> > This group may be interested to know that New York State
> > signed a net-metering bill into law in August.  The bill
> > applies to solar generated electricity only ( no windmills
> > or small hydro).  Any net usage by the solar generator is
 
>Jim,
> This is indeed interesting and encouraging. How do they propose to measure
>this, with 2 meters with ratchets?
 
The intent, as I understand it, is to use the standard unratcheted house 
meter,
allowing it to run forward or backward with the net energy flow.
 
>What would prevent someone from installing a smallish solar panel outside, 
but
>generate most of his power with a co-gen system that's hidden?
 
Nothing that I can think of would prevent this idea except that the utility 
might
investigate if the net generation for a meter-reading period exceeded the 
maximum
capacity of the solar panel,  or if the general energy use patterns of the 
residence
seemed unusual.  Its probable that a customer who signed up for the program 
might
receive more than the usual scrutiny of his usage or production of power 
because the 
utility would be interested (not necessarily in a suspicious way) in how the 
program
was working.  I can't think how it would benefit someone inclined to attach a 
co-gen
system to become partly ligitimate by participating. 
  
> I wonder what their thinking is in disallowing hydro and windmill power?
 
I believe the utilities fought this law.  Restricting net-metering to solar 
under
10kw was probably a compromise with their concerns.  Even with the tax 
incentives and net-metering,  solar generation will probably not attract 
anyone
with purely economic motives.  Some ecological/philosophical motive is needed
to make up the economic deficit.  This would insure that the utilities won't
have too much fuss with this stuff.  If hydro, wind, and domestic co-gen were
allowed under a net metering provision there might be more interest than the
utilities would like.  I believe that the Massachusets net-metering law 
llows
all of the above forms of generation.  I don't know though, and haven't read
anything, about the results of the Massachusets program.
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