PHOENIX (AP) – Arizona regulators on Thursday voted to adopt a roughly $5 monthly fee for customers of the state’s largest utility who install rooftop solar panels in a move that had the solar industry declaring victory over what it saw as an effort to topple its business.
The Arizona Corporation Commission’s vote came after two days of talks and testimony from citizens and representatives on both sides of the issue as Arizona Public Service sought a monthly rate increase for solar customers of $50 to $100.
The commission’s decision was being watched by utilities nationwide. Utilities in other states have been pushing similar arguments and seeking the same sorts of rate increases, so a victory in Arizona could have created momentum elsewhere.
