Esteemed Stalwart OnGrid Tool User,

I used to go by "Michael" — as Andy noted in his recent "Passing the OnGrid Torch" email... I was the OnGrid Tool developer from 2007 thru 2017.

Knowing that you continue to benefit from the OnGrid Tool... does me good. I had the pleasure of talking with some of you one-on-one and during OnGrid's twice-weekly group calls.

Andy recently gave OnGrid assets to me, in the hope that I'd continue to support your PV work.

I'm writing to share a big update, that I think is good news for you...

In large part because the OnGrid Tool 1) doesn't model batteries, and 2) assumes net metering...

There are only a dozen companies with paid subscriptions at this point (vs. several hundred in its heyday).

While I'll always have a place in my heart for the OnGrid Tool... it isn't a platform to build on for tomorrow's "site power system" modeling.

Rather than continue to maintain the "infrastructure" for user accounts and user authorization...

I've decided that the right thing to do at this point is... make the OnGrid Tool free and open source. This way, you won't have restrictions on how you use it.

Only four active companies have synced customer data with OnGrid Sky in the past year. Given this, I've decided to stop the OnGrid Tool's Sky-syncing capability (to simplify open-sourcing the Tool). You can continue to share customer data within your company thru file-sharing services (e.g. Dropbox, or Microsoft OneDrive), etc.

I've created a new OnGrid website, oriented around the open-source version of the OnGrid Tool. For transition guidance, please see the FAQs page.

If that doesn't cover it, I'd be happy to schedule a video call with you. ...Please let me know a good time on Wednesday thru Friday, or next week Monday thru Wednesday (from 9am thru 5pm pacific).

Going forward, I'll still be available if / when you get blocked: mike@ongrid.net | 510-712-6373. Fair warning that I'm trying to get a one-man-band PV install company off the ground and I'm in the field part time... I might not get back to you right away.

As noted on the new OnGrid-website homepage: To make the Tool a little more relevant, I added basic inputs and modeling for markets without net metering (specifically: indicate if no net metering >> input the % of summer and winter PV production that serves the site directly, and input the $ export rate). ...Basic battery modeling can be done thru these new inputs.

I hope you'll agree that, overall, this is an upgrade.

Once you've transitioned (hopefully by the end of the month)... please let me know and I'll end your paid subscription.

Given 1) my work to open-source the Tool, 2) my continued support, and 3) my general work to make free resources available (please see my related Slow Power website)...

I'm asking 🙏 that you please maintain a monthly donation while you continue to benefit from the OnGrid Tool. My webpage for that is here.

Onward and upward.

Mike

510-712-6373