notacontrathinker

Interesting article in El Pais you might have missed.
From my reading of it I get the following :-


1) The fixed part of an electricity bill is going up 77%.

2) The cost per unit of electricity will be coming down 27%.

3) You cannot sell excess solar power to the grid.

4) It is prohibited to store self-generated power in a battery.

5) It will now take 23 years to get your money back from investing in solar power.

6) The Spanish Government is potty.

http://elpais.com/elpais/2013/07/23/...05_024635.html

jimenato

That's what the article says. Amazing! And complete idiocy.

Dick Dasterdly

Any particular reason ?

Fredbargate

Houses in the campo just got a lot cheaper and less attractive.

EsuriJohn

How can this possibly apply to someone completely off grid way out in the campo. They have no alternative but to use wind or sun power and battery storage. Friends of ours use all three and the first cost is horrendous so to impose a futher penalty is grossly unfair.

notacontrathinker

From the article :

"The government has decided that home renewable energy systems must be introduced slowly and without altering the existing system. That is why it is reserving the right to raise or lower these specific fees depending on how the sector evolves."


My reading is they are worried about over-draining the sun at this early stage.

EsuriJohn

No I think they are cow towing to the mega energy companies who seem to have an unreasonable influence on the Spanish Government. They make huge profits and have a worldwide presence. I wonder if they were involved along with the construction companies in the current Barcenas fraud/money laundering trials.

amideislas

Seem to have an unreasonable influence? Ya think?

Somehow extortion with impunity doesn't exactly equate to "seem to have an unreasonable influence" IMHO.

The standing charges alone are already silly. I reckon that's where they make most of their money, especially now that people have changed to minimum tariffs and are consuming less. This is just a way to ensure that they get their profits even if the public cuts their energy consumption to nil.

4) It is prohibited to store self-generated power in a battery. (then why does every solar shop around here sell big batteries with every solar system?)

Not only does this restriction exhibit no rational purpose, but for all intents and purposes, it's unenforceable. Where do they come up with this nonsense?

So, Spain is still the #1 in alternative energy? (never was, but some of us want to believe that). I reckon with legislation like this, Spain may become be #1 in energy company profits, though.

And they say bankers are the greediest.

Fredbargate

Just had a rethink on this clause:-

There is a battery in my car, the power I generate myself by driving the car

Back to the trusty old starting handle it would seem

Dick Dasterdly

Still need a battery, unless you can keep winding an ancient hand powered gennie whilst driving along.

snikpoh

Why do you need a battery? I have a bike that I kick start, the lights etc. work off the engine and NOT a battery.

amideislas

Do you smell that?
It's ... erm ... a slight fragrance of something familiar ...

...Brussels, perhaps?

DLC

José Manuel Soria lining a job up for when he leaves the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism in two years.

Dick Dasterdly

You may get away with running a car without a battery in an ancient banger say 40 years old or so, but certainly not now.

Lynn R

So I will be able to increase my electricity consumption by 27% and pay no more overall, as I will have to pay the increased standing charges anyway?

Seems very sensible - not.