If you don't want to store excess energy from Solar PV, you switch it off, i.e. the "off" switch is just that, an open circuit. The panel doesn't suddenly heat up and explode when you don't want to use its output anymore, but it's a waste when that energy could be used elsewhere. Switching the load to dump the excess into your hot water system is a great idea - it preheats the water, ultimately reducing demand from the grid. You should only switch a solar panel off where there is NO practical use for the energy. My PV/Battery controller (Plasmatronics PL60) is programmable, and has options to divert PV energy away from the batteries (e.g. when they reach float voltage) into other items, such as a water pump. It will even switch to an alternative battery bank, if you have one.
Wind turbines are different, and need to have a load dump somewhere nearby. Small domestic wind turbines actually use their external casing as a dump.
"Myopic trolls" is right, too. Electricity supply & distribution companies here are complaining that there is too much PV energy coming into the grid. Presumably this is on sunny days, when the demand for air conditioning is high.