Harnessing The Power Of The People Through “Value Of Solar”… And Beyond

Fights over rooftop solar are cropping up around the country, with 47 states plus Washington D.C. considering action in 2016 to change solar policies. Net energy metering, a policy in 41 states under which energy generated by customers is credited against the cost of energy consumed from the grid, is the heart of most debates.

In absolute terms, homes, businesses, and factories with net metered solar are getting paid the retail rate for electricity; but many stakeholders question whether this adequately reflects the value of distributed solar.

Utilities often oppose net metering while customers are split, and these debates have boiled over into full-fledged fights in several states. In Arizona, for example, $6 million in dark money from utility and solar groups flowed to support and oppose candidates for the utility regulator. Read more…