In a previous post, I described an upcoming program in Oregon that would pay solar power users up to six times the going rate for electricity to install photovoltaics on their homes.  The program opened for registration at 8 am on Thursday, July 1, 2010, and ran out of allotments in 15 minutes, according to The Oregonian.   “People compare it to getting tickets to a big rock show,” said Tom Gauntt, a Pacific Power spokesman. “We believe we have 75 good applicants.”

But now comes the bad news: some of the hidden costs of the program are coming out.  The Oregon Public Utility Commission, which authored the program, held meetings as late as Monday with contractors and installers trying to explain all the ins and outs.  For example, the monthly checks homeowners get from their utilities, at as much as 65 cents per kilowatt hour generated, are taxable.  Also, solar systems have to be insured for $1 million, and an extra power meter is required, which costs $10 a month. (more…)