Solar Power Blog from SunCal Solar, Inc.: Recent Comments

Comment on "Deciphering" Your Electric Bill - Utility Rates Explained

profitability ratio analysis — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 06:35:46 GMT

Pretty good post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed reading your blog posts. Any way I'll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you post again soon.

Comment on Smart Metering Update - Smart Meters

electricians — Wed, 26 May 2010 13:27:26 GMT

If I am not mistaken, I think the Colorado Springs area installed these about three years ago. I saw no real difference in my bills at all.

Comment on Solar Energy and Your Electric Bill

Antenna Installation Perth — Thu, 20 May 2010 05:43:39 GMT

I have been following the Smart Meter project for a while and I am very impressed with its popularity. It's an easy, efficient way to control energy consumption!

Comment on Smart Metering Update - Smart Meters

Antenna Installation Perth — Sat, 08 May 2010 08:59:53 GMT

Why should I get a SmartMeter? How is it better than a regular meter? My own meter is definitely due but I want to know what I am buying if I am getting something new. Thanks for any info you can provide!

Comment on Smart Metering Update - Smart Meters

Robert at SunCalSolar.com — Wed, 05 May 2010 00:37:09 GMT

Should I Get a Smart Meter?
For most people it really doesn't matter right now. There are a lot of promised technologies that are supposed to help you manage your energy usage and help you minimize usage when electricity demand is high. But they are not readily available yet.

Mechanical Meter with Dials and Wheel That Spins to Show Usage

Here in SDG&E territory they are automatically replacing all the old mechanical/analog meters with the new digital smart meters (unless you have solar electricity because their new "smart" meters cannot run backwards as needed with solar, smart meters can run backwards just not the ones they are using).

Smartmeters - Are they Smart?
Well, sort of . . . They are really not that smart. There are three typical distinguishing characteristics of "smart meters". The most obvious one is that they are not mechanical/analog meters. Smart meters are digital (note: a digital meter does not necessarily have to be a smart meter, but a smart meter is digital). The next one is that they can be read remotely so a "meter reader" does not need to physically visit your house to determine your usage for billing. The third one is they can tell what time of day you used electricity.

Time of Day Electricity is Used
A smart meter can tell the time of day that you use electricity. It "remembers" the amount of electricity you used during Peak, Semi-Peak, and Off-Peak times of the day. These times are defined by the local utility company. It can track your electricity usage in these three different time categories.

If you are like most people and don't have a time-of-use electric rate then a smart meter doesn't change much for your home and your electric bill.

Time-of-Use Rate Plan
However, a time of use rate plan (which requires a smart meter) charges you different rates for the different times of day that you use electricity. Usually Peak is the most expensive, Semi-Peak is less, and Off-Peak is the least expensive. So if you're gone during peak times (usually morning to early evening, weekends are off-peak) and use very little electricity during peak times then going to a smart meter with a Time-of-Use electric rate could help you.

However, for most people here in San Diego County a Time-of-Use rate is usually not in your favor. There is a small discount for using off-peak electricity, but a large premium for using peak electricity. Unless nobody is home during peak times then most people end up spending more with a residential time-of-use rate. I expect SDG&E to offer better time-of-use rate plans in the future.

Mechanical Meters (analog meters)
Sometimes the old mechanical meters with the dials were not very good at measuring your electrical usage. I have heard of several people who's bills went up dramatically when they got a smart meter. Nobody can say for sure, but it seems likely that their 20-40 year old meter may have gotten a bit "gunked up" over the years and was not reading all of the electricity used accurately. Also, the old meters may not have been good at reading when supplying to highly reactive loads. This is very unusual for residential applications.

I hope this clears up your questions about smart meters and time-of-use metering.

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SunCal Solar, Incorporated
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Comment on Smart Metering Update - Smart Meters

Antenna Installation Perth — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 09:46:36 GMT

Comment on Solar Roofing Tiles

vinyl tiles — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 13:02:52 GMT

Thanks for such a nice blog post....i was searching for something like that.

Comment on Smart Metering Update - Smart Meters

Matthew Smiths — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 15:22:51 GMT

Who looks in their utility cupboard every day to see the gas meter and understands how much they have spent? I think Smart Meters are a good idea and can help people. I found a video about Energy Smart Meters which explains the basics. Smart Meters will monitor electricity consumption and help to understanding where to save money and reducing carbon emissions. Simple as that! Why it is not worth spending money?

Comment on Solar Energy and Your Electric Bill

Eric Donald — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 06:34:07 GMT

Great site. I like the way you explain everything without using complicated terms.

Comment on Hidden Solar Panels?

solar panels — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 04:03:40 GMT

I believe that the solar roof tile will be very popular in the future.