APSC’s Review of Net Metering Could Have Negative Impact on Rooftop Solar Customers in Arkansas

In 2015 the Arkansas General Assembly directed the Arkansas Public Service Commission (APSC) to review rules for net metering.  Net metering is a crediting mechanism whereby electric customers with rooftop solar panels are compensated from excess energy they sell to the electric grid.  Some utilities have argued that net metering allows customers with rooftop solar panels to unfairly shift the cost of grid upkeep to those without rooftop panels, while solar advocates want the APSC to look at the full benefit of solar.

This debate has played out in the State of Nevada where regulators increased fixed fees for rooftop panel owners and reduced the retail net metering rate for the same customers.  The Nevada regulators did not grandfather existing rooftop panel customers, which ultimately hurt the development of the solar industry in that state.  The APSC expressed support for a grandfather clause to protect Arkansas rooftop panel customers, which number in the hundreds, but one utility said that such a clause is in violation of Act 827.

For more information on the debate between the utilities and solar advocates over the future of net metering in Arkansas click here.