Re: Surplus electricity

From	Joerg <news@analogconsultants.com>
Newsgroups	sci.electronics.design
Subject	Re: Surplus electricity
Date	2026-03-24 16:51 -0700
Message-ID	<n2gmcmFel98U1@mid.individual.net> (permalink)
References	(4 earlier) <10pk17m$1pupm$1@dont-email.me> <n2gamsFctvvU1@mid.individual.net> <10putk4$1cd2c$2@dont-email.me> <n2gdbsFd9usU1@mid.individual.net> <10pv31p$1ecbo$2@dont-email.me>

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On 3/24/26 3:26 PM, Don Y wrote:
> On 3/24/2026 2:17 PM, Joerg wrote:
>>> If they can get a commitment to a given tariff over a significant bit 
>>> of time,
>>> then they can make investment decisions with that pricing structure
>>> in place.
>>>
>>> The unfortunate aspect is that there are no real guarantees for this.
>>> Tariffs can (and do) change.  So, it becomes a gamble as to whether or
>>> not an investment decision will "make sense" in that changing 
>>> environment.
>>>
>>> Here, folks are learning that grid connected cogeneration leaves you
>>> at the mercy of the utility -- both in terms of how much you can deploy
>>> and what that will *cost* you, in the long run (you are using a resource
>>> that belongs to the utility so it has an argument about how it charges
>>> you for that usage).
>>
>> Out here even consumers are now partially decoupling. The start is 
>> usually a fridge/freezer circuit, then swamp cooling and so on. They 
>> run dedicated lines, install their own solar panels, batteries and 
>> inverters, and only charge that from utility power in rare situations 
>> where the solar doesn't deliver enough. Since older solar panels can 
>> be considered hazardous waste and then become next to impossible to 
>> dispose of, you can often acquire those for pennies on the dollar and 
>> then grossly overpanel.
> 
> Yes.  But, to avoid the cost of on-site storage, you have to be able to
> identify (and isolate) a large enough load to make it viable.  Solar
> landscape lighting doesn't cut it.
> 

But like I said fridges and freezers do. They are a big chunk in the 
electric bill of otherwise frugal hopuseholds.


> As nothing prevents you from powering that load from the utility
> WHEN utility power is available, you can use the utility when
> needed and NOT rely on it for storage.  So, they have no voice in your
> deployment decisions and can only affect the price you pay as a
> regular consumer.
> 

When you do that here they charge you an effective $0.45/kWh. Motivation 
enough not to do that.


> And, if you've already put your "toe" in, you can easily put your
> whole "foot" in if their "standard" pricing becomes too costly.
> 

That gets expensive, fast, mainly because of high peak loads. But some 
people out here do that and go completely off grid.


>>> It also forces you onto a ToU tariff so the extra load you have during
>>> those peak hours (e.g., your air conditioning unit) is billed at a
>>> higher rate than if you had the standard tariff.
>>>
>>> If you don't use the utility as a storage medium, then only local
>>> building codes determine how much power you can generate and how
>>> you dispose of the excess (run outdoor lights during the daylight
>>> hours to boast of how much "extra" power you have available, to
>>> the disdain of your neighbors).
>>
>> Well, my last employer before becoming self-employed again reacted 
>> like many businesses do. They moved nearly all of production To Costa 
>> Rica. That fixes such issues.
> 
> Until their economy tanks, etc.  Many pharmaceutical houses moved
> production to Puerto Rico (taking advantage of tax breaks).  I suspect
> none of them are still there, contending with unreliable power...
> 

Costa Rica is much more stable. Companies take a really long view on 
that sort of stuff.


> I know of many factories in New England that moved south (US) to take 
> advantage
> of cheaper labor and "right to work" legislation.  Then, discovered the
> workforce didn't have the skills necessary to continue making their 
> products.
> 

That shows a lack of due diligence on their part. Assessing the skills 
of a work force isn't that difficult. I've seen similar but there the 
problem was that the workforce in the selected country did not 
comprehend English well enough. That almost qualifies for a Darwin award :-)


>>>> I am largely retired but in California I believe we had (have?) a 
>>>> sort of inventory tax or measure that took that into account 
>>>> (UDITPA?). Anyhow, when I moved here I asked about the reasons for 
>>>> the smog cloud over Highway 50 only in December. I was told it was 
>>>> trucks carting lots of inventory to warehouses in Nevada. And then 
>>>> back.
>>>
>>> Yes.  Because it only matters where the inventory is located at
>>> year's end.  Prorate this for number of days in each locality and
>>> the behavior changes because the economics change.
>>
>> Can't prorate because inventory logging takes place only once a year. 
>> It is a tedious and productivity-robbing process so politicians cannot 
>> force companies to do that monthly. Else their tax bases would erode 
>> even faster than it does today.
> 
> You don't have to canvas the entire store to know what SHOULD be in it.
> Additions arrive via documented processes and removals similarly.  If
> the "net" isn't relatively accurate, then your business has far more
> serious issues to address!  If you don't know what you have on hand,
> how can you commit to *selling* anything?
> 

Sure but then there are the state rules and they want it all counted and 
certified.

Also, if they'd tax on inventory during the year that would entice 
companies to keep their stuff out of state. Or leave lock, stock and 
barrel. Which some did.

