NewEnergyNews: TODAY’S STUDY: The Fight For Solar Right Now/

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Gleanings from the web and the world, condensed for convenience, illustrated for enlightenment, arranged for impact...

The challenge now: To make every day Earth Day.

YESTERDAY

THINGS-TO-THINK-ABOUT WEDNESDAY, August 23:

  • TTTA Wednesday-ORIGINAL REPORTING: The IRA And The New Energy Boom
  • TTTA Wednesday-ORIGINAL REPORTING: The IRA And the EV Revolution
  • THE DAY BEFORE

  • Weekend Video: Coming Ocean Current Collapse Could Up Climate Crisis
  • Weekend Video: Impacts Of The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Current Collapse
  • Weekend Video: More Facts On The AMOC
  • THE DAY BEFORE THE DAY BEFORE

    WEEKEND VIDEOS, July 15-16:

  • Weekend Video: The Truth About China And The Climate Crisis
  • Weekend Video: Florida Insurance At The Climate Crisis Storm’s Eye
  • Weekend Video: The 9-1-1 On Rooftop Solar
  • THE DAY BEFORE THAT

    WEEKEND VIDEOS, July 8-9:

  • Weekend Video: Bill Nye Science Guy On The Climate Crisis
  • Weekend Video: The Changes Causing The Crisis
  • Weekend Video: A “Massive Global Solar Boom” Now
  • THE LAST DAY UP HERE

    WEEKEND VIDEOS, July 1-2:

  • The Global New Energy Boom Accelerates
  • Ukraine Faces The Climate Crisis While Fighting To Survive
  • Texas Heat And Politics Of Denial
  • --------------------------

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    Founding Editor Herman K. Trabish

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    WEEKEND VIDEOS, June 17-18

  • Fixing The Power System
  • The Energy Storage Solution
  • New Energy Equity With Community Solar
  • Weekend Video: The Way Wind Can Help Win Wars
  • Weekend Video: New Support For Hydropower
  • Some details about NewEnergyNews and the man behind the curtain: Herman K. Trabish, Agua Dulce, CA., Doctor with my hands, Writer with my head, Student of New Energy and Human Experience with my heart

    email: herman@NewEnergyNews.net

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      A tip of the NewEnergyNews cap to Phillip Garcia for crucial assistance in the design implementation of this site. Thanks, Phillip.

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    Pay a visit to the HARRY BOYKOFF page at Basketball Reference, sponsored by NewEnergyNews and Oil In Their Blood.

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  • WEEKEND VIDEOS, August 24-26:
  • Happy One-Year Birthday, Inflation Reduction Act
  • The Virtual Power Plant Boom, Part 1
  • The Virtual Power Plant Boom, Part 2

    Monday, November 06, 2017

    TODAY’S STUDY: The Fight For Solar Right Now

    50 States of Solar; Q3 2017 Quarterly Report

    Autumn Proudlove Brian Lips David Sarkisian Achyut Shrestha, October 2017 (North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center)

    In the third quarter of 2017, 41 states plus DC took a total of 142 actions related to distributed solar policy and rate design (Figure 1). Table 1 provides a summary of state actions related to net metering, rate design, and solar ownership during Q3 2017. Of the 142 actions catalogued, the most common were related to residential fixed charge and minimum bill increases (44), followed by net metering (36), and solar valuation or net metering studies (23).

    Top Five Solar Policy Developments Of Q3 2017

    Five of the quarter’s top policy developments are highlighted below.

    NV Energy Submits Proposal to Implement A.B. 405 Net Metering Changes

    After terminating net metering in 2015, the Nevada Legislature restored it with A.B. 405, which the Governor signed in June 2017. The Public Utilities Commission of Nevada held expedited proceedings to implement the policy changes. In its July filing, NV Energy presented tariffs that represented net billing, rather than net metering, and proposed an increase in the fixed charge for all residential customers. In a September decision, the Commission rejected NV Energy's tariffs, arguing that the plain language of A.B. 405 requires a return to traditional net metering, which utilizes a monthly netting period.

    Utah Begins Transition Away From Net Metering

    In September 2017, the Utah Public Service Commission approved a settlement agreement ending retail rate net metering for new DG customers starting November 15th. A transition program with a reduced export credit rate will begin for new DG customers at this time, until a more permanent export credit rate is determined through an in-depth proceeding. The export credit proceeding is expected to conclude within three years.

    Kansas Corporation Commission Makes DG Policy Determination

    The Kansas Corporation Commission approved a settlement in September 2017, making a general determination that residential DG customer rates should be cost-based and not include any unquantifiable benefits. The Commission also noted that it is appropriate to create a separate customer class for DG customers and apply demand or DG capacity-based charges. However, any changes to tariffs will take place in utility-specific filings.

    Idaho Power Requests a Separate Customer Class for DG Customers

    In July 2017, Idaho Power filed a proposal to separate new residential and general service customers with on-site generation into unique customer classes. Idaho Power is not currently proposing any rate changes for these customers, but the utility requested that a generic docket be opened to develop a new compensation structure for customer-sited DERs. Idaho is one of five states without statewide net metering or other DER compensation rules.

    Illinois Begins Implementation of Community Solar Program

    Pursuant to the Future Energy Jobs Act, the Illinois Power Agency published a draft version of its Long-Term Renewable Resources Procurement plan in September 2017, while utilities filed proposed community net metering tariffs. The new tariffs compensate participants at the retail electric supply rate, but do not include transmission and distribution components. The draft plan includes funding for a low-income community solar incentive program and a competitive bidding program for low-income community solar pilot projects.

    The Big Picture: Insights From Q3 2017

    States Taking an Incremental Approach to Net Metering Reforms

    In several states’ recent net metering decisions, the principle of gradualism has emerged as a common thread. For example, state utilities commissions in Louisiana and New Hampshire opted to make minor changes to their net metering policies this year while more comprehensive reforms are considered. In Q3 2017, the Utah Public Service Commission approved a settlement agreement including a net metering transition tariff that will be in effect while parties determine the export credit rate structure over a three-year period.

    Diverse Community Solar Credit Rate Structures Under Consideration

    Following in the footsteps of net metering, community solar programs are beginning to deviate more and more from traditional retail rate crediting. Furthermore, states are taking quite diverse approaches to community solar credit rates, just as they are with net metering rates. Minnesota, New York, and Oregon are utilizing value-based approaches, while Hawaii is considering time varying rates, and Illinois and North Carolina are using rates based upon avoided cost or energy supply costs.

    New Efforts to Create Separate Customer Classes for DG Customers

    Utilities, as well as some policymakers and regulators, are showing increased interest in the separation of DG customers into a unique customer class. Utilities in Idaho and Iowa recently requested the creation of a new customer class for DG customers without proposing any changes to rates for these customers at this time. Legislation in Montana opens the door to this type of differentiation, and regulators in Kansas recently issued a determination that it is appropriate to separate DG customers into a separate class.

    Questions Emerge About Solar-Plus-Storage Compensation

    Multiple states, primarily in the northeast, are considering the eligibility of solar-plus-storage systems to participate in net metering. Following multiple requests for advisory rulings on the topic, the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities opened an inquiry into solar-plus-storage net metering eligibility in early October, while Rhode Island and New York are also addressing this issue.

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