Solar industry presents petitions to PUC

We Are Solar members deliver 31,650 signed and digitally signed petitions to the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada during a PUC meeting Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2015, in Las Vegas. The petitions represented those who were in favor of fair metering rules. Ronda Churchill/Las Vegas Review-Journal

Demi Falcon, center, hands out signed petition cards to fellow We Are Solar members outside the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2015, in Las Vegas. We Are Solar presented to the PUC 31,650 signed and digitally signed petitions representing those who were in favor of fair metering rules. Ronda Churchill/Las Vegas Review-Journal

Tina Past, center, checks in near fellow We Are Solar members who hold signed postcards outside the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2015, in Las Vegas. We Are Solar presented to the PUC 31,650 signed and digitally signed petitions representing those who were in favor of fair metering rules. Ronda Churchill/Las Vegas Review-Journal

Tina Past, who is surrounded by petitions representing those who are in favor of fair metering rules, speaks in favor of solar energy during a Public Utilities Commission of Nevada meeting Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2015, in Las Vegas. We Are Solar presented to the PUC 31,650 signed and digitally signed petitions. Ronda Churchill/Las Vegas Review-Journal

Tina Past, who is surrounded by petitions representing those who are in favor of fair metering rules, speaks in favor of solar energy during a Public Utilities Commission of Nevada meeting Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2015, in Las Vegas. We Are Solar presented to the PUC 31,650 signed and digitally signed petitions. Ronda Churchill/Las Vegas Review-Journal

A close up of a petition card is shown at the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2015, in Las Vegas. We Are Solar presented to the PUC 31,650 signed and digitally signed petitions representing those who were in favor of fair metering rules. Ronda Churchill/Las Vegas Review-Journal

The solar industry presented 31,650 signatures to the PUC at its meeting Wednesday asking the PUC to set long-term solar net metering rules that give Nevadans the ability to choose clean energy, and allow Nevada’s solar economy to continue to grow and create new jobs.

SolarCity spokeswoman Chandler Sherman said the signatures represent the largest petition ever submitted to the PUC.

The industry and its allies argue that a new rate proposed for net metering solar customers will eliminate the industry in Nevada.

NV Energy argues that regular customers subsidize net metering customers under the current rate. New metering customers receive a credit for the excess electricity they generate from their systems.

The state’s Public Utilities Commission will consider the issue on Dec. 22.