By Rachel Leingang | Arizona Capitol Times
Solar company SolarCity filed an antitrust lawsuit against Salt River Project in Arizona federal court Monday, saying the utility’s solar demand charge was “unacceptable and unlawful.”
SRP approved an increase of 3.9 percent on ratepayers last Thursday, to be phased in by April 2016, and a solar demand charge that averages $50 per month for solar users. The utility’s approximately 15,000 current solar customers will be grandfathered into the new rate for up to 20 years.
Solar leasing companies have argued the demand charge will discourage new solar users and kill solar in SRP territory.
Related: SolarCity sues SRP for antitrust violations
SolarCity sues Salt River Project over new rate hikes on potential solar customers