My understanding was that it would be automatic.

I couldn't swing the extra $15,000 for battery backup. What I have now is a 12 panel array on a pole. The array turns to follow the sun so we get the most out of it. I couldn't put panels on the roof because there were no snow load rated roof panels 3 years ago when I put up the array. As you might imagine, this was a pretty expensive outlay on its own.

The feds rebated $2000. California was supposed to give some rebate, but it didn't go through. I think it's by individual PUDs and mine doesn't do it.

We were the first people in the service area to create more electricity than we used. It threw the whole PUD into a tizzy. It took about 6 months for us to work out this credit system.