As Rooftop Solar Challenges Utilities, One Aims For A Compromise

If you’ve ever wondered what an extreme home makeover looks like for an environmentalist, take a visit to Lance Wright’s garage in south Denver.

He walks past his electric car to batteries near the back wall. “All of this is the devices necessary to control our solar panels,” Wright says.

There are solar panels on the roof above. He and his partner designed the system to maximize energy efficiency. K.K. DuVivier says that means the power moving through the meter is sometimes negative.

“I have a picture of Lance with it going back to zero, because we generated more than we used,” she says.

They get credits from their utility, Xcel Energy, for power they add back to the grid. And they’re not alone.

“Some people have the opportunity to brag about how smart their kids are or how fast their car goes,” Wright says. “Our friends brag about how efficient their house is.”

But that efficiency comes at a cost for utilities: The more energy customers generate for themselves, the lower their utility bill. That leaves less money to maintain the electric grid, utilities say. Read more….

As Rooftop Solar Challenges Utilities, One Aims For A Compromise