Dive Brief:

• Minnesota regulators Wednesday approved a methodology for finding the value of rooftop solar, making Minnesota the first state to adopt a “value of solar” tariff.
• Minnesota's investor-owned utilities can use the new tariff instead of their retail rate when crediting their customers with solar on their roofs.
• Utilities have argued that paying the retail rate unfairly shifts costs to customers without solar. Solar advocates contend that the retail rate doesn't reflect the true value of solar.

Dive Insight:

This step by Minnesota comes as other state utility commissions are reassessing their net metering policies with a focus on finding out the value of people having rooftop solar. Minnesota's “value of solar” tariff may move us a step closer to an answer.