Enabling a commodity market in solar power: Dr. Smith's electric meters

Dr. Smith's electric meters enable a commodity market in solar power, with billing from generators to customers. And EMCs can take 1% or so for carrying the power, plus they can get advertising rights that could be worth more than selling electricity! If SB 459 or something like it gets out of committee and into law.

Dr. Sidney Smith explained how the electric meter he's developed uses cellular technology to facilitate direct billing from solar generator and customer. Gretchen asked him what if they generate more than they use. Dr. Smith said they wouldn't. I asked what if they added more panels. He said they could, but there are trees in the back.

Here's Part 1 of 5:

Enabling a commodity market in solar power: Dr. Smith's electric meters Part 1 of 5:
South Eastern Pathology Associates,
Selling Power, Lower Rates for Customers LLC (LRCLLC),
Richmond Hill, Bryan County, Georgia, 17 February 2012.
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.

He forgot about the parking lot out front where the panels he just connected are located: no shading there, and plenty of room for more solar panels.

Dr. Smith said the best places for solar are where there is no shade and near power poles. Gretchen asked how do you finance? Dr. Smith answered,

Well, that would be easy if you had a commodity market. What happens right now is if you're down in Lowndes County and you produce power, how do you get it from your system to Atlanta? We're actually building that system.

We would put this meter here on someone's business. We would credit what we're generating to the customer. Through our software we would say ... pay the transmission company 1% or 2%....

Here's Part 2 of 5:

Enabling a commodity market in solar power: Dr. Smith's electric meters Part 2 of 5:
South Eastern Pathology Associates,
Selling Power, Lower Rates for Customers LLC (LRCLLC),
Richmond Hill, Bryan County, Georgia, 17 February 2012.
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.

I summarized that if an EMC could get 1% for selling power that it doesn't even generate, that would be a great deal! Dr. Smith agreed.

Here's Part 3 of 5:

Enabling a commodity market in solar power: Dr. Smith's electric meters Part 3 of 5:
South Eastern Pathology Associates,
Selling Power, Lower Rates for Customers LLC (LRCLLC),
Richmond Hill, Bryan County, Georgia, 17 February 2012.
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.

Dr. Smith then got to the biggest selling point for Electric Membership Cooperatives (EMCs): they could make more money selling advertising than from selling electricity!

Here's Part 4 of 5:

Enabling a commodity market in solar power: Dr. Smith's electric meters Part 4 of 5:
South Eastern Pathology Associates,
Selling Power, Lower Rates for Customers LLC (LRCLLC),
Richmond Hill, Bryan County, Georgia, 17 February 2012.
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.

This all works because of Dr. Smith's meters.

Here's Part 5 of 5:

Enabling a commodity market in solar power: Dr. Smith's electric meters Part 5 of 5:
South Eastern Pathology Associates,
Selling Power, Lower Rates for Customers LLC (LRCLLC),
Richmond Hill, Bryan County, Georgia, 17 February 2012.
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.

-jsq