[WisJim]

You need to ask your local power company, the one you are connected to, what their policy is. In the USA, they are supposed to buy from individual customers, but some states and some companies won't do it as pleasantly as others. And for some reason, electric co-ops don't seem to have to comply with buy-back regulations.

But the only folks that can answer your question is the local electric company.

[EnergyUnlimited]

Corporate lawyers could make you in base on issues like:
1. Failure to keep agreed FREQUENCY & PHASE.
By doing so you could make your generator working against one from the power plant and cause net energy loss for electricity company.
2. Deviation from agreed VOLTAGE by more than few %.
This would not be as serious as 1. but it reduces quality of electricity in supply network with all negative consequences.
Wild voltage spikes can sometimes damage other customers electronic equipment - be aware of this.
3. Failure to provide agreed amount of power to the grid (with breach of contract consequences). Make sure your contract is made correctly to avoid this pitfall.

If you have any doubts about coping with 1&2 do not even think about sale of your excess power (or lawyers may call in).

Anyway, take a legal advice before doing anything.

[Kylon]

Thank you all for your input, I will look into that website, try to get some legal advice, and try some of those suggestions.

Thank you for your time and thought.

[Frank]

You haven't stated your source, but modern inverters take care of all the voltage spike, frequency shift, anti-islanding issues that utilities worry about. Typically you have to meet UL 1741 and other requirements. Utilities won't allow you to connect if you don't meet technical requirements. There's probably tens-of-thousands of homes selling power to the grid in the US; it's not a big deal.

[EnergyUnlimited]

Yes, but once you meet power quality requirements and THEN your purchased equipment ensuring that FAIL, then lawyers will call to your "generator site" and you WILL have a trouble.

[PeakOiler]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('WisJim', 'Y')ou need to ask your local power company, the one you are connected to, what their policy is. In the USA, they are supposed to buy from individual customers, but some states and some companies won't do it as pleasantly as others. And for some reason, electric co-ops don't seem to have to comply with buy-back regulations.

But the only folks that can answer your question is the local electric company.

[mistel]

Where are you?????

[azreal60]

This is the first time I've heard of Horror stories in relationship to net metering. Heck, I thought it was only law in Wisconsin and MN anyway. I guess I could be wrong on that, but I could have sworn that was the case.

Anyway, not one person I know of in the Wisconsin area has had issues with the power company trying to screw them over. And I know at least 10 net meterers just in a 20 mile radius of me. I'm sure there are many more I don't know.

So, I guess from a Madison wisconsin perspective, net meter away!

[Velociryx]

's on the books in Georgia, too....Power company is *required* to buy power from green (individual) producers, within certain parameters.

Never heard of any trouble with it here, but of course, your mileage may vary.

-=Vel=-

[Kylon]

Thanks for all the input, guys and girls.

I'm happy for all your input, and the fact that many of you have know of people who sell power to the power companies, but aren't hit with massive lawsuits.

That makes me feel reassured.

[mistel]

Hey Kylon

Why don't you say what part of the world you are in?? That way people who have experiance in that area can help you. For example, I can tell you that in Ontario they have changed the laws and it is supposed to be very easy, even profitable. They are despirate

Peter

[Kylon]

I live in Oklahoma, the redneck, right-wing, George Bush Loving, former oil capitol of the world, Oil run state.


It's great to know though that in Ontario they are desperate for energy and low on regulations, I'll keep that in mind!

Although I need advice, I don't need a massive amount of help just yet, I have gotten finished on what I'm doing yet. That will take some time, unfortunately.

Thanks for the offer though, hopefully when I get finished with this, I can make a small business and maybe I can help others out.

[Graeme]

Nation's energy grid could power almost 185 million electric cars

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'A') Department of Energy report shows that the U.S. energy grid could support up to 185 million electric or hybrid cars. The department believes a switch to the newer vehicles would clean up the environment and could even improve our national security situation by reducing the need for imported oil.

While the 185 million car figure is certainly amazing, there are a few "gotchas" thrown into the mix. First, the cars have to be plug-in hybrid electrics which are not commonly available today. Modern hybrids like the Toyota Prius charge and store electricity on the fly while driving and do not plug into the wall.

[savethehumans]

And the fact that the nation's electrical grids are rapidly breaking down beyond repair?

OOOOO. Sorry. Guess that's too "doomer" of me.

[max_power29]

Also , where are you going to get and how are you going to pay for the precious and semi precious metals for all these car batteries?

Cars are not the way to go. Trains are what is needed.

[emersonbiggins]

Did I miss some sort of nuclear buildup? Or are we powering these PHEVs with oil, natgas, and, of course, good ol' coal?

Last I checked, those weren't available in the quantities needed domestically to replace the impact of crude oil.

[Tanada]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('emersonbiggins', 'D')id I miss some sort of nuclear buildup? Or are we powering these PHEVs with oil, natgas, and, of course, good ol' coal?

Last I checked, those weren't available in the quantities needed domestically to replace the impact of crude oil.

[lawnchair]

At night, the grid is fully supplied by the base-load generators (nuke, hydro, and coal). Either we run the expensive gas-fired 'daytime' peaking stations all night long for cars, or we have to build more base-load facilities.

[NeoPeasant]

I'm guessing all that night time capacity will be quickly sopped up by electric heating as the North American natural gas supplies begin to falter. In a world of decreasing availability of energy, we are going to use whats left to try to keep ourselves alive and healthy. We are not going to create new methods of wasting it prolificly.

It is sad to see that even the peak oil aware have trouble accepting that mass personal automobility will follow cheap abundant energy into history.

[FatherOfTwo]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('lawnchair', 'A')t night, the grid is fully supplied by the base-load generators (nuke, hydro, and coal). Either we run the expensive gas-fired 'daytime' peaking stations all night long for cars, or we have to build more base-load facilities.