Re: PV: Who's really using PV

["David & Sheila Knapp" <solar@aeroinc.net>]

We were faced with a much lower bill than yours.  Our first meter had died totally and I did not report it since the utility reads the meter themselves, I know they would discover it if they had not already done so.  The next period they averaged our meter usage (to their favor of course).

It was about two months later I changed out quite a few incandescent lamps with CF lamps (~32 total bought a great discount from a utility sponsored discounter ) and added power strips to our TV/VCR and PC computer.  I removed our doorbell transformer and installed a Heath battery operated/radio controlled door bell.  We had just bought a very early production version of the Staber washing machine (before Home Power tested it).  It was the time of the year where we were switching from using the hand-me-down electric clothes dryer to the clothes line outdoors.  It made a big difference in our utility bill (600 kWh to about 188 kWh).

Due to the previous trouble, the utility came out and changed our meter again and insisted on charging us another "averaged rate."  In the mean time I was making numerous phone calls to them, but finding the correct person to talk to was hard.  No one there understood phantom loads or had a firm background on how CF lamps used 1/4 of the power of equivalent lumens.

During the next month, the utility computer flagged us again and they made a nasty phone call to us threatening to throw us in jail for meter tampering.  I told them I had been looking to talk with them for a long while and had been doing MY homework all along.  I presented them with a pile of receipts I had just collected from all of the CF lamps, power strips, and Energy Star rated appliances.  I then gave them a power budget sheet not too far off from how I would design a PV system, only it was a before and after sheet to show them very accurately how much power we were using with each set of appliances.

The rep who came out was speechless and in fact didn't really believe us.  He didn't really understand ghost loads either, but I gave him a tour of the house.  He stated CF lamps weren't really cost effective (even after I showed him the math after 10,000 hours of CF lamp life) and that our laundry shouldn't be hung outside because it would attract flies!  I showed him our Ryobi 24 volt battery operated lawnmower and his eyes perked up until I showed him the two 14 watt PV modules in the back yard from Real Goods T. C. that was recharging it.

He left saying that our usage was still suspicious and that they were considering charging us a minimum fee every much to get us in line with everyone else.  It was very difficult to maintain my composure, but we were very polite to the rep.  I paid $100 to my lawyer who wrote them a letter stating all of the facts why we only consumed the power that we did and attached the load sheets as I previously did.  We had an electrician sign the loadsheets and to swear that our wiring was built to code and nothing illegal was going on.  The utility responded with a short letter saying that  our account would be monitored for significant changes in the future.

It has been six years now six we have heard from them.  Our usage varies 188 - 400 kWh depending on the time of year.  We still have a pile of dinosaur appliances.  We could have chosen to replace all of them sooner, but we concentrated of getting completely debt free except for our small mortgage we have left.  It is not really cost effective to replace them now when we are going to be building very soon and switching to the DC powered versions real soon.

Since then the political climate has changed.  Our 7 nuke utility is accepting net metering on their grid (if you use one of their approved installers) and they seem to be more in tune with conservation.  They do make you pay for two meters, which mean you still pay about $16 a month is user fees even if you make all of your own power.  I've always liked being ahead of my time.  

They are running their nukes full speed ahead to sell power to the SW at great profit while the local ratepayers will have to fund the extra maintenance and decommissioning costs.  Under de-regulation, if you opt for a different supplier, you must pay them the difference between your new rate and your old rate for two years.  We'll be glad to be gone from them soon.

I support renewables 120% and I hope that everyone does too.  It would be much easier for folks to slowly change their usage levels rather than all at once like I did.  Any drastic changes anyone makes should be backed up with documentation so that the utility doesn't have a leg to stand on.  The utility is an evil company.  They are a FOR PROFIT company and sometimes they tend to forget they are there to serve you too.  You must do you homework and hiring someone knowledgeable who can calculate the breakdown of your actual usage of your power.  When you have documented it, has a very nice, but firm letter from your lawyer wrote to the utility and the problem should be resolved fairly quickly.  They are counting on you to not do your homework, therefore most people panic and pay the bill.

Dave
_________________________________________________

David & Sheila Knapp 
Winnebago, Illinois
http://www.geocities.com/renewables/
_________________________________________________

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Sara Puskarich" <forhonorandmoney@yahoo.com>
To: "David & Sheila Knapp" <solar@aeroinc.net>
Sent: Sunday, January 21, 2001 6:03 AM
Subject: Re: PV: Who's really using PV


> I read your post with interest...especially the part
> about the utility changing out your meter and trying
> to charge you what they thought you should have
> used...I have been billed 7000.00 by our local utility
> for power they say I should have used..what did you do
> to fight the utility and did you have to pay it?
> thanks
> 
> __________________________________________________
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