Utilities still struggle to win fixed, demand charge appeals
In the latest 50 States of Solar Report from the North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center, net metering once again topped the list of actions of policies that states tried to change in 2016.
New Hampshire PUC staff suggests net-metering tweaks
The state’s public utilities commission staff recommended four minor tweaks to the net-metering programs, but said the utility had not proven its cost-shifting case to its satisfaction and asked utilities to gather more data before final rates can be determined.
Berkeley Lab finds negligible potential rate impacts from distributed solar
The latest report from the respected national lab finds that even if – big if – behind-the-meter solar is raising the rates of other utility customers, the impacts are tiny, especially compared to other activities.
ACC fixes net-metering grandfathering clause
Exactly three weeks after significantly altering net-metering in ways that could stunt future solar growth in the state, the Arizona Corporation Commission voted 4-1 to amend the way it will grandfather current solar customers under the new rules to remove a two- to three-week penalty the ruling accidentally imposed.
Nevada regulators reinstate net metering for Sierra Pacific
In contrast to phony allegations of a cost shift, Public Utilities Commission of Nevada found that net metered-solar is saving other customers money.
Arizona’s changes to net metering could derail the state’s rooftop solar market
While the Arizona Corporation Commission decided to grandfather current solar customers for 20 years from the interconnection days, new customers will only receive 10 years — which will hurt both solar lessees, loan-holders and potential cash deals.
PG&E switches to Net Metering 2.0
Less than a week after warning that it would hit caps on the previous net metering program some some time in December, the California utility has transitioned to its successor program.
PG&E to transition to net metering 2.0 by the end of the year
The second of California’s three large utilities expects to hit its cap under the original net metering program this month, with 2.4 GW of behind-the-meter solar installed.
Report finds net metering is not sustainable over the long-term
The report by electricity market researchers finds that the value that solar contributes to the grid decreases with higher penetrations, making net metering unsuitable in the long run. But in most markets, those higher penetrations are still a long way off.
HECO sees significant uptick in self-supply applications
After protracted wrangling over solar adoption in Honolulu, the state’s citizens are taking matters into their own hands — joining a self-supply program that could show the way to NEM 2.0
