NV Energy, a regulated electricity monopoly in Nevada, appears to be under attack from all sides these days.
The state’s skyrocketing solar industry is demanding the governor expand the means to make household solar more affordable.
And several major power users are looking to abandon the NV Energy grid to seek cheaper power or to create their own.
What’s going to happen?
Kyle Roerink, reporter for the Las Vegas Sun covering the issue in Carson City, said if the major power users can come up with a big enough payment – Switch is being asked to pay $27 million to leave the power grid – then they will be able to.
At the same time, he said fears that rates for household users will increase to make up for the lost revenue for NV Energy are unfounded.
Meanwhile, it appears none of the state’s lawmakers want to touch “net-metering” – this is the program that allows household solar energy producers to sell back excess electricity to NV Energy.
So what’s likely, Roerink said, is that they will push the decision to the Nevada Public Utilities Commission. The commission will have to then decide if it wants to increase the rate of net metering in Nevada.
And if it does increase the net-metering rate, it is likely to consider adding a “fee” onto those with rooftop solar panels. The end result of that fee, Roerink warned, is that it would mostly negate the economic benefit of installing solar panels in the first place.
Kyle Roerink, reporter, Las Vegas Sun
