I wrote:
> . . . the power companies do have a valid point. You cannot expect them to > act as distribution grid for PV electricity for free. If PV becomes a > significant fraction of all electricity they will have to start charging > everyone a "toll" for use of the distribution network, even people with > large PV arrays who produce a net amount of electricity more than they use. > They do not actually have to charge these people anything. What they have to do is pay the producer some dollar amount and then mark up the electricity and charge other people a lot more for it. In other words, they have to act like any broker does, such as a company that buys wheat from farmers and then sells it to bakers. I believe they already do mark up the electricity they buy from people with solar panels. I guess they need to mark it up more, charge more at night, and also raise overall rates to pay for the new distribution network infrastructure needed to handle rooftop PV excess electricity. As noted in the WaPost, what the Brothers Koch want to do is gauge anyone who installs solar panels to keep the panels from being cost effective. That's different. - Jed
