Net-metering - Become your Own Power Plant
As the popularity of alternate energy sources increases, more people are
installing solar panels or wind generators for producing electricity. Rather
than completely replacing electricity provided by traditional utility companies,
these alternative energy sources are usually intended to provide as much
electricity as possible, with the regular power supply available as a backup.
Residents as they use alternate power supplies while still being connected to
the traditional power grid, are finding that they have the opportunity to sell
back any excess electricity produced by their solar panels or wind turbines.
This process is called net-metering and can be used to reduce electricity bills.
In order to take advantage of net-metering your electrical company must be able
to draw the excess electricity that you produce. Not all companies can do this,
so you need to verify that net metering is an option that is available to you.
Net-metering is advantageous to both the consumer and the utility company.
Alternate power supplies are not completely reliable. For example, if you are
using a wind turbine to generate electricity, there will be no electricity if
there is no wind. Similarly, solar panels designed to generate electricity will
not function on overcast days.
Net-metering gives a backup power supply in case the alternate power supply
fails. At the same time, the excess electricity produced by alternate power
supplies can help lessen the load on the power utility. Power produced by wind
turbines or solar panels usually coincides with peak demand periods, so
widespread use of net-metering can reduce the incidence of blackouts or
brownouts.
As well as producing electricity to benefit the community, anyone who uses
net-metering also benefits from reduced electricity costs. The average savings
for a household which has a 10 kW wind turbine is around $20-$30 per month.
As the benefits of net-metering become better known there is more demand for
legislation to force power utilities to offer this service. Currently, there are
30 states which have legislation requiring some power utilities to offer
net-metering. This number is sure to grow in the future.
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