The Wall Street Journal
In response to your Nov. 20 editorial “Arizona’s Solar Flare-Up”:
Rooftop solar power is never “export[ed] to the transmission grid.” The vast majority of power is consumed directly in the home and never touches the grid. The rest of the power goes to neighbors, using only the local distribution system. This saves utilities expensive transmission costs, which every calculation in the editorial ignores. Buying less power from utilities is good for everyone—except for monopolies that oppose competition.
Solar companies do not “pocket” net-metering savings. All net-metering credits go directly to homeowners.
While you defend the rights of the “poor,” even invoking food stamps in the name of class warfare, 57% of Arizona’s rooftop solar installations occur in areas that are at or below the state’s median income level.
Let’s be real about the phony cost-shift claims. Arizona Public Service’s initial proposal would have resulted only in APS pocketing more money. APS did not even suggest returning these solar taxes to nonsolar customers. Does that sound like a company concerned about costs shifts?
If you’d like to discuss energy issues, contact Court Rich, director of Rose Law Group’s Renewable Energy Department at crich@roselawgroup.com
