Korishan
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- Joined
- Jan 7, 2017
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Just came across an article I found quite interesting. In the state of Florida (where I, and several other members, live), it is illegal to run your home solely off your own power. The article was specifically targeting Solar installations, however I'm sure it includes other means of alternative energies because of the wording.
https://studionewsnetwork.com/polic...ur-home-with-solar-panels-thanks-to-lobbying/
http://www.wftv.com/news/local/want-solar-panels-you-still-have-to-pay-florida-utilities/276475576
That is ridiculous!! Incredulous!! Insidious!! And a whole slew of other "ous" words I can't think of right now. FPL (Florida Power And Light) has lobbied the state gov't to put into place laws that keep us from disconnecting from the grid. What a crock!
For fellow Floridians looking to go grid-less, I recommend doing what I'm gonna do. Leave the grid connected, but that main breaker is turned off in the house and install a light out at the pole to use "some" power during the month. For me it only costs $20 for connection, so about $30 with taxes and fees and such. Add another $10 per month for the light and I think they'll be happy and leave me alone.
Fortunately, they can't take the property as it is a homestead for 2 other homes.
How does using your own power in conjunction with their power make the meter go "up" to cost you more? That doesn't make and sense what so ever. If a flow of power is coming into the house at a set rate, and a secondary source starts feeding the house, then the flow coming from the power company would slow down, not speed up.
And this brings up another issue (which was discussed over in the Slack channel) that the people who had solar panels couldn't use their power because it was directly tied into the grid. So it "had" to be shut down so the linesmen would be safe. Well, if 1) they didn't have to be required to be connected; 2) had a ATS installed; 3) Quick acting contactors (or whatever they are called for AC on mains) that would disconnect when it detects no power from mains; then the linesman would be safe to begin with. FPL sure is making things worse. Glad I don't get my power directly from them, I'm through Clay Electric and they do things a lot differently. They don't bug you unless you don't pay the bill. And even then, they work with you helpfully.
Be careful fellow Floridians. Make sure you keep things safe and secure and keep FPL off your back by installing your proper switches and such. Run the garage off the grid and the house off the powerwall.
https://studionewsnetwork.com/polic...ur-home-with-solar-panels-thanks-to-lobbying/
http://www.wftv.com/news/local/want-solar-panels-you-still-have-to-pay-florida-utilities/276475576
Robert Tarr who, according to WFTV,spent more than $60,000 for a system of 32 solar panels for his roof. But even though his house can generate enough electricity to run indefinitely without being hooked to a power company, legally, he still has to be connected and pay the Leesburg Electric Department for power he doesnt even need.
So you can be completely free of the grid?Channel 9s Jamie Holmes asked.
Yes, Tarr said.
But they make you attach to the grid, Holmes asked.
Yes, Tarr said. I have a problem with it, OK? I think if I want to be totally independent of them, I should be allowed to be, Tarr said.
If Tarr were to stop paying his electric bill, reports WFTV, he said Leesburg would shut off his power. City officials could also revoke his certificate of occupancy for not being hooked up to the system.
So, if this family wanted to defy the power company and remove his solar from the control of the power company, the government could revoke hiscertificate of occupancymaking it illegal for anyone to live in the home!
Rest assured that any attempt to resist ones removal from said home would be met with the police force and violent escalation.
That is ridiculous!! Incredulous!! Insidious!! And a whole slew of other "ous" words I can't think of right now. FPL (Florida Power And Light) has lobbied the state gov't to put into place laws that keep us from disconnecting from the grid. What a crock!
For fellow Floridians looking to go grid-less, I recommend doing what I'm gonna do. Leave the grid connected, but that main breaker is turned off in the house and install a light out at the pole to use "some" power during the month. For me it only costs $20 for connection, so about $30 with taxes and fees and such. Add another $10 per month for the light and I think they'll be happy and leave me alone.
Fortunately, they can't take the property as it is a homestead for 2 other homes.
Instead of owning their greedy intentions, companies like FPL, instead, attempt to rationalize their actions through absurd explanations.
Operating your renewable system without the bi-directional meter can result in an inaccurate meter reading causing your bill to increase,FPL claims, which essentially means that for proactively approaching your energy needs, it could result in a potential glitch in their system that will charge you more money on your electrical bill.
They also recommend that all homes powered by FPL, that have solar panels, be connected through the same electrical wiring, andthe [renewable] system must shut down when FPLs grid shuts down in order to prevent dangerous back feed on FPLs grid. This is required to protect FPL employees who may be working on the grid.
Ironically, FPL is basically saying that their workers could potentially be electrocuted if theyre doing maintenance on the grid during an inadvertent or scheduled shutdown, while completely ignoring the fact that there would be NO risk to those workers if the home wasnt legally required to be connected to the grid!
How does using your own power in conjunction with their power make the meter go "up" to cost you more? That doesn't make and sense what so ever. If a flow of power is coming into the house at a set rate, and a secondary source starts feeding the house, then the flow coming from the power company would slow down, not speed up.
And this brings up another issue (which was discussed over in the Slack channel) that the people who had solar panels couldn't use their power because it was directly tied into the grid. So it "had" to be shut down so the linesmen would be safe. Well, if 1) they didn't have to be required to be connected; 2) had a ATS installed; 3) Quick acting contactors (or whatever they are called for AC on mains) that would disconnect when it detects no power from mains; then the linesman would be safe to begin with. FPL sure is making things worse. Glad I don't get my power directly from them, I'm through Clay Electric and they do things a lot differently. They don't bug you unless you don't pay the bill. And even then, they work with you helpfully.
Be careful fellow Floridians. Make sure you keep things safe and secure and keep FPL off your back by installing your proper switches and such. Run the garage off the grid and the house off the powerwall.