CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — Nevada regulators are set to vote on whether to suspend controversial new rates for rooftop solar power customers.
The Public Utilities Commission will consider requests Wednesday from solar company groups and the state consumer advocate to put a stay on the rate hike that took effect Jan. 1.
Commissioners released a draft order indicating they oppose the requests and don't think the rate hike will cause the harm that solar companies say it will.
The commission unanimously approved a rate hike for customers with rooftop solar panels in December. Proponents say it corrects a cost-shift that has traditional energy customers subsidizing about 17,000 solar customers.
Rooftop solar companies say they've laid off hundreds of employees and stopped selling panels in Nevada because of the hike.