"We are communicating clearly and however the distributor chooses to use that information we can't control," he said.

Ok, I've heard that one before. TVA has designed its metering setup to make a profit on the solar panels electricity generated at private residences by charging people for the power they generate and use at their own homes. This is absurd, outrageous, and dare I say...immoral.

In 1998, we had an icestorm and were out of electricity for 21 days (in January - think below 0 F.). Disgusted, we installed a photovoltaic based secondary electrical whiring back-up system in our house. Outside, 5 solar panels charge deep-cell batteries in the basement. In summer, with the long days and abundant sunlight hours, we have plenty of surplus electricity to sell to our provider.

But the extra cost of the inspection, plus the special equipment Hydro-Quebec insists we install before they will accept to buy our electricity just doesn't make it worthwhile.

I guess the big ones figure if we are too independent from them, they won't be able to keep increasing the rates on us every year.