Dive Brief:
- Arizona Public Service will propose higher fees on rooftop solar, The Arizona Republic reports, possibly raising charges from about $5 to $21 per month.
- Though APS would not confirm the filing, the Arizona Corporation Commission indicated it was expecting the utility to propose changes.
- Solar advocates say the utility is trying to tax rooftop solar out of its service territory, but the utility maintains higher fees are necessary to avoid subsidization by non-solar customers.
Dive Insight:
The Arizona Republic reports APS is preparing a rate filing that would raise solar fees, and though the utility is still mum on the specifics, officials at the state's corporation commission say they are expecting a filing. Solar advocacy group Tell Utilities Solar Won't Be Killed (TUSK) issued a statement saying it expects the fees to rise to more than $20 per month.
Two years ago APS proposed much higher fees, but regulators settled on an approximately $5 per-month charge.
"Rooftop solar provides savings to thousands of customers, it provides energy choice to utility ratepayers, and it provides jobs for thousands of Arizonans," TUSK Chairman Barry Goldwater Jr. said in a statement. "The quickest way to kill a thriving industry is to tax it and over-regulate it. Sadly, that seems to be APS' objective."
APS issued a statement in response, saying "the real news is a trend story, taking place all across the country. Customers are using electricity differently, and they need a modern electricity grid to support continued innovation and the growth of renewable energy. That means the way electricity is priced also needs to evolve over time to reflect how customers actually use the grid."
"Virtually all serious policy makers, including the ACC in its 2013 decision, recognize the need for this change," the utility said.
