On January 28, the Arizona Center for Law in the Public Interest (ACLPI) and Earthjustice submitted an appeal to the Arizona Court of Appeals on behalf of the voice of Solar who disputed the decision of the Arizona Corporation Commission that has a discriminatory indictment for customers with a solar -Energy approves. The solar costs are imposed by the Utility Arizona Public Service (APS) and results in higher electricity prices for households with solar panels. APS is a regulated utility that offers power to around 1.4 million households and companies in Arizona.
The indictment, which APS calls a ‘schedule access costs’, was first approved by a 4-1 ACC vote on 5 March 2024 when the ACC also approved a rate increase for APS customers. As a result of the ACC decision, the approximately 200,000 APS customers with solar energy now have to pay more than their neighbors without solar energy for equal quantities of electricity service.
De ACC carried out a six-day rehearsal in October and November 2024. During that rehearsal, the voice of solar energy and other parties have repeatedly demonstrated that the solar rate is illegal and discriminatory according to both state and federal legislation, including the Constitution from Arizona and the regulatory policy of the public utility company ACT (PURPA), which is designed to guarantee fair competition and to promote renewable energy sources. The ACC never decided on December 31, 2024 to enforce the solar, despite the lack of factual support and illegality.
“Rehearsing was an opportunity to further investigate the justifications of APS for imposing an indictment of Zonne -Energy customers,” said Voice Solar’s interior West Regulatory Director, Kate Bowman. “Now, with a more complete picture of the errors inherent in the sun costs, we hope that the Arizona Court of Appeals will apply the law and make this unfair and illegal tax on sun customers invalid.”
As the only regulated usefulness in the country that imposes a discriminatory solar cargo, the solar-specific charge of APS undermines the ability of houses and companies to invest in clean energy.
“While families from Arizona are confronted with rising energy bills and record -breaking heat, solar panels on the roof are one of their only options to reduce their dependence on the monopolistic utilities that have saddled them with the tariff increase after the tariff increase,” said Bowman. “By approving access to the network, the ACC undermines the right of Arizonans to choose energy dependence. We will continue to combat this discriminatory treatment until all Arizonans have equal access to clean energy sources and honest utility rates. “
News item from STEM SOLAR
