On April 14, the New England Ratepayers Association (NERA) petitioned the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to reconsider net-metering policies. NERA claims that solar energy generated by residential, commercial, and municipalities should be subject to FERC’s jurisdiction.
Furthermore, they suggest that sales of solar-generated energy credits should be priced at no more than a utility’s avoided cost, rather than compensated at retail rates. To put it plainly, solar owners would not be paid or credited fairly for the electricity they produce and send to the grid.
In a market like Illinois, solar energy producers are credited cent-for-cent, meaning a utility company must compensate solar owners at the same rate they charge for the consumption of electricity. This, economically, allows solar owners to use the grid as a battery during periods where solar production is not possible or minimal (during the night or winter months).
What would the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s jurisdiction mean for solar owners?
This could mean significant losses in compensation for the energy produced by solar. States could also place restrictions on the amount of residentially-produced solar energy they are willing to compensate.
The FERC is allowing public comment until June 15, 2020.
How can you help protect net-metering rights? Send your legislators a free post card, provided by Solar United Neighbors, and make your voice heard here: