Some states still require you to be on the grid, and pay a connection/distribution fee, even if you are providing more energy than you’re using.
When I was looking into installing solar when I lived in New Jersey, they said we weren’t allowed to have a home battery system to store the solar power, either, due to the potential danger of utility workers on downed lines from unexpected loads (somebody should introduce New Jersey to the magic of diodes).
It’s actually straightforward to ensure “one way” flow of power. That’s what “islanding” circuits do. They isolate your home when the public utility lines go down by triggering a device that is essentially an electrically controlled switch. It’s a unit that connects between your home and the utility company so you can continue to use your solar power/batteries when the public utility is out. If you don’t have islanding, the solar inverter cuts off the panels when utilities go down. Both protect workers from encountering lines energized by homes.
This looks like it’s the UK, so I really doubt they’d be able to get enough power from solar to cover all their needs without having to take out a mortgage.
I would agree but I have seen in some areas of the US you must be connected to the grid. There is no disconnecting from it as it’s illegal.
Some say this exists to block solar but I think these rules predate solar and are more about the health and safety issues as a home without electricity generally requires a lot more work to upkeep with a lack of hot water and lighting, not to mention cooking.
As much as many of us like camping, having a camp fire in your front yard to cook from and boil water with daily might ruin the aesthetics of the neighborhood.
Sounds like going Solar would actually be a smart option for this person. Not that it isn’t smart for anyone.
Oh but that would cost money to install. Why do that when you can just steal and spew some nonsense about “private” property.
Some states still require you to be on the grid, and pay a connection/distribution fee, even if you are providing more energy than you’re using.
When I was looking into installing solar when I lived in New Jersey, they said we weren’t allowed to have a home battery system to store the solar power, either, due to the potential danger of utility workers on downed lines from unexpected loads (somebody should introduce New Jersey to the magic of diodes).
That’s not how that works, there’s not really any way to ensure one way flow with an AC system.
Fair enough, good point.
But there are plenty of failsafe options that could secure power from the house if no power is coming to the house.
Definitely, you can get changeover switches that will isolate you from the grid so you can run a generator etc.
Basically every transformer for solar power or s home battery already does this. You need to shop around for one that doesn’t.
It’s actually straightforward to ensure “one way” flow of power. That’s what “islanding” circuits do. They isolate your home when the public utility lines go down by triggering a device that is essentially an electrically controlled switch. It’s a unit that connects between your home and the utility company so you can continue to use your solar power/batteries when the public utility is out. If you don’t have islanding, the solar inverter cuts off the panels when utilities go down. Both protect workers from encountering lines energized by homes.
You can just have a system to mechanically disconnect the system from the grid during an outage. This clearly isn’t a Problem in other States
This looks like it’s the UK, so I really doubt they’d be able to get enough power from solar to cover all their needs without having to take out a mortgage.
I would agree but I have seen in some areas of the US you must be connected to the grid. There is no disconnecting from it as it’s illegal.
Some say this exists to block solar but I think these rules predate solar and are more about the health and safety issues as a home without electricity generally requires a lot more work to upkeep with a lack of hot water and lighting, not to mention cooking.
As much as many of us like camping, having a camp fire in your front yard to cook from and boil water with daily might ruin the aesthetics of the neighborhood.
oh no. not the aesthetic.
Also the air quality
We shouldn’t regulate aesthetics, that HOA crap ruins homeownership