By Hugh Hallman, former mayor of Tempe, is local counsel for the Alliance for Solar
The question to ask in the debate launched by Arizona Public Service Co. about rooftop-solar energy is easy: What is the “right” price that APS should pay for energy produced by rooftop-solar panels?
Essentially, APS asked the Arizona Corporation Commission to decrease the price APS pays homeowners for rooftop-solar energy. APS says it “pays” too much for this power generated by rooftop-solar panels. APS says it is worried about homeowners without solar panels being “forced” to “subsidize” those with solar panels.
APS’ “solution”? Charge extra fees to homeowners with rooftop-solar panels and then keep the extra money. Who does that help besides APS?
APS can only solve what it claims is a “subsidy problem” in a full, transparent and public general rate case before the commission. That’s how rates are set for all consumers, and how we make sure monopolies like APS don’t make windfall profits. All APS now needs to do is ask the commission to place its proposal into the next full, open and transparent rate case. That’s all I want here.
