hike_me t1_j3y2kma wrote on January 11, 2023 at 9:20 PM

Net metering means customers pay less in distribution fees for maintaining the grid but they still use the grid, so distribution rates are raised to make up the difference

I have solar. Each month I push hundreds of kilowatt hours into the grid, and then consume hundreds of kilowatts hours. Because of net metering I don’t pay anything more than the minimum fee to be connected, which is like $6.xx

Lots of net-metering customers eventually result in price increases for everyone else. 1:1 net metering isn’t really sustainable

drdanagram OP t1_j3ymm4t wrote on January 11, 2023 at 11:26 PM

I'm curious-- I love the idea of solar, my dad installed a solar powered air conditioner in the 80's (worked-- not great, but was like magic).

I'm curious about the hard data here in Maine-- I'd like to know if it was worth it for you.

utumike t1_j440s1m wrote on January 13, 2023 at 12:35 AM

I don’t know if I totally agree with you. I have solar panels also. I pay a minimum of $13.75/month. I live on a road where the developers put in the utility wires underground. CMP didn’t contribute anything. My extra power goes out then probably right into my neighbors houses. CMP is charging them for the power and the delivery even though they don’t own or maintain any of the wires. I don’t know. I still like my solar.

hike_me t1_j4418me wrote on January 13, 2023 at 12:38 AM

CMP didn’t contribute because your developers opted for underground utilities (either by choice or because they were required to by the town). I live on a private road and all the poles were put in and are owned by Versant.

Glad I’m in versant territory: CMP charge you twice as much as Versant charges me… When I first got my solar panels my minimum charge was $8.xx and then like 3 or 4 months ago it dropped to under $7