Net Metering - South Carolina

Just when you start to believe that all of the e-mails and letters that you have been writing to State Representatives, State Senators, and the Governor about “net metering” were falling on deaf ears, we hear this story.

Until now the electric coop’s in South Carolina have said that they couldn’t allow net metering. The reason, South Carolina Public Service Authority (Santee-Cooper) who supply their power, said they could only get power from them.

In January of 2007 Peter Manfre of Indian Land, SC was so impressed with President Bush’s request to lower pollution and reduce our dependence on foreign oil that he built a 4200 watt photovoltaic solar system. Manfre said “I believed it would foster a new industry in SC, lower pollution, lower the US dependence on foreign oil, increase property values, save residents money, and more. Also the cost effect for the York Electric Coop would be nil.  It is truly a win..win situation for all.”

“After operating the system for 4 days, I figured I was giving a lot of free electric to York Electric Coop. I was surprised and enraged to find out that not only did they get it free, but because of their metering policy, I had to pay for what I gave them. I shut the system down”.

This was a wake up call for Manfre. This was when he started a e-mailing, letter writing, calling campaign to every State Representatives, State Senators, and the Governor. His campaign has made a break thru with the York Electric Coop. This May Manfre said “I have signed an agreement with York Electric Coop to be a beta test site for Net Metering. They have installed a new meter which is currently programmed and running in Net meter mode. It is true net metering (not TOD, or net billing or the like). Currently my 4200 watt system is doing about 600-700 kWh a month.”

This Peter Manfre story only proves that if anybody says you can’t change state government, tell them they are wrong. If you have ideals that you want to live up to, you better be part of the solution and not just part of the griping and protesting. Without public pressure put on Governor Sanford and Santee Cooper it is a very good possibility we will never get true “net metering” rules like Pete has. In South Carolina it is vested interests not wanting to change.

We can’t let this be the last “net metering” site in South Carolina. Now is the time to act!! Take a moment and tell Santee Cooper, your electric coop, and your State Representative you want good net metering rules for the entire state so everyone can join Pete with the renewable energy revolution and live a better life….

Please help this canpaigan with this e-mail to Governor Sanford