Lack of Net Metering Slows Solar in El Paso

Texas is one of the last few states with no statewide net metering policy. The lack of a standard policy allows utilities in some areas such as El Paso to have no net metering benefit for solar electric systems. Customers producing extra energy during the day cannot take advantage of the energy when they come home in the evenings even though the utility has sold it elsewhere on the grid.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• El Paso
• solar
• net metering
• pv
• photovoltaics
• Texas
• energy
• electricity
• energy independence

[lessdeth69]

@sqwank2 Many customer's have load profiles where 70 to 90% of the load is outside of the ideal sun hours. Without net metering the solar panels would hardly be worth installing in addition to the generator. The best scenario is net metering or to wait a few years for a better, lower cost storage solution than current battery tech.

[sqwank2]

Do you have an option of disconnecting from the power company and running a propane generator when solar is insufficient? This would still be another big investment and maybe not worth it.