Dive Brief:
- A group lobbying in favor of flat fee increases and changes to solar rules in Wisconsin is under fire for the methods it used to collect and submit some 2,500 comments it says show that ratepayers support he changes.
- Houston-based Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) submitted the comments along with, it said, electronic signatures on a petition. However some individuals have come forward to say they do not support proposed rate changes despite their names appearing on the petition.
- Three pro-solar groups have asked state regulators to investigate CEA's filing, saying it now appears ratepayers surveyed were not aware of the complexity of Wisconsin's issues. A Public Service Commission judge rejected the comments.
Dive Insight:
We Energies and Madison Gas & Electric Co. have both proposed to increase their monthly flat fees and make other changes to solar agreements with customers. And though CEA is supporting their applications, neither company is aligning themselves with the group, the Journal Sentinel reports.
The group submitted 2,500 signatures it said show ratepayers in the state support increases to flat monthly fees. But the petition was tainted by questions over how the signatures were obtained, and it appears respondents may not have been fully informed of the complexity of the issues.
While an administrative law judge rejected the comments, the Environmental Law & Policy Center, RENEW Wisconsin and The Alliance for Solar Choice are calling for regulators to investigate many issues, including "how and why CEA contacted these individuals and if CEA has had any contact with the parties in the ongoing proceeding, including WEPCO."
