20-year grace period proposed if rooftop-solar customers are grandfathered in
CARSON CITY — NV Energy on Friday proposed to state utility regulators that if rooftop solar customers who installed systems last year are grandfathered in under the old, more generous net metering rates by state regulators that they be given a 20-year grace period.
The latest filing by NV Energy executive Shawn Elicegui with the Nevada Public Utilities Commission would maintain the cutoff date for grandfathered rooftop solar customers at Sept. 10 of last year, however. Those who would be covered under the old rates would either have had a net metering connection or a valid, pending application on that date.
PUC Commissioner David Noble will conduct a hearing on the grandfathering issue on Monday and then forward his recommendation to the full panel of three appointees of Gov. Brian Sandoval.
Commissioners have been besieged by rooftop solar customers who believed they would be able to remain under the previous, more favorable net metering rate when the new tariffs took effect on Jan. 1. Instead, all rooftop solar customers were encompassed in the new, less generous rates.
The commission voted last month to rehear the issue and could make a final decision on Feb. 12.
Contact Sean Whaley at swhaley@reviewjournal.com or 775-461-3820. Find him on Twitter: @seanw801
