Are Smart Meters really Smart?

Wednesday, October 27, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. District Bldg. Room 500

Councilwoman Muriel Bowser's Public Services Committee is holding a hearing on Deployment of the Smart Grid in the District of Columbia. This means the "Smart Meters" being installed by Pepco as the first step. We already know that these meters are not capable of NET metering of our electricity production without being individually re-programmed!. Given the multiple problems we are already having with NET meter installations, and Pepco billing, this is possibly our last best chance to bring our concerns forcefully before city authorities, Pepco, and the Public Service Commission.

Ms. Bowser may not be solar energy's best advocate on the Council, but her committee oversees utilities. We very seldom request that members of the solar cooperatives and solar installation owners join us in our efforts to see that our initiatives are protected and available for everyone in the city to take advantage of.

This is, however, an extremely important event. You need to join us in exposing the issues BEFORE the rollout of these meters gains too much momentum to change.

There are a number of key issues:
1. As renewable energy producers we are entitled to technology that provides data regarding production, not just consumption;
2. The public has no idea what this program is, and Pepco and the Public Service Commission need to honestly outreach for community involvement in the design of this program which will have long lasting effect on our lives;
3. The rollout of the meters should not proceed unless the equipment and the plan include renewable energy as a component.

Also, we need to educate CM Bowser on how broad and diverse the support for solar is in DC. We need her to join our vision of having solar affordable and accessible to all DC residents. We need CM Bowser to understand that solar and the green jobs that come with it are good for all the Wards in DC.

You can submit testimony to this hearing without having to sit and wait for your turn at the microphone to make your points. To submit statements without testifying you must submit copies to the Secretary to the Council, Cynthia Brock-Smith, she's in Room 5 on the Ground Floor of the District Building.

If you do want to make a statement please contact Davida Crockett of the Committee on Public Services and Consumer Affairs via email at dcrockett@dccouncil.us or by phone at (202) 741-0898 by 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 26.

If you do not have time to attend and make a statement, please make an effort stop by the hearing room and make as many people aware that you are a solar home owner and very concerned about your future as an enlightened member of the smart grid.

Solar Leasing in DC --and latest on Smart Meters.

Maggio Roofing is offering a new solar leasing program for those that do not have the cash to pay for the upfront changes of solar themselves. I haven't looked at the details yet, but there is a webinar next week if you are interested in learning more:
Event Name
Time to harness the power
DATE: October 26
TIME: 7pm
LOCATION: webinar
MORE: register at 301-891-1390

ALSO: Report from Tom Kelly who attended the recent PEPCO SMART GRID PRESENTATION


The meeting was well attended and the general public did manage to outnumber the Pepco-OPc staff in attendance. Pepco's presentation is pretty much the same as is on it's website regarding the rollout of the smart meters. (See MTP Solar website)

First question from the audience was about net metering, but not specifically whether the meters were net capable. We got a detailed explanation about what net meters did and a vague reference to programming the meters. I few questions later I forced a return to the question and it was confirmed that the meters they are installing will not perform the NET function. They will have to be physically programmed, probably by replacement of the motherboard, in order to perform the net function in addition to the normal data gathering info. If you presently have a net meter, you will receive a net-programmed meter. If you have not yet installed solar, you will get the average intelligence meter and have to have it reprogrammed for netting (Mensa version). We all know what this means in terms of delays.

After a number of questioners indicated some paranoia about Pepco controlling energy use and whether they would use it to screw customers, I remembered Lynn's comment that the smart grid/meter is not harmful. I pointed out that believing the meter would reduce utility costs required a major leap of faith to begin with, meters only measure, and that the pilot program indicated that the real stimulus for reduced usage, peak rate rebates, etc. was programmable thermostats and individual alerts calls. The Pepco people consistently refused to deal with this and any dynamic pricing, feed-in tariffs, etc., issues because it is the subject of the PSC filing.

I believe the PSC rejected the OPC's request to delay the rollout, The basic argument is that this project had to be done quickly to take advantage of the 50% funding from ARRA (stimulus), and that's just the way it is.

There will be a series of these things, and we absolutely must encourage other coops and coop members to keep the issue in their face on every occasion. OPC is supposed to have info on its website about the scheduling. We also must, absolutely must, be formally a party to the dynamic pricing case before the PSC.

Note: Present OPC is "acting" Her second, Lawrence Daniels, who was in charge of the event, at one point went into some detail about the existence of solar coops and basically about the inevitability of solar power generation sweeping the city. Pepco people with pained expressions nodding their heads.

Tom Kelly

Solar Happenings on Capitol Hill - Tour, Fair, and Completed Church Installation

We are gearing up for the big event tomorrow, the Capitol Hill Energy Cooperative's First Solar and Sustainable Homes Tour and Fair.  Chances are that you have seen our detailed invitation, but if not, please let me know and I will forward it to you.  You can reach me at mike@capitolhillenergycoop.org, or there is lots of information at this LINK.

One of the most exciting aspects is that the Fair will be at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation.  We have helped the Church go solar.  In fact, a 17kW system is being installed as we speak.  The installation is done as a Power Purchase Agreement with Solar Solutions LLC.  Under this agreement, the church will save more than $100,000 over the life of the project.  Please check out these PHOTOS of the work in progress.  We will do tours of the rooftop during our Fair tomorrow (10am-2pm), in addition to opening up 12 of our 25 homes that have gone solar (Tour is 12-4).  

- Mike

DC Solar Program Ready to roll for FY 2011!!

Fiscal year 2011 has begun! We start out the year with a huge congratulations to the DC Energy Office for CRANKING though applications at a steady pace!!! Although the numbers are not yet finalized (and we will need to remain vigilant) it is looking like the solar rebate program will have about $2.8 million to distribute this year. For the first time, they are in position to actually start in the beginning of the fiscal year and get the grants out in a timely manner! So pass the word. This IS the year to go solar in DC. We may never have such a great combination of high incentives and low prices again.

For those of you that have been waiting for it. The word is that DDOE will be releasing guidelines to include solar thermal and geo-thermal in the rebate program within months maybe sooner! I will post when I hear hard deadlines or dates.

Who knows anything about geothermal? Can we do it one block at a time?