North Carolina Regulators Issue Order to Strengthen the State’s Rooftop Solar Market
RALEIGH, N.C. — On Thursday, the North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC) issued final orders in its net metering “Smart $aver” docket. The Commission approved a three-year glide path for solar customers to transition from monthly credits to a more dynamic time-of-use rate structure that incentivizes the use of solar when it is most valuable. The order also directs Duke Energy to open a solar plus storage program within 90 days, approves a $0.36/watt incentive to go solar, and approves another monetary incentive to encourage residential energy storage installations.
Policy-Driven Supply Constraints Cause Steep Drop in Solar Installations in 2022
WASHINGTON, D.C. and HOUSTON, TX — The United States added 20.2 gigawatts (GW) of new solar capacity in 2022, a 16% decrease from 2021. This was due in large part to an investigation into new anti-circumvention tariffs by the U.S. Department of Commerce, as well as equipment detainments by Customs and Border Protection under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act.
Georgia PSC Vote Prioritizes Utility Profits Over Residents and Solar Customers
ATLANTA and WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) voted on a final order in the Georgia Power Company (GPC) rate case. The order fails to expand the successful rooftop solar pilot program that the PSC created in 2020. Instead, the PSC adopted GPC’s anti-solar proposals to retain an instantaneous netting structure and impose a much higher and unjustified $100 interconnection fee for new solar customers, while approving a rate increase across the board for all ratepayers.
Solar and Storage Industry Statement on CPUC's Revised Net Metering Proposal
SACRAMENTO and WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) revealed its revised proposal to change the state’s net metering rules. Following is a statement from Sean Gallagher, vice president of state and regulatory affairs for the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA):
REPORT: Shoring Up Cybersecurity Protocols for Distributed Energy Resources
Photo courtesy of SunPower For grid planners and operators working in today’s digital age, there are few words more frightening than cyberattack.
Analysis: Georgia Power Company Overcharges Customers by $1.87 Billion
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Joint testimony led by SEIA shows that for the last 11 years, Georgia Power Company has been drastically overcharging all utility customers, far exceeding the revenue level set by the Georgia Public Service Commission.
Mississippi Adopts New Net Metering Rules, Takes Step Toward Equitable Growth of Residential Solar Market
JACKSON, MS and WASHINGTON, D.C. — Yesterday, the Mississippi Public Service Commission (PSC) voted to adopt its updated Net Metering and Interconnection Rules. The new rules expand the state’s net metering program by raising the participation cap for rooftop solar and prioritizing solar adoption for low-to-moderate income (LMI) customers, among other steps. Following is a statement by Will Giese, Southeast regional director for the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA):
U.S. Solar Industry Sees Worst Quarter Since 2020
The U.S. solar industry had its lowest quarter of installations since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, according to the U.S. Solar Market Insight report released today by SEIA and Wood Mackenzie.
Governor Youngkin Signs Energy Generation Property Tax Exemption Into Law, Strengthening Energy Freedom in Virginia
RICHMOND, VA — Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin signed a bill into law today which creates a property tax exemption for residential and mixed-use solar energy systems up to 25 kilowatts in size. This new law expands energy freedom for consumers and creates an additional incentive to do business in the Commonwealth. Following is a statement by Will Giese, southeast regional director for the Solar Energy Industries Association:
Florida Legislation Undercuts Rooftop Solar, Allows Monopoly Utilities to Charge Exorbitant Fees on Thousands of Floridians
WASHINGTON D.C. — The Florida Legislature passed a bill today (HB 741) that will undercut the state’s growing rooftop solar industry by phasing down net metering and allowing utilities to charge excessive fees on over 100,000 solar customers in the state. Under the legislation, utilities will be able to levy unlimited fees on solar customers by 2026, giving them a stronger monopoly hold over Floridians. Following is a statement from Will Giese, southeast regional director for the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA):