Dive Brief:
- Warren Buffett's Nevada utility NV Energy reached its net metering cap of 235 MW late last week, according to its online tracker — a development that is set to accelerate the solar debate taking place at the PUC.
- Nevada regulators recently rejected a temporary extension to the cap because it is not within their purview. The law, which gives such authority to the legislature, orders the PUC to establish a new net metering tariff by the end of 2015.
- Nevada regulators are currently considering a new proposed net metering rate. The PUC is expected to issue a draft order on the tariff as soon as Wednesday.
Dive Insight:
The net metering debate is heating up in Nevada, where President Barack Obama and leading Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton are expected to discuss energy issues this week. The news that NV Energy has reached now its net metering cap will only add fuel to the fire.
The current law was based on the projection that the utility would only hit 235 MW in 2016, ostensibly giving the PUC enough time to develop a new tariff. NV Energy currently has a new proposed net metering tariff before the commission that includes demand and service charges.
The solar industry is concerned about the potential gap of time between hitting the old cap and establishing a new one. In a sign that reveals the state of the Nevada solar market, Vivint Solar, the second biggest U.S. rooftop solar installer, recently shut down its operations in Nevada after just two weeks in the state. The reversal was due to the inaccurate projection of when NV Energy would hit its cap and the controversy surrounding the net metering debate in the state.
