In my area of OH, they have a grid tie program. I chose not to be part of it. I have electric utility at my place. My solar set up is separate from the utility. The last few months I've been able to use zero KWH grid utility use, but continue to receive a utility bill. It shows on the bill 0 kwh but charged $12.32 each month. They call this a "Line Distribution Charge". So, I have no desire to have my line cut at the road because you just never know who may need the convenience of the grid. I figure it is costing me .41 cents a day to keep my utility. I am posting this to see if this is customary across the country or may be I'm in a lucky state not being charged even more or less depending on others.
Off grid but still receive a utility bill
- Thread starter Farm Boy
- Start date
hwy17
Anti-Solar Enthusiast
I would say that is on the low end in general of basic charges in the US and worth it.
When I built my home way way back, I signed a contract for a minimum usage bill for the first 4 years. After that, there was an understanding there would not be a minimum charge If I did not use it. I realize over the years, things change.
Pay them only by cheque and demand a paper receipt mailed out to you , that'll cost'em a few bucks
Maybe I'm just petty ?
BentleyJ
Solar Wizard
Seems like a basic monthly charge is standard for most customers since the utility still has to maintain the transmission lines, transformer and drop to your particular house regardless of your usage.
Southern Cal Edison is a bit out of the ordinary. We are on NEM 1.0 still. Interestingly the basic charge of about $10 only applies for months we have net production credits vs. poor solar months where we do consume a few kWh then there is no basic charge add to the bill.
I guess at up to 60 cents a kWh they figure they are making enough just off the usage charges.
Southern Cal Edison is a bit out of the ordinary. We are on NEM 1.0 still. Interestingly the basic charge of about $10 only applies for months we have net production credits vs. poor solar months where we do consume a few kWh then there is no basic charge add to the bill.
I guess at up to 60 cents a kWh they figure they are making enough just off the usage charges.
Reading your comment, I'm assuming your grid tied and don't receive a bill when your producing plenty. But in an off peak time you pay up to .60 cents per KWH and you'd have a bill that month then?
Like the rotten timbers under the pad mount transformer sitting on the ground cockeyed and sunk into the dirt.
ksmithaz1
Solar / EV Junkie
$20/mo for TOU, $30/mo for Demand (Required for grid-tie/backfeed).
BentleyJ
Solar Wizard
Our system is grid-tied, NET metering and I added battery back-up later. Primarily for Time of Use self consumption and secondarily for back-up if the grid is down, which is rare.
Actually its kind of a complicated billing arrangement. The NET metering credits or usage is only settled up once per 12 months but we still do get a monthly statement which is mostly just an accounting of usage or credit depending on time of year. However, the few $ of taxes and the $10 fee are due each month after the statement is received.
ksmithaz1
Solar / EV Junkie
You will not get the receipt, unless you walk into a payment center. distribution and mailing cost was less than $1.00 pre-sort for the bill. Considering what you are getting, $30 a month or less seems quite reasonable to me. There is quite a bit of overhead maintaining an electric grid and keeping up with customers.
OzSolar
Whatever you did, that's what you planned.
$27.50 is the minimum monthly for me and I don't mind it a bit, well maybe a little.
Historically that's been 9 months per year then there's one or two winter months where it "shoots up" to $150 depending on much wood I want to burn. My carry forward is monthly at wholesale and "trues-up" (zeroes out) 11 months later if I don't use it. EG: 200 extra kWh's get carried forward at 2.5 cents each for rolling credit of $5 which gobbled up during the 2nd month of winter.
At this time it's hard to even think about getting a battery bank big enough to go for more than a day which is what I currently have. It's only cycled during the rare power outage.
Historically that's been 9 months per year then there's one or two winter months where it "shoots up" to $150 depending on much wood I want to burn. My carry forward is monthly at wholesale and "trues-up" (zeroes out) 11 months later if I don't use it. EG: 200 extra kWh's get carried forward at 2.5 cents each for rolling credit of $5 which gobbled up during the 2nd month of winter.
At this time it's hard to even think about getting a battery bank big enough to go for more than a day which is what I currently have. It's only cycled during the rare power outage.
Around $32 total out of pocket which is equivalent to 200 kWh per month for "free" use it or lose it. I am OK with it but they better not raise it
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Quattrohead
Solar Wizard
Exactly.Around $32 total out of pocket which is equivalent to 200 kWh per month for "free" use it or lose it. I am OK with it but they better not raise it
Plum Crazy Rob
Solar Enthusiast
Are you on a Co op?? Just got this diatribe for my Colorado place lol:
Our Board approved a $5 increase to the monthly grid access charge for residential accounts, which includes residential net-metering accounts, beginning January 1, 2024. The resulting grid access charge for those accounts will be $ 30.00 per month. The Board's commitment in 2023 was to not increase the monthly grid access charge beyond $ 35.00 by 2027. Additionally, at San Isabel Electric we have made adjustments internally through our budget process to continue providing you with safe, reliable electricity and avoid additional increases for 2024. That's what we can control; how we serve you!
Our Board approved a $5 increase to the monthly grid access charge for residential accounts, which includes residential net-metering accounts, beginning January 1, 2024. The resulting grid access charge for those accounts will be $ 30.00 per month. The Board's commitment in 2023 was to not increase the monthly grid access charge beyond $ 35.00 by 2027. Additionally, at San Isabel Electric we have made adjustments internally through our budget process to continue providing you with safe, reliable electricity and avoid additional increases for 2024. That's what we can control; how we serve you!
MajicDiver
Solar Enthusiast
Here southeast Tennessee am off grid but intend to keep the grid connection on, it costs us $9.50 per month. If they start jacking price will think again
hugemoth
Solar Enthusiast
Pacific Power here in Oregon some 30 years ago had a $5 monthly fee for being connected. I'm sure it's more now.
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