I am a Duke Energy user but also have a 7.68 kilowatt-hour photovoltaic system that exports electricity to the grid. For years, I wanted to have a PV system for the environment and future generations, but my husband and I checked the cost in 2007 and could not afford it. We actually bought a solar hot water system a while back, which helped keep our electric bill down. When my aunt died in 2019, she left me enough money that, with the reduced price of the panels, I was able to buy the system I have today. It went online in April of 2020 and, so far, I have had no problems with it.
However, since I have SolarEdge on my phone, I can keep records of my energy exports and imports from Duke, and I was very disappointed when I received a bill for July. -August for over $100. I am 75, on a fixed income, and this is bothersome. I found out that Duke has a cutoff date of May 31st for each year, and then they pocket MY too much energy. No reimbursement to North Carolina solar customers; however, South Carolina and Florida were both paid in cash for their surplus. Why is the NC Utilities Commission penalizing the citizens of North Carolina?
I did some research and found out that the NC Utilities Commission is actually the entity to contact about this, because it is the one that will say yes or no to Duke’s request, which includes Duke’s attempt to impose a more good new NEM ( net energy metering) tariffs for North Carolina rooftop solar customers in NCUC Docket No. E-100 Sub 180. [The nonprofit] NC WARN cares passionately about these issues, and it is fighting to prevent this type of unfair treatment in many different legal processes.
I am not asking for cash reimbursement; I didn’t just spend $23,000 for a PV system to “give” Duke my electricity.
Teri Stahara
Marion
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