The True Costs of Solar Energy Start To Come Clearer

Wow, it never quits.

Solar power will cost California "non-users" as much as $700 million annually.

Pacific Gas & Electric, the state's biggest utility, will pass on about $700 million in annual costs to people without solar systems when the state hits the cap, according to Denny Boyles, a spokesman. Southern California Edison will transfer about $400 million annually, according to spokesman David Song, for a total of $1.3 billion from the three utilities.

That's about 3.9 percent of the $33.5 billion spent on electricity in 2010 in California, based on the latest figures available from the U.S. Energy Department.

"The problem exacerbates with each new system that goes on a roof," said Mark Bachman, an analyst at Avian Securities Inc.

"Utilities will need to get reimbursed for their grid costs by a shrinking number of consumers."

California is already among the top five states for most expensive electric rates, about 14 cents/kwh; compare to North Dakota's 7 cents/kwh.

Also, as posted earlier, renewable energy will actually increase requirements for fossil fuels.

So the "haves" will pass on higher utility costs to "not-haves." 

My hunch is that GE makes the new meters that have to be retro-fitted on all the homes that put solar panels on their roofs. Good, bad, or indifferent when it comes to solar energy, it is what it is.