Distributed generation is the perfect disruptive technology solution. It facilities the completion of displacing fossil fuels as an energy source. Whether the utilities embrace this or not, disruptive technologies always win in the long run.
For now, Arizona utilities have chosen the unfortunate path of resistance. Instead of continuing to embrace DG to allow them to clean their grid, abandon fossil fuels and clean our environment, they have decided to portray their proactive clean DG customers as the problem rather than the solution. They do this at their own economic peril.
Clean DG providers like myself will take the next steps to force emissions free power creation.
Step One is to get as efficient as possible. As a result, our solar powered homes will push ever more, cheap, clean power onto the grid. Hopefully after step one, the utilities will wake up and realize that the growing DG grid is becoming more and more of a force in their overall production.
If the utilities choose to continue to fight technology, in the interest of keeping their fossil fuel sector going, Step Two will kick in.
Step Two is, existing solar adopters will initiate solar plus storage with energy management load balancers. Solar plus storage plus on-site load balancers will protect us from unfair Demand Charges imposed on us by rigid backwards thinking utilities. This is simple, inevitable technology growth
Solar installers will benefit as they can help integrate these systems.
Once Step Two begins to take hold in mass, the utility has another decision point. They will have to ask themselves two questions. Do I keep these highly efficient, near invisible energy users of my grid and clean energy providers on my grid? Or do I double down against them in my inaccurate and unfair demonizing of them, as some kind of made up problem?
If the utilities choose to accept our presence on the grid as a clean part of their portfolio, allowing them to begin to ratchet back their dependence on fossil fuel sources, specifically coal, than all Arizonan's win, including the utilities.
If the utilities decide to continue their old school model and insistence on burning coal for power at the expense of all of us, then we will have no choice. We will be forced to drop off their grid, taking with us our clean power, the revenue we still do provide to the utility and all we contribute to the overall clean DG power delivery system.
This will not hurt us and in the long run, it will not hurt the utilities, as their demand will begin to decrease sharply and their portfolio will shift again.
The people who will feel hurt are the people inside the utilities, whose model insist on ever increasing demand, for ever increasing profits at the expense of the consumer. These people will suffer significantly as their model has changed. The ground has shifted under them. Their consumer has spoken. Should they continue to decide to turn deaf ears during every step of this technological transition, they will force themselves and their parent companies into an early and messy demise. If that happens, We the People will be more than happy to take over, transition them to true municipalities that are responsive to the customer and quick on their feet when technology advances.
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