Separate rulings this week in Nevada and Colorado see net metering left alone, resulting in a clear win for rooftop solar consumers.
The Nevada Public Utilities Commission voted this week to keep solar net metered customers on existing rates until the Commission is able to make a decision determining long-term rules by December 31.
This follows a shutdown of the solar market in Nevada last Thursday, when NV Energy declared that the previous cap had been hit.
“The hard work is now before the Commissioners to issue long-term rules” said Bryan Miller, co-chairman of The Alliance for Solar Choice. “We are grateful that the Commission’s decision will allow Nevadans to return to their jobs today, while the Commission determines long-term rules for solar net metering. Nevadans will remain vocal to ensure that these rules allow Nevada’s solar industry to continue creating jobs and driving economic growth.”
The Colorado Public Utilities Commission similarly voted to leave the state’s net metering policy unchanged, announcing to the world that it was a “fair outcome” for the state’s solar users, as well as the utilities and solar industry. Specifically, Chairman of the Colorado Public Utilities Commission Joshua Epel and Commissioner Pam Patton made it clear that there is no need to change the net metering policy for crediting residents who choose to be able to feed energy back into the grid.
“We believe net metering provides an important right for consumers to generate their own clean energy and receive fair credit for power they are sharing with neighbors,” said Rebecca Cantwell, executive director of the Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association. “This decision will hopefully provide confidence to people who are considering going solar that this key policy will remain in effect.”
Similarly, Chairman Epel also made it clear that, if solar customers meet the technical requirements, utilities must allow interconnection.
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