Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Regulators urged to delay new rates for Nevada solar customers

NV Energy Building Exterior

Steve Marcus

Exterior view of the NV Energy building Monday, Oct. 20, 2014, in Las Vegas.

The Nevada Bureau of Consumer Protection is again asking for a delay in raising rates for rooftop solar customers to give Nevada utility regulators time to consider appeals.

The most recent request, submitted today, came after the Public Utilities Commission said in a filing Monday that it would not consider the motion for a stay until after the Friday implementation date for the new rates.

That could “result in possible confusion and whiplash in rates and possible overcharging,” Consumer Advocate Eric Witkoski said.

The commission voted last week to increase a fixed fee for solar customers and to reduce the value of credits NV Energy pays solar customers for generating excess energy.

As a result, the Nevada Bureau of Consumer Protection, led by the consumer advocate, filed a motion seeking a delay of the new rates until the PUC hears appeals and requests for clarifications. Such requests are due Jan. 8, and several solar advocates plan to submit filings.

Solar companies argue the revisions to net metering, a policy whereby NV Energy credits customers for the excess energy they generate, will devastate the industry in Nevada. Following last week’s vote, one of the nation’s largest rooftop solar providers, SolarCity, announced an end to new sales and installations in Nevada.

While the commission did not outright deny the motion for a stay, it said it would address the motions at a hearing Jan. 7 and make a decision in mid-January, leaving solar customers in the potentially confusing position of paying new rates at the start of the year, even as the rates are still being considered and clarified.

Because the full commission approved the rates, a spokesperson for the PUC said the full commission must vote on the motions. As a result, even under an expedited process, the commission could not make a decision until mid-January.

In today’s filing, the consumer advocate pushed back against this position.

He argues that during the interim period before a final order is issued, it only takes one commissioner — the presiding officer in the matter — to decide on a motion.

“The simplest and most administratively efficient approach is to stay the effectiveness of the tariffs so there is no rate change January 1, 2016, and any rate change would happen after the commission has fully considered the petitions for reconsideration,” Witkoski wrote.

“Under this approach there would only be one possible rate change for all (net-metering) customers, current and future, and it will be after the commission has had an opportunity to fully vet the issues raised on reconsideration,” he said.

According to NV Energy, there are about 17,000 net metering customers in Nevada.

Exact rates under the revised net metering regime have not been released.

The commission gave NV Energy a week to calculate new rates and expects a response by Wednesday.

Staff at the commission will then review and approve NV Energy’s proposed rates, pending any questions or discrepancies. If a stay is not granted, NV Energy will go ahead with plans to implement the rates Friday, a spokesperson said today.

The Alliance for Solar Choice also filed a motion last week requesting a delay.

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