On September 17, the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada (PUCN) approved a proposal from Nevada Power Company and Sierra Pacific Power that shifts to 15 minutes nets for solar owners and adds compulsory demand costs to all customers. According to STEM SOLAR, the approved order cannot contain recommendations from the solar industry and interest groups that would have kept fair net measurement, reject unfair demand costs and expand programs for households with a low income.
Solar energy proponents say that the accepted proposal for utility companies directly undermines the Senate Account 405, a bill that was determined in 2017 that the rights of solar customers protects and the value of the credits for exported energy. In the proposal, the utilities asked to change the network period of a monthly period up to 15 minutes and to apply mandatory daily demand costs for all customers of residential and small general services. Instead of balancing solar production against the use over a full month, customers now only get credit for surplus energy within each 15 -minute window, according to Solar United Buren.
“Approving the demand costs and 15 minutes of nets is contrary to the intention of SB-405 and threatens the affordability and fairness of solar energy on the roof,” said Chauntille Roberts, regional director of Solar for the West Interieur. “We are very concerned about the impact that this will have on families, and we weigh all the options to defend the rights of customers in Nevada.”
News item from STEM SOLAR
