Regulators in Nevada today decided to keep net metering for utilities customers with solar panels on their homes, at least until the end of 2015.
Net metering is what it's called when utilities customers with home solar generate excess electricity from their solar panels, and sell the excess to the utility at the same rate at which people buy electricity from the utility. Over 40 of the 50 states in the US follow the net metering model. Recently one of Arizona's utilities rescinded its net metering policy. Michigan's state Senate is currently considering a bill which would overturn the state's net metering policy.
It appears that privately-owned utilities' attitude toward free enterprise is like that of most big corporations: they're for it as long as it includes monopolies and big government subsidies for them, and regulations against anyone trying to compete with them. Regulations against net metering -- even attempts at such regulations -- are one more argument for publicly owned and operated utilities. Search Google News and other information sources for net metering. It should make you angry at privately-owned utilities. Find out political candidates' stances on net metering. As I mention frequently on this blog, many politicians in the US, mostly Republicans, are owned and operated by the petrochemical industry. Petrochemical companies are still the biggest source of energy for utilities, and they want to stay that way, and they don't play fair or take climate or people's health into account.
No comments:
Post a Comment