Can the electric company detect my usage?

I'm considering buying a 5000w solar panel system. Pricey but worthwhile. The system is grid-tied, meaning the electric company will supply me with extra energy if need be, or that the electric company will pay me for the wattage left over. My only concern is if Im running 3000w in the grow room I obviously need to keep my power usage hidden. So with a grid-tied system, can the electric company/feds tell how much power I have in all or how much Im using? Or will they just see that Im using my own energy with no details of how much? Please, informative responses only. Thanks in advance

I think youll be ok man the smart meters only read one way..

or just dont grid connect or install a disconnect but no u dont have to worry its your power if u want to use it up thats your business
they cant ? why u dont sell them more power if u own it

I think you'll be fine with less than ten lights.

That small a wattage probably will not draw any attention from a human. A computer scanning records? Who knows? Bet you're safe and no worries.

BTW, have you considered LED lights if you are going to spend big money? Less heat, narrower spectrums and many now offer the option of changing the colors from the blues to the reds as plant growth proceeds.

OK you are making me think, but I believe the rate is something like 6 cent per kilo-watt hour. So if you look at your meter for day or so you can read how many KW/h u use in a day. Multiply that by .6 and you should have in dollars what you pay in a day. But the real key to power companies is normacy. If your bill is consistenly at $300 dollars a month They take that as normal. When your bill spikes is when they start to pay attention. But if you start out with them as normal with your grow room going then they will accept that as the norm, almost like a benchmark. Because you started at that usage they will see no spike and not be alarmed

what sucks about the smart meters is they know your usage per hr not daily.. so it doesnt take much to know your a grow house from the norm.. the key is to always pay your bill on time so you dont raise any flags and give reason for them to question what your doing..
lol. dont know why I said that its irevilent to you going solar.. someone might find it usefull..
cheers

Will there ever be a point where you need to draw power from the grid with a system that large? If you have your 12/12 lights set to be on during the actual daylight hours the system will keep charged throughout the peak usage time. Keep your usage fairly consistent and you should be fine. I think they concern themselves more with discrepancies from their buying customers vs those who generate extra power for the utility company.

OH! I see that you have became a huge fan of "salt water fish tanks!" Me TOO!

They will definetly know how much you use and how much they are buying from you, thats how theyll bill you of pay you. So obviously its monitored. I dont know what the numbers are that get them suspicious or if they even look for things like that though

I dont think the power company really gets alarmed and activly seeks out grow ops.
I think if there is reason for the cops to investigate you, they can use your 300 dollar power bill as a clue, or if the power guy comes and sees your meter spinning like a top, and you have light leaks, or smells, etc... they are obligated by law to report you. But I dont think they actively seek out cannabis growers, unless there is an ordinance or something.

ALWAYS remember to keep everything out of sight, and out of smell, always keep doors locked, and if anyone asks about your power bill just tell them you had to hook up a couple old freezers to store some deer meat or something.
If cops come to your house, meet them outside and lock all your doors behind you, be polite to them, and never let them in unless they have a warrant.
After they leave, get rid of everything, as they will be back.
If they have a warrant, say nothing to them, let them arrest you, and get a good lawyer.
One of the best things to buy is a few growroom and front door cameras just incase the police come, they do so many illeagle things when they raid places that if you get it all on video, your lawyer can usually get things dismissed from your case.

IT works more like this honestly.

All your neighbors bills are like $100-$300 just dependin on how u set ur ac, gas vs. electric dryer etc. and then u have 10x 1k hps and ur bill is like $800-$1000 a month then you only pay like every 2 or 3 months in cash.

Or worse yet, ur house is lite up like an xmas tree, meter reader dude comes by and ur kwh usage is like 500-600 for the whole month vs. the neighborhood average of say 2200-3000ish depending on house size, weather and such. I.E. ur stealing power or something else.

Just be reasonable and smart, the power company if you pay ur bill on time really doesn't care much how much you use within logical reason as you are generating revenue for them!

if your really worried about getting your electricity up then why not switch to leds they are energy efficient and dont give off much heat either

First, police can not obtain a warrant due to electric over usage. Second if for some reason you were singled out by the elec company out of their millions of customers for a little overage sue their ass.

Pay your bill and they wont bother you.. They want your money that is all.

The electric companies don't give a rats ass - growers are probably their best residentual customers. More juice you gobble down, the more cash they earn.

Only in special circumstances would the police access that information - increased electricity use by itself isn't a crime, so they'd need more to back it up before they send in the stormtroopers.

Chillax.