The Carbon Buster and North Cowichan are promoting solar energy refits as providing a 8.9 per cent return on investment for those who install solar panels. They are correct that such is a good deal for those who can afford these panels. There are subsidies for those refits from higher levels of government. Canada and B.C. are borrowing money at five or six per cent to provide those subsidies. In addition the customers of BC Hydro, other then the Carbon Buster and his followers, are providing further subsidy through the rates charged for electricity by Hydro. Is it fair that these customers should subsidize those that can afford the solar refits? In some of the earlier information the Carbon Buster said his outlay for solar was around $150,000.
While solar electricity is “green” so is 98 per cent of power generated by Hydro (and Fortis) with the dams it owns. I recognize that dams are not as “green” as solar but they are still green. And dams deliver peak load when we need it (7 to 9 a.m. and 6 to 8 p.m.) and solar does not. So solar delivers its electricity to BC Hydro when it doesn’t need it — sunny mid mornings and sunny mid afternoons. BC Hydro is aware of this problem and reported it early on with respect to the private suppliers of electricity, but for obvious political reasons missed out of the solar individuals.
The Carbon Buster subsidy by customer comes at the other end of the process. When the Buster is generating electricity he is not using BC Hydro’s product and saves on his hydro bill. If he generates in excess of his needs this goes into the Hydro system and he is compensated with a credit. His credit is the same as we all pay for our electricity, approximately 9.9 cents per kWh. Hydro’s charge to customers is based on what it costs them to generate, transmit, service and administer the electricity of this province. Bear in mind that the province is very dependent on the Interior for its electricity (the Peace and the Kootenays). Vancouver Island is particularly weak in providing its own electricity. Those huge transmission lines we see on our trips to the mainland are expensive to install and maintain.
The solar people have no expenses for transmission, servicing and administration of electricity, but are compensated (by Hydro) at the same amount as Hydro which does.
They certainly deserve to be paid for generating electricity when its not dark, but there should be no payment for things they don’t do. And if the authorities think they do, why is it Hydro customers, most of whom cannot afford the solar panels, who do the subsidizing? Hopefully North Cowichan will not expect this subsidy for its solar plan.
Glen Ridgway,
North Cowichan