Friends with solar electric systems on Tucson Electric Power’s grid, you might have heard about TEP’s new bill design.
Unfortunately, these bills provide inaccurate information for solar customers on net metering. Under their “2 Ways to Save” section, TEP suggests switching to time-of-use and/or demand rates. You can see what it looks like on the left side of the image below.
A recent TEP bill for a solar customer with net metering.
Very few (if any) solar customers will save money by switching to these rates, and it’s a bad idea to switch without doing a detailed analysis of the impact on your bills. We strongly recommend you remain on your standard residential net metering rate to preserve your solar savings.
Update, 12:50 pm, June 5th. The Arizona Corporation Commission has scheduled consideration of Phase II of the TEP and Unisource Energy rate cases for their June 12th Open Meeting. At least until the ACC makes their decision, TEP and UNSE customers can have their contractor submit a complete interconnection application to be “grandfathered” on net metering for twenty years.
April 26th, 2018. The day is almost upon us. After years of legal wrangling and public discussion, our elected Arizona Corporation Commissioners are expected to make their decision on the future of rooftop solar for Tucson Electric Power customers. Chairman Tom Forese and commissioner Andy Tobin will weigh in on the policies they approved in the December 2016 decision on the value of solar. Commissioner Bob Burns, who dissented in the value of solar docket will express his preferences. Newer commissioners Boyd Dunn and Justin Olson will also vote.
What will they be considering? A “Recommended Opinion and Order” (ROO) from the ACC’s Chief Administrative Law Judge, Jane L. Rodda. This 134-page document provides background on the case, including the position of TEP, solar companies, ACC staff, and other parties. More critically, it includes Judge Rodda’s careful conclusions regarding how each issue in the case should be resolved. However, the Commissioners can modify any aspect of the ROO at the planned hearing.
A Rooftop Solar Electric System in Tucson
The Good, the Bad, and the Unknown
Based on the decisions made in the Value of Solar Docket, we have known for some time that most Commissioner’s support for increased renewable energy is lukewarm at best. This is puzzling in a state like Arizona with an excellent solar resource, where the public overwhelmingly supports increased solar energy. I have found Judge Rodda to be an extremely thoughtful and intelligