Extra Fees On Customers Who Install Solar Panels Sparks Outrage

[Hum]

Utah?s main utility, Rocky Mountain Power, has proposed a new fee on its residential solar customers. While solar users make up a small percentage of RMP?s customer base ? only about 2,000 people ? that number is growing quickly and the prospect of paying an additional $4.25 a month is not sitting well with residents and solar installers.

Utah?s fight is indicative of a rapidly escalating tension: As rooftop solar becomes more and more mainstream, driven largely by middle class customers, utility companies across the country are looking to soften the blow to their business model by charging solar customers a monthly fee.

On the surface, it?s a heated debate over the immediate value of solar power ? who pays, who benefits, and how to make the situation equitable ? but the core issue is really the increasing likelihood that distributed generation sources, like rooftop solar, will completely upend the traditional utility business model.

Rocky Mountain Power argues that as more households go solar, it might be saving them on their monthly electricity bills but it?s costing the company more because those customers still use the utility?s transmission and distribution infrastructure. ?We?ve seen a significant increase in [residential solar] over the years and we expect those increases to continue so we need to design a rate structure for those customers,? said David Eskelsen, company spokesman.

full story

[FloatingFatMan]

Typical rip off merchants.  If they don't want people using their infrastructure, just don't buy their excess energy?

[Hum]

^ They must buy it by Law. ;)

[spenser.d]

Well that's ridiculous.

[Anibal P]

California electric utilities charge you a fee for sending power to the grid at the "wrong" time, as if panel owners can control it or something, where's the "outrage"?

[Hum]

I think this is really about Power companies are upset at decreased Profits.

[FloatingFatMan]

I think this is really about Power companies are upset at decreased Profits.

 

Well duh... Of course that's what it's about. :rolleyes: :p ;)