Dive Brief:
- The Utah Public Service Commission last week approved a net metering settlement between Rocky Mountain Power and solar interests. The current policy ends Nov. 15.
- The regulators approved the proposed settlement without any modifications. A provision in the settlement allowed all stakeholders to walk away if any changes were made. The agreement sets a three-year transition period to provide export credits for rooftop solar customers, as the utility studies a new method of compensation after a value of solar study concludes.
- The PSC said its approval hinged upon the broad support exhibited by all involved, but some environmental groups vowed to keep a close eye on future proceedings.
Dive Insight:
Utah is the latest state to hash out a settlement in the face of a rancorous debate over net metering policy. The settlement grandfathers in current customers for about 20 years. New customers in the transition period would receive credits of $0.092/kWh. The average homeowner pays about a penny more than that, The Salt Lake Tribune notes.
New reimbursement rates for customers after the transition period will be determined by a value of solar study that RMP agreed to perform and will wrap up by 2020. Environmental group HEAL Utah plans to introduce new methods for calculating the value of solar with environmental benefits added in to ensure a healthier credit for solar customers, The Salt Lake Tribune reports.
More than a dozen parties signed on to the settlement, including the Utah Division of Public Utilities, Utah Office of Consumer Services, Rocky Mountain Power, Vivint Solar, Utah Clean Energy and the Utah Solar Energy Association.
The settlement follows a suite of agreements between solar companies and utilities to resolve net metering disputes. New York was the first, followed by Colorado, New Hampshire and Arizona.