As NV Energy stonewalls, don’t give up fight for solar

By Charles Parrish, Las Vegas

Friday, Aug. 26, 2016 | 2 a.m.

To see the two sides of NV Energy on the rooftop solar issue, start by looking at the television ads being run by Citizens for Solar Energy Fairness. The ads state that solar companies want Nevada residents to pay higher electricity bills so the companies can take home large profits. A look at the website for Citizens for Solar Energy Fairness shows the committee is funded by NV Energy.

This is the side NV Energy is trying to keep hidden from the public. The other side is very publicly petitioning the Public Utilities Commission to grandfather in the previous solar rates for about 20 years for people who purchased solar systems prior to December 2015, the time of the PUC rule change applying new, higher solar rates to both existing and new installations.

What is one to make of these two sides that appear to be in conflict? Clearly, the arguments by the hidden side are based on calculations that failed to include the entire scope of savings enjoyed by NV Energy when rooftop solar is used; they included only the costs. A fair calculation would show that nonrooftop solar customers benefit from rooftop solar power providers. Further, these ads paid for by NV Energy are an attempt to “poison the water” against any further installation of rooftop solar systems by turning the public against them should it come up for a vote. So far, this side’s argument has prevailed with the PUC.

I believe the public may be smarter. The other side of NV Energy, which is approaching the PUC for a grandfathering rate change, appears to be an attempt to appease the most vocal opposition of NV Energy’s actions: those who have invested their money in rooftop solar systems under a mistaken belief in NV Energy’s previous policy on the future of rooftop solar in the most sunny state in our union. I would characterize this public side’s position as “get the screamers off the scene, everyone else will go back to sleep and we won’t have to deal with any more of that pesky rooftop solar stuff!”

NV Energy’s actions make a lot of sense if you are only interested in maximizing profits. I hope we the people turn this around and bring back solar.