Dive Brief:

• The Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) has opened an investigation to study the costs and benefits of distributed generation, according to a filing commission staff made this week.
• The investigation is based on the ACC's finding that there is a cost shift from DG customers to non-DG customers. The move follows the heated debate over the state's net metering policies for rooftop solar.
• The issues the ACC plans to study include: grid support services, avoided costs, grid reliability, environmental and social issues like reduced air pollution and job gains.

Dive Insight:

Last year, the ACC approved a small fee on the owners of rooftop solar as a first step in dealing with what they believe is a cost shift among DG and non-DG customers. This is the next step in the process, which will be watched closely by utilities, solar developers and other state regulators.