You only get that “profit” because the utilities are FORCED to purchase your generated power WHETHER IT NeeDS IT OR NOT.
Not true. I can just leak the surplus into the grid and get nothing for it.
Or, I can get another energy supplier and opt into a tariff based on split time of use - buying electricity would get more expensive in daylight hours but would be very cheap at offpeak times.
But, my current supplier is currently wanting to get in on the act and is very interested in setting up a new tariff where I would sell them the excess from solar and they use it to service peak demand, and I top my battery up between 2am and 4:30am at a discount.
For a country that prides itself on entrepreneurism and capitalism, America seems fantastically anti-choice, backward and restrictive when it comes to commercialising next-gen utilities.
It’s the same with telecoms. The UK is nowhere near as innovative as some other countries, but even ten years ago I had four completely different high speed internet technology options on top of the state sponsored copper infrastructure. With over 60 suppliers to choose from.
And I live way out in the sticks. I talk to American colleagues and they’re about as spoiled for choice as the UK was... in 1996.