In Arizona, a closely watched vote to decide solar policy's fate

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

In Arizona, a closely watched vote to decide solar policy's fate

BY NICHOLA GROOM
LOS ANGELES Thu Nov 14, 2013 1:53pm EST

(Reuters) - Proponents of solar power will face off with Arizona's biggest utility on Thursday in a last-ditch effort to sway regulators who are preparing to rule on the fate of a little-known solar subsidy that, if altered, would be a blow to the burgeoning U.S. rooftop solar industry in one of its biggest markets.

The Arizona Corporation Commission's expected vote will be watched closely by utility and solar players far beyond the Grand Canyon State. That's because the two industries are increasingly at odds over a policy known as net metering, which allows homeowners with rooftop solar systems to sell the power they don't use back to their utilities at retail rates.

The policy has buttressed the growth of rooftop solar because it helps reduce the cost of going solar for homeowners. But utilities say it has another impact: it shoulders citizens who don't have solar panels with an unfair share of the cost to maintain the electric grid.

The Arizona Commission's five-member panel kicked off a two-day hearing in Phoenix on the issue on Wednesday, listening to dozens of comments on the issue from members of the public. The commissioners, who are elected, will weigh various proposals on modifying net metering policies on Thursday before taking a final vote on the issue.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/11/14/us-solar-arizona-idUSBRE9AD15920131114

[msongs]

1. time to eliminate power company monopoly and open it up to competition nt

[Wait Wut]

2. This is just a mess.

I live in AZ and wouldn't mind paying for my neighbor's leftover power if I knew that THEY were getting the check. If it encourages others in the state to install solar, that's a huge benefit to all...except APS. They're throwing a tantrum because they can't be the middleman. But, the ads that are running are misleading. Instead of blaming APS for being the greedy bastards they are, they're blaming solar power homeowners. "I don't want to pay for my neighbor's solar panels!" is the crap that I'm seeing on TV.

Hell, sure I'll pay for their panels! Again...I don't want to pay APS for something they have no rights to. The sun and a private citizens solar power.

I'm about 85% sure APS will win. Too much money to change hands. If they don't win, they'll throw another tantrum and raise rates, anyway.

Here's the other side of this debacle. If APS doesn't win, and homeowner's can't find a way to sell their leftover power, no one wins. No extra incentive to sell solar.

It's a mess.

[CFLDem]

3. Yeah

sadly greed and corruption sabotaging American ingenuity seems to be the order of the day.

It's a shame we as a nation allow the few to steal the future from the many...