"I’ve never seen such a hostility from residents as I have on this issue."

[kristopher]

Push To Impose Extra Fees On Customers Who Install Solar Panels Sparks Outrage In Utah
BY KILEY KROH JUNE 11, 2014 AT 3:01 PM UPDATED: JUNE 11, 2014 AT 3:08 PM

...“I’ve never seen such a hostility from residents as I have on this issue,” said Richards, partner at Woods Cross, Utah-based InterMountain Wind and Solar. “I’m amazed at the intensity I’m seeing.”

The cause of all the uproar? Utah’s main utility, Rocky Mountain Power, has proposed a new fee on its residential solar customers. While solar users make up a small percentage of RMP’s customer base — only about 2,000 people — that number is growing quickly and the prospect of paying an additional $4.25 a month is not sitting well with residents and solar installers.

Utah’s fight is indicative of a rapidly escalating tension: As rooftop solar becomes more and more mainstream, driven largely by middle class customers, utility companies across the country are looking to soften the blow to their business model by charging solar customers a monthly fee.

On the surface, it’s a heated debate over the immediate value of solar power — who pays, who benefits, and how to make the situation equitable — but the core issue is really the increasing likelihood that distributed generation sources, like rooftop solar, will completely upend the traditional utility business model.

Mike Rossetti, a resident of Draper, Utah, took the decision to invest in solar power very seriously...

http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2014/06/11/3445764/utah-solar-fee-outrage/

[1StrongBlackMan]

1. I would think that ...

states with large rural populations would be all for the self-sufficiency that alternative energy (e.g., solar) gives and would oppose anything that gets in the way.

[Blanks]

7. You would especially think that small towns...

That have been decimated by the loss of family farms over the last couple of decades would strongly encourage anything that has the potential to provide income to regular folks.

It isn't even just the jobs created installing the panels, but a family with enough panels has an added income - with enough panels, a family might be able to afford not having to commute to a larger city for their job.

The perfect opportunity to bring some of these small towns back to life.

[AtheistCrusader]

10. Co-ops are the key.

To hell with regional, centralized power generation.

[1StrongBlackMan]

11. And more ...

family farms and rural residences with solar aren't as vulnerable to Power Companies' games.

[zonkers]

23. I hope no state ever get hosed for 40 billion like CA did in 2001 by Enron.

40 billion. As we currently experience the most severe drought ever recorded.. I cant help think how that money could have gone into desalinization projects.

[sulphurdunn]

14. Follow the $$$$$

Whoever pays the bigger bribes usually carries the day.

[defacto7]

21. Utah is not a typical rural population.

Most of Utah's population is urban, the rest is open unusable land, grazing or mining. The energy is probably the cheapest in the country and It's that way on purpose. Utah wants fossil fuel to be the only energy source and they subsidize it heavily. Alternative energy use if fine as along as it is not competitive with Utah fossil fuel sources. That way Utah can use alternatives as a token to show how progressive they are and cover up the fact that they are owned and own the fossil fuel controls in this state. They practically gave away massive amounts of energy and huge amounts of water to the new NSA facility to show, "how patriotic" Utah is. Those are the actual words used by the NSA.

In reality, alternative sources of energy is considered a blight to be swept out of Utah as it gets to be more interesting.

[unblock]

2. this does seem pretty outrageous.

if their point is that those drawing less electricity from the utility pay a smaller share of the fixed costs, then they should vary the fee based on usage, regardless of how the customer achieves lower usage. that is, raise your overall prices, then give a small credit to anyone who uses more than a certain amount of electricity per month.

whatever extra electricity the customer gets from solar is none of the utility's business and to place a direct fee on it is an attempt to charge rent on someone else's property.


hey, maybe my local restaurant should send a bill to everyone in town who installs cooking equipment in their own home. after all, it means eating out less, right?

[kristopher]

9. Most utilities already charge a line item set fee for fixed costs.

This is extra tacked on to target solar. It is part of ALEC's #1 policy goal this year - stopping renewables. Other strategies include things like attacks on policies requiring states to meet a percentage of their generation with renewables by a certain date.

ALEC
American Legislative Exchange Council

[Wellstone ruled]

3. This is what a Theocracy looks like.

Remember this,it's all about the money in Utard Land. F--- the populace it's all about money. LDS=GOP=screw the peons.

[defacto7]

24. Believe it or not....

Utah is synonymous to Mormonism. It is mostly a theocracy and that is what they want for the rest of the country. That fact is not hidden all that well these days either. I live here.

[Atman]

4. So this will push people to go completely off-grid.

It can be done. A good generator for back-up. Then tell the utilities to f**k off.

Only trouble is, there was an article posted recently about a home in Florida (where else?) that went off-grid, everything including water (collected rainwater, recycled graywater), 100% solar. The utilities got upset that they weren't collecting any fees from her so they placed a lien on her home saying she had to hook up whether or not she actually used the utilities. Said it was a "safety" issue. That will be the next step...they'll just write laws saying you must be connected to the grid in order to maintain the safety of your home, or some such b.s. As long as there is money to be made (or lost) they'll find a way to screw you over. Assimilate or die! Or at least, pay.

[kristopher]

8. I remember that one, but it's very different

IIRC in that case the individual was thumbing their nose at basic sanitation policies in a densely populated environment.

[kelliekat44]

5. Utilities will take to their GOP state and Congress official who will make laws to allow them to

charge these fees, while on the other end, the government gives tax breaks for those who cut energy costs. Citizens just won't be able to win unless the government makes solar panel mandatory on all new home...and we all know how far that will go.

[eShirl]

6. Freedom isn't free (tm)

[FiveGoodMen]

16. These days, it isn't even available in many locations!

[Maedhros]

25. Not available to basic subscribers, but if you can afford it you can upgrade. [n/t]

[Mr.Bill]

12. It's finally happening.

They are taxing the sunlight.

[toby jo]

13. Nice to see Utah's actually got some outrage.

[packman]

15. The utility company

Really needs to shove it where the sun doesn't shine.

[KansDem]

18. "...shove it where the sun doesn't shine"

Would that be fee-based?

[TheJames]

27. Duzy?

[Spider Jerusalem]

17. They should probably get credits

home solar frequently generates more energy than is used and the excess goes back into the grid.

[dem in texas]

19. This is coming from the Koch Brothers

A large majority of their income comes from oil and coal related industries and they are the drivers behind imposing extra fees on solar panel installations. They tried it in Kansas where they are based and got push back. I think they were successful in Oklahoma. Look for more of this as more people are install solar systems and also because the price of natural gas has gone down.

[GentryDixon]

20. The sad fact is the utility is double dipping.

I voluntarily support the Rocky Mountain Power Blue Sky program https://www.rockymountainpower.net/env/bsre.html. I contribute monthly to buy shares in renewable energy sources. So on one hand, they are getting funds from this program, and on the other they are charging the customer who is actually creating the renewable energy. Sweet deal.

[pinto]

22. Residential solar is growing at a good pace here, CA ~ 15 miles from the coast.

Just far enough inland to be out of the marine layer zone for the most part.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

26. Thomas Friedman - must see tv

From last night a very optimistic exchange on many issues, but especially renewable energy and its true value and place in the future.

http://www.charlierose.com/watch/60404405

[quakerboy]

28. Do they charge power stations fees for connecting to the grid?

I'd be interested to know. Do the various Coal, Gas, Hydro, and Nuclear power plants get charged a fee for connecting to the grid?

[kristopher]

31. Homeowners are charged the cost of connecting to the grid.

[Exposethefrauds]

37. Yup big time too. A friend built a house The power company charged him $5000 to run power from

The road to his house a grand total of 525 feet.

When I had a house built in 94 I was charged $3000 by the county for a 12' PVC pipe connection to the sewer. Plus the monthly water and sewer fee which the sewer fee was double your water fee

Glad I am on private well now

[freshwest]

29. More red state, ALEC legislated blues. GOTV or it can happen in our blue states, too.

We encourage solar homes by incentives as it's a big expense for most homeowners. Looking to the future and protecting the environment is more worthy.

[PatrynXX]

30. Happening in Iowa

although supposedly it's supposed to be inspected by someone agreed upon by the electric company and they never report their findings to said company so company was gonna cut the guy off. Many of these guys are both left and right and it gets ugly when it's right vs right X_X

[Uncle Joe]

32. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, kristopher.

[djean111]

33. Solar energy is a disruptor for fossil fuel and nuclear energy profit models.

It will be fought tooth and nail, and there will be many additional charges piled on to make up the difference in profits.
Smaller local grids are the answer, I believe. Less open to terrorists and widespread outages, too.

I have read some apologists try to say we should think of the retirement funds invested in fossil and nuclear power, but I say move your investments. That's a bullshit reason to try and smother solar or make it just as expensive.

[IllinoisBirdWatcher]

34. Traditional business model??? So TV networks should charge everyone $4.95 per mo for NOT watching

their "traditional model" programming.

And electric car and bicycle users should pay big oil $4.95 per month for NOT buying gas.

[hvn_nbr_2]

35. It's like subsidizing buggy whip makers

A monthly fee to the fossil fuel industry for using non-fossil fuel is about the same as if the buggy whip manufacturers were able to charge you a monthly fee for using a car or a bicycle.

[FiveGoodMen]

36. Reminds me of the Mafia

Whatever goes on, they expect a cut.