By Al Macias | KJZZ
Arizona Public Service didn’t get what it asked for from the Arizona Corporation Commission. The state’s largest utility asked the commission to increase the amount it charges the owners of rooftop solar units, and the request was opposed by the solar industry.
APS says there are about 18,000 homes with solar units. The fight was over the issue of net metering, the process by which APS credits those customers for excess power generated.
APS wanted to lower the rate, which would have raised the homeowners’ monthly bill. Solar industry representatives testified that lowering the rate would kill the demand for roof top panels and cripple the industry.
After two days of hearings, the commission voted to raise the bills but only by about $5, a fraction of what the utility wanted.
