Net metering battle might be brewing in Mississippi
Mississippi utilities calling for a rehearing
Utility companies in Mississippi have asked for a rehearing to discuss a new solar net metering rule passed by the Mississippi Public Service Commission (PSC) back in December.
Late last year, the Mississippi PSC approved a new rule for homeowners with rooftop solar that allowed those homeowners to sell back excess electricity generated by their solar panels to the utilities for 7 to 7.5 cents per kilowatt hour.
Mississippi electric power associations want rehearing on net metering rule. https://t.co/j3a9A73R7v #mswatchdog #mspolitics
— Mississippi Watchdog (@MissWatchdog) January 21, 2016
The 7 to 7.5 cents per kilowatt hour was a compromise between the 10 cents per kilowatt hour requested by net metering customers and the 4 to 4.5 cents per kilowatt hour requested by Entergy, a utility company in the state.
The utilities want to revisit that compromise, and the going rate that was determined.
Net metering debates becoming commonplace
Not only are debates centered on net metering nothing new for U.S. states, but those debates seem to be picking up steam as 2016 begins. Net metering discussions are currently a popular topic among solar customers, government officials and utility companies in California, Nevada and Maine, among other states.
Future unclear
While some solar advocates thought that the new solar rules in Mississippi that have taken effect in the recent past would propel the solar industry in the state, debates like this are putting a temporary hold on large expansion.
Source → Watchdog.org