-- 
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/

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            Re: Surplus electricity Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2026-03-24 13:42 -0700
              Re: Surplus electricity Joerg <news@analogconsultants.com> - 2026-03-24 14:01 -0700
                Re: Surplus electricity Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2026-03-24 15:18 -0700
                Re: Surplus electricity john larkin <jl@glen--canyon.com> - 2026-03-24 15:33 -0700
        Re: Surplus electricity Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2026-03-20 10:47 -0700
          Re: Surplus electricity Joerg <news@analogconsultants.com> - 2026-03-24 13:32 -0700
            Re: Surplus electricity Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2026-03-24 13:53 -0700
              Re: Surplus electricity Joerg <news@analogconsultants.com> - 2026-03-24 14:17 -0700
                Re: Surplus electricity Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2026-03-24 15:26 -0700
                Re: Surplus electricity Joerg <news@analogconsultants.com> - 2026-03-24 16:51 -0700
                Re: Surplus electricity Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2026-03-24 17:53 -0700
                Re: Surplus electricity Ross Finlayson <ross.a.finlayson@gmail.com> - 2026-03-24 20:54 -0700
                Re: Surplus electricity Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2026-03-24 21:21 -0700
                Re: Surplus electricity Ross Finlayson <ross.a.finlayson@gmail.com> - 2026-03-25 00:14 -0700
                Re: Surplus electricity Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2026-03-25 02:25 -0700
                Re: Surplus electricity Ross Finlayson <ross.a.finlayson@gmail.com> - 2026-03-25 07:05 -0700
                Re: Surplus electricity Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2026-03-25 12:30 -0700
                Re: Surplus electricity Ross Finlayson <ross.a.finlayson@gmail.com> - 2026-03-25 13:29 -0700
                Re: Surplus electricity Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2026-03-25 14:47 -0700
                Re: Surplus electricity Ross Finlayson <ross.a.finlayson@gmail.com> - 2026-03-25 15:00 -0700
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                Re: Surplus electricity Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2026-03-25 18:20 -0700
                Re: Surplus electricity Bill Sloman <bill.sloman@ieee.org> - 2026-03-25 22:21 +1100
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                Re: Surplus electricity john larkin <jl@glen--canyon.com> - 2026-03-25 09:17 -0700
                Re: Surplus electricity Phil Hobbs <pcdhSpamMeSenseless@electrooptical.net> - 2026-03-25 15:38 -0400
                Re: Surplus electricity john larkin <jl@glen--canyon.com> - 2026-03-25 14:32 -0700
                Re: Surplus electricity Ross Finlayson <ross.a.finlayson@gmail.com> - 2026-03-25 14:52 -0700
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                Re: Surplus electricity john larkin <jl@glen--canyon.com> - 2026-03-25 15:52 -0700
                Re: Surplus electricity Phil Hobbs <pcdhSpamMeSenseless@electrooptical.net> - 2026-03-26 20:58 -0400
                Re: Surplus electricity Bill Sloman <bill.sloman@ieee.org> - 2026-03-26 16:51 +1100
                Re: Surplus electricity john larkin <jl@glen--canyon.com> - 2026-03-26 02:48 -0700
                Re: Surplus electricity Bill Sloman <bill.sloman@ieee.org> - 2026-03-27 01:25 +1100
                Re: Surplus electricity john larkin <jl@glen--canyon.com> - 2026-03-26 07:48 -0700
                Re: Surplus electricity Bill Sloman <bill.sloman@ieee.org> - 2026-03-27 15:19 +1100
                Re: Surplus electricity john larkin <jl@glen--canyon.com> - 2026-03-27 04:24 -0700
                Re: Surplus electricity Bill Sloman <bill.sloman@ieee.org> - 2026-03-28 01:55 +1100
                Re: Surplus electricity john larkin <jl@glen--canyon.com> - 2026-03-27 11:43 -0700
                Re: Surplus electricity Bill Sloman <bill.sloman@ieee.org> - 2026-03-28 15:37 +1100
                Re: Surplus electricity "Edward Rawde" <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2026-03-29 12:10 -0400
                Re: Surplus electricity Bill Sloman <bill.sloman@ieee.org> - 2026-03-30 14:47 +1100
                Re: Surplus electricity john larkin <jl@glen--canyon.com> - 2026-03-30 08:09 -0700
                Re: Surplus electricity Bill Sloman <bill.sloman@ieee.org> - 2026-03-31 16:13 +1100
                Re: Surplus electricity john larkin <jl@glen--canyon.com> - 2026-03-31 10:59 -0700
                Re: Surplus electricity Bill Sloman <bill.sloman@ieee.org> - 2026-04-01 15:10 +1100
                Re: Surplus electricity john larkin <jl@glen--canyon.com> - 2026-04-01 01:08 -0700
                Re: Surplus electricity "Edward Rawde" <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2026-03-31 20:34 -0400
                Re: Surplus electricity Bill Sloman <bill.sloman@ieee.org> - 2026-04-01 15:36 +1100
                Re: Surplus electricity john larkin <jl@glen--canyon.com> - 2026-04-01 01:10 -0700
                Re: Surplus electricity Bill Sloman <bill.sloman@ieee.org> - 2026-04-02 02:25 +1100
                Re: Surplus electricity "Edward Rawde" <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2026-04-01 12:35 -0400
