting all the bumps first. HECO is working to remediate the problems caused by its abrupt moratorium on issuing new permits. People who already had systems installed will be expedited, so only people who were planning to install but didn't get permit applications filed are currently in limbo.
No question there are things to work out. But the oft heard... "then I'll just take it off the grid" doesn't seem nearly as attractive an option when you look at the specifics:
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Disconnecting from the grid is not realistic for most people, Chung said. The current state of battery technology means they have to be replaced after a few years, he said. And putting a system with batteries on a typical house would cost $40,000 versus $25,000 for one without the storage component, he said. Moreover, the battery portion isn't eligible for the tax credits.
"Disconnecting from the grid is not realistic for most people, Chung said. The current state of battery technology means they have to be replaced after a few years, he said. And putting a system with batteries on a typical house would cost $40,000 versus $25,000 for one without the storage component, he said. Moreover, the battery portion isn't eligible for the tax credits.
A typical house? Can anyone really define what a typical house is?
Battery replacements after a few years? What is a few? A few is defined as 2 or 3. Properly maintained, current battery technology extracts 5-6 years quite easily and routinely, quite a bit more than a few.
As for the tax credit, anyone with even a basic understanding of the tax credit can figure out how to have it covered. People do it all the time.
A typical house? Can anyone really define what a typical house is?
Talking in very general terms, he's obviously considering ordinary, normal, average homes, as opposed to Beverly Hills Mansions to highlight the fact that he's not talking about the world of luxury.
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Battery replacements after a few years? What is a few? A few is defined as 2 or 3. Properly maintained, current battery technology extracts 5-6 years quite easily and routinely, quite a bit more than a few.
What an inane criticism! It's also inaccurate. The Oxford English Dictionary, the most highly respected reference to the English language defines the word few as "a small number of." I'd certainly say that 5-6 qualifies as a small number.
The salient point the author was referring to is that while the panels themselves might be covered by a 15, 20, 25 year warranty, and be virtually maintenance free over that entire useful life, the batteries are not nearly as long-lived, and they require regular maintenance and periodic replacement. It's an important point for people to understand, because it has a material effect on the overall costs of the system. And I'd add that people who do not properly maintain their batteries can ruin them in just a couple of years.
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As for the tax credit, anyone with even a basic understanding of the tax credit can figure out how to have it covered. People do it all the time.
Sure, the Federal Tax Credit currently applies to battery backups installed with solar panel systems, but other incentives on a state, local, or utility company level vary widely, and many rebates do not apply to batteries, especially in the context of the topic of this thread. And the second set will likely come entirely out of your own pocket.
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Chung should stop putting out dung.
Flinging poo at opinions you don't like or that you disagree with is juvenile. For adults it is sufficient to say you disagree, or that you have a different view.
The economics are almost always going to be best with grid connected solar. Batteries are a very expensive option suitable to remote locations.
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The Oxford English Dictionary, the most highly respected reference to the English language defines the word few as "a small number of." I'd certainly say that 5-6 qualifies as a small number. 
