[NEWS RELEASE]
(Editor’s note: News releases are published unedited, unless they contain factual errors.)
(TUCSON) Four lawmakers in southern Arizona are asking the Arizona Corporation Commission to reject Tucson Electric Power’s attempts to stifle energy choice and competition by imposing fees on rooftop solar customers.
The utility monopoly is proposing an additional $25 to $30 in monthly charges for new solar customers, in addition to a reduction in the amount paid to rooftop solar customers for the extra electricity they send back to the grid, a practice known as net metering.
In response to this request District 2 State Senator Andrea Dalessandro, District 10 State Representative Kirsten Engel, District 4 State Representative Jesus Rubalcava, and District 4 State Representative Charlene Fernandez have all signed a letter urging the Arizona Corporation Commission to reject this request. The letter states in part:
“We believe that the additional proposal by TEP will reignite the solar wars in Arizona and perpetuate costly and contentious solar proceedings, and risks the livelihood of Arizona businesses and consumer choice in TEP’s service area.”
The TEP request comes a short time after rooftop solar companies and Arizona Public Service reached a truce after years of Solar Wars and attempts by APS to tax rooftop solar out of its coverage area. Fortunately for ratepayers in Phoenix, both sides reached an agreement that preserves solar.
District 4 State Representative Charlene Fernandez of Yuma said, “TEP’s solar rate proposal is an overreach. TEP needs to follow the guidelines laid out by the Arizona Corporation Commission in its Value of Solar Decision, and not levy further charges on rooftop solar customers. TEP ratepayers deserve competitive options to reduce their carbon footprint, contribute to our grid and buy less power from the utility by going solar.”
While the December Value of Solar Decision eliminates net metering and reduces the export credit for new solar customers, it does not endorse excessive fees on rooftop solar customers as is being proposed by TEP.
To read the Arizona Legislators’ letter in opposition to the TEP rate proposal visit www.StopTEP.com. If approved, TEP’s solar penalty would:
Ignore the decision set forth by the Arizona Corporation Commission in the Value of Solar proceeding last December.
Punish solar customers with high, unjustified charges.
Send a clear signal to the rooftop solar industry that Arizona is closed for business.
Reward TEP for attacking customer choice and competition.
An Arizona Corporation Commission hearing on TEP’s request will begin at a June 26th hearing at 10:00 a.m., at the Commission’s offices, Room 222, 400 West Congress in Tucson.
Opposition to this tax on the sun is growing and bi-partisan. Opponents include Former Democratic State Representative for District 9 Victoria Steele, Former Republican Congressman Barry Goldwater Jr., and former Democratic Congressman Ron Barber. A recent editorial by Goldwater and Barber stated, “Rooftop solar gives ratepayers energy choice. It saves money for all of us in the long run and it’s good for the environment. The sun shines brightly all over Arizona. Don’t let Tucson Electric Power cast a shadow on Southern Arizona.”
Steele said, “I sincerely hope the Arizona Corporation Commission sees the TEP solar charge request for what it is, an attempt to tax the sun and shut down solar power in Tucson.”
Learn more about the TEP rate hike request by going to www.StopTEP.com
