BSR,
I just switched to TOU-DT using SCE. My smart meter was installed about a month ago but my hourly usage tracking just went live a few days ago. As such what I'm stating here is what I understand it to be, but I have no real-world TOU billing experience so far.
Quick background - I had the system installed in March 2011 and it generated about 10,300 kWh for the year. This offset almost all of my usage for the year and I was at a surplus for most of spring/summer. I got a rude awakening when I realized that the credits I got on a monthly basis were the tier 1 rate (or something similarly miniscule) multiplied by my surplus for that specific month - usually something like $10.00. In the winter months when I didn't generate much I got into Tier 4 territory and paid that fare and had back to back bills in excess of $200 each (lower than my bills pre solar, but still more than I wanted to pay). I know life isn't fair, but it seemed like BS that I'm getting paid $0.05 when they really need my electricity in the height of summer and then charge me $.25 when I use it at night in the winter to heat and light up my house.
Because I couldn't roll my summer generation into credits for the winter I decided to explore TOU since I perceive that will effectively do that, and here is why. I believe that TOU Level 1 / Level 2 apply both for the generation and the usage. I don't recall what level 1 is, but I think it's something like 260kwh. Assuming that is right, if you generated under 260kwh during peak hours in the summer you would get paid $.1934 for each kwh. However if you generated anything above 260kwh you would get paid the $.5234. Because of this the credits can theoretically be larger in the summer, and those can be used to offset the higher winter bills.
Yesterday (the 14th) I generated 25.6kwh during the peak hours and used 19 off peak. I created a quick spreadsheet that shows how I think it could play out if each and every day were the same. Recognizing I don't think "Summer" has started yet, I used the summer pricing. You need to remember that Sat/Sun are off peak, so that daytime generation that is usually during peak hours is actually off peak. My 4.33 multiplier was trying to take the weekly and convert to monthly. I also took a quick guess at Winter usage with those rates rounded to the nearest cent (I only jotted them down once). Clearly in the height of summer we'll probably use the AC more, and in the dead of winter perhaps more heat, but here is my guess at how the bill could work. It's late now and I need to get to bed, so it's possible this version has a major error I didn't see yet. If anything jumps out at you (or anybody else viewing it) let me know.
Derek
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That is the whole point of TOU rates is to give the electric company a 100 to 400% rate increase. That is one of the reasons for Smart Meters. Fortunately here in TX we do not have to put up with that [...] we use all we want, anytime we want, for about $0.09Kwh flat rate.
Another scheme used like in Wisconsin (MGE) and some other states is they have what is called the Green Renewable Energy rate. So you have two rates to choose from.
1. The standard residential rate of $0.1478/Kwh.
2. Or the 100% Green Energy Rate of $0.3133/Kwh. Sad thing is a lot of SUCKERS sign up for it. People have no idea there is no such thing as Renewable Energy, they just volunteer to pay 211% more to make them feel good. The power all comes from the same generation plants their neighbors use.
They (MGE Wisconsin) also have a PT Barnum Sucker Born Every Minute TOU rate of $0.23274/Kwh peak, and $0.041/Kwh off peak from 9:00 pm to 10:00 am.Leave a comment:
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Time of Use Bill Credits with SCE
I'm trying to determine the size of solar panel system I will need, and to that effect, am trying to determine how SCE's Rate Schedule TOU-D-T will credit my kwh generation during peak times. Under a TOU schedule, my goal would be to create a setup that yields no bill for power usage over a 12 month time frame. Note that this will not necessarily mean that I want to generate as many kwhs as I use. I just need a bill credit from generation to offset usage charges. After reviewing SCE's current TOU schedule, however, I'm a bit puzzled. It is divided into peak and non-peak usage, but within each category, there are different rates for usage up to 130% of baseline and any usage over that amount. Specifically, the total price per kwh appears to be:
Peak non-peak below 130% .1934 .1256 above 130% .5234 .2390
I presume that this allows SCE to credit power generated at the .1934 rate for <130% baseline peak power. If so, this seems like a problem, because most of my usage would be in non-peak during which time I would be using significantly more power than I am generating. Thus, most of my usage would likely be charged at the .2390 off-peak rate. Thus, it would seem that the peak power I generate at .1934 per kwh does not even fully offset a non-peak kwh once I've exceeded 130% of baseline. If so, then TOU is much less attractive, and may even be inferior to the standard Schedule D tiered system.
Can anyone using SCE's Rate Schedule TOU-D-T tell me the amount SCE credits you for generating 1 kwh during peak time? Additionally, do you find that on average you are credited more per kwh you generate than you are charged per kwh you use? Thanks in advance.
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