By David Wichner | Arizona Daily Star
State utility regulators approved new fees for Arizona Public Service Co. customers with solar-energy systems, in a decision that could ultimately affect solar customers in Tucson.
But the Arizona Corporation Commission, on its split vote Thursday, approved far lower fees than APS requested, and the charges will apply only to customers who have signed up to install solar after Dec. 31.
After two days of often contentious debate, the commission decided on a 3-2 vote to impose a monthly fee of 70 cents for each kilowatt of solar-system capacity a customer owns, or about $5 a month for a typical 7-kilowatt home solar system.
The charges are to be reviewed and may be changed based on more detailed data in APS’ next rate case.