                Re: Surplus electricity Bill Sloman <bill.sloman@ieee.org> - 2026-04-02 14:54 +1100
                Re: Surplus electricity "Edward Rawde" <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2026-04-02 00:07 -0400
                Re: Surplus electricity Bill Sloman <bill.sloman@ieee.org> - 2026-04-02 17:40 +1100
                Re: Surplus electricity Ross Finlayson <ross.a.finlayson@gmail.com> - 2026-04-02 06:53 -0700
                Re: Surplus electricity "Edward Rawde" <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2026-04-02 10:32 -0400
                Re: Surplus electricity Bill Sloman <bill.sloman@ieee.org> - 2026-04-03 02:45 +1100
                Re: Surplus electricity Ross Finlayson <ross.a.finlayson@gmail.com> - 2026-04-02 09:06 -0700
                Re: Surplus electricity Ross Finlayson <ross.a.finlayson@gmail.com> - 2026-04-02 09:16 -0700
                Re: Surplus electricity john larkin <jl@glen--canyon.com> - 2026-04-02 08:07 -0700
                Re: Surplus electricity Ross Finlayson <ross.a.finlayson@gmail.com> - 2026-04-02 09:04 -0700
                Re: Surplus electricity john larkin <jl@glen--canyon.com> - 2026-04-02 08:05 -0700
                Re: Surplus electricity Bill Sloman <bill.sloman@ieee.org> - 2026-04-03 03:16 +1100
                Re: Surplus electricity "Edward Rawde" <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2026-04-02 20:51 -0400
                Re: Surplus electricity Bill Sloman <bill.sloman@ieee.org> - 2026-04-03 16:29 +1100
                Re: Surplus electricity JM <sunaecoNoChoppedPork@gmail.com> - 2026-04-03 07:22 +0100
                Re: Surplus electricity "Edward Rawde" <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2026-04-03 12:17 -0400
                Re: Surplus electricity Bill Sloman <bill.sloman@ieee.org> - 2026-04-04 05:10 +1100
                Re: Surplus electricity "Edward Rawde" <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2026-04-03 19:16 -0400
                Re: Surplus electricity john larkin <jl@glen--canyon.com> - 2026-04-03 16:30 -0700
                Re: Surplus electricity Bill Sloman <bill.sloman@ieee.org> - 2026-04-04 17:05 +1100
                Re: Surplus electricity "Edward Rawde" <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2026-04-04 11:02 -0400
                Re: Surplus electricity Bill Sloman <bill.sloman@ieee.org> - 2026-04-04 16:55 +1100
                Re: Surplus electricity "Edward Rawde" <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2026-04-04 11:35 -0400
                Re: Surplus electricity Bill Sloman <bill.sloman@ieee.org> - 2026-04-05 12:53 +1000
                Re: Surplus electricity "Edward Rawde" <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2026-04-05 00:29 -0400
                Re: Surplus electricity Bill Sloman <bill.sloman@ieee.org> - 2026-04-05 15:46 +1000
                Re: Surplus electricity "Edward Rawde" <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2026-04-05 01:55 -0400
                Re: Surplus electricity Bill Sloman <bill.sloman@ieee.org> - 2026-04-05 16:57 +1000
                Re: Surplus electricity Phil Hobbs <pcdhSpamMeSenseless@electrooptical.net> - 2026-03-26 18:30 +0000
                Re: Surplus electricity Bill Sloman <bill.sloman@ieee.org> - 2026-03-28 02:15 +1100
                Re: Surplus electricity Bill Sloman <bill.sloman@ieee.org> - 2026-03-26 16:19 +1100
                Re: Surplus electricity Joerg <news@analogconsultants.com> - 2026-03-27 10:10 -0700
                Re: Surplus electricity Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2026-03-27 15:22 -0700
            Re: Surplus electricity Ross Finlayson <ross.a.finlayson@gmail.com> - 2026-03-24 13:54 -0700
  Re: Surplus electricity piglet <erichpwagner@hotmail.com> - 2026-03-18 23:25 +0000
    Re: Surplus electricity bitrex <user@example.net> - 2026-03-18 23:15 -0400
  Re: Surplus electricity Martin Brown <'''newspam'''@nonad.co.uk> - 2026-03-19 12:36 +0000
    Re: Surplus electricity Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2026-03-19 06:36 -0700
  Re:Surplus electricity Martin Rid <martin_riddle@verison.net> - 2026-03-19 10:42 -0400
  Re: Surplus electricity john larkin <jl@glen--canyon.com> - 2026-03-19 08:13 -0700
  Re: Surplus electricity DJ Delorie <dj@delorie.com> - 2026-03-19 13:05 -0400
    Re: Surplus electricity Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2026-03-19 13:51 -0700
  Re: Surplus electricity Jasen Betts <usenet@revmaps.no-ip.org> - 2026-03-20 08:04 +0000
  Re: Surplus electricity Joerg <news@analogconsultants.com> - 2026-03-20 09:32 -0700
    Re: Surplus electricity Ross Finlayson <ross.a.finlayson@gmail.com> - 2026-03-20 10:36 -0700
      Re: Surplus electricity Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2026-03-20 13:47 -0700
        Re: Surplus electricity john larkin <jl@glen--canyon.com> - 2026-03-20 15:38 -0700
  Re: Surplus electricity Jasen Betts <usenet@revmaps.no-ip.org> - 2026-03-20 22:32 +0000
    Re: Surplus electricity Ross Finlayson <ross.a.finlayson@gmail.com> - 2026-03-20 16:39 -0700
    Re: Surplus electricity liz@poppyrecords.invalid.invalid (Liz Tuddenham) - 2026-03-21 12:53 +0000
      Re: Surplus electricity john larkin <jl@glen--canyon.com> - 2026-03-21 07:19 -0700

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