
The definition also allows development of other clean energy enabling technologies like energy efficiency, demand response, and energy storage.

The Community Renewable Energy Act defines renewable energy resources as sources that are “naturally replenished,” including wind, solar, geothermal, and hydroelectric. The PSC likely won't make a decision until sometime next year.Ī similar back-and-forth over net metering in Nevada caused residents to recently vote in a measure that promotes market deregulation.What does “net-100% renewable electricity” mean? Net-100% renewable electricity means matching the program’s electricity consumption with renewable generation connected to Rocky Mountain Power’s system on an annual basis. The new fees would apply only to new solar customers. Policymakers should protect solar jobs and consumers and reject efforts by Rocky Mountain Power to similarly undercut energy competition in Utah.” Those new rates caused rooftop solar applications to fall by ~99%, and forced over a dozen local and national solar companies to either go out of business, cut jobs, or leave the state. “Recently in Nevada, energy regulators passed new rules supported by their utility NV Energy – also owned by Rocky Mountain Power's parent company Berkshire Hathaway – that dramatically increased fees on solar homeowners. Utah is ranked the most business-friendly state in the country, and to maintain that reputation, we must continue to attract and support the explosive technological, investment, and job growth of the solar energy industry. We encourage the Public Service Commission to foster a collaborative, transparent process and to recognize all the benefits rooftop solar generation provides to the power system. “In response to Rocky Mountain Power's filing, Utah policymakers must establish fair and appropriate rates for solar customers. In response, more than 20 local and national solar companies have called on Utah regulators to establish fair rates for solar customers, as they consider Rocky Mountain Power’s proposal.
#Rocky mountain power net free#
“In our opinion,” said Ryan Evans, president of the Utah Solar Industries Association, “this new fee structure will significantly limit competition and free market principles that we believe Utah holds strong.” Therefore, the new proposals attempt to ‘level the playing field’, but has already roused solar advocates into action. “And that over the next 20 years, if the system isn’t changed, these subsidies will total US$667 million dollars, and those subsidies are being paid by other customers.” “We found that the average rooftop solar customer is being subsidized US$400 per year,” said company spokesman Paul Murphy. The proposal comes in response to the utility’s new study that concluded rooftop solar customers are being subsidised by non-solar customers. This is the latest attempt by a utility to implement a demand charge, following proposals in Arizona, Texas and Illinois. The proposal doesn’t end there as Rocky Mountain Power also proposed a US$60 net metering application fee and a monthly demand charge to be calculated by multiplying the kilowatts of power used during the peak by US$9.02. The proposal was filed with the Utah public service commission (PSC) yesterday and also includes an additional US$15 service charge and 3.81 cents/kWh fee. Under the proposal, the average solar ratepayer – who uses 1,000kWh per month – would pay US$74 a month, up from the current average of US$55 per month. Rocky Mountain Power, a utility company under the PacifiCorp umbrella, has proposed a new methodology for calculating net metering fees that would result in a signficant price spike for solar customers.
