GET THOSE WINTER SWEATERS READY IT COULD GET FAR WORSE THIS WINTER

Some of the letters of comment to the BC Utilities Commission regarding Nelson hydro raising rural electric rates were from those on fixed incomes stating they are already turning down their heat and wearing sweaters.   There could be a lot more than just those on fixed incomes.

I have written a lot about these phony solar grants, the phony Nelson community solar garden with little change in public knowledge apparently.   I am unwilling to subsidize this fantasy.

Money talks and if you rural Nelson hydro customers begin to understand its your electric bill funding these feel good city political projects you might want it to end also.

Now that the city wants rural electric customers to pay for all the expensive extra Fortis power your electric bills aren't going down!

This years estimate for extra Fortis power $7M plus the surprise penalty making it closer to $8M.

Nelson hydro allows full retail credit for anyone's extra solar power.  BC Hydro and Fortis customers aren't subsidizing this.

All this subsidy for solar might come from you rural electric customers, you need to understand how power is made annually.

Below Kootenay river flow, orange is excess water from spring runoff through fall, the same time all this extra summer solar credit is given.

Spring runoff has begun: 

Spring runoff has begun, Nelson hydro above making huge profits excess water is spilling, yet Nelson hydro gives full retail credit to anyone's solar.  Its worthless but it gets votes.

  

In winter all that summer solar credit is being filled by Nelson hydro buying expensive extra Fortis power.  If the city is successful in getting you rural customers to pay for all expensive Fortis power it will be your electric bill funding all this political feel good solar power.  

Electric Vehicle Charging this too could be yours to pay for.

Electric vehicle battery efficiences drop tremendously in winter, all the free EV charging power will be extra expensive Fortis power, your rural electric bill could subsidize this too.

There is a small hydro producer being paid full rural commercial rate of 12.75c/kWh for power the city can buy from Fortis for about 4c/kWh and make a profit.  Both city and rural electric customers are subsidizing this too.  I ask why, nobody wants to say anything.

The new building code Step 5 net zero using solar panels,  could be you rural customers funding this also.

A net Zero building makes as much energy as it consumes annually.  Summer Solar panel credits.
If you can afford to build to this standard with solar panels, and buy an electric car that saves so much money why are Nelson hydro customers subsidizing you for free power?    

Will you help me to change this?

NO MORE subsidy from Nelson hydro.  Their own bylaw says they won't buy anyone's power unless it makes economic sense.

From October through spring runoff beginning now, about $750,000 in public money solar power systems locally made enough power for little more than ONE house.


The city got an award for the solar garden.   


Call me the Solar Steward   or I should say the phony salespeople and the Politicians getting votes.



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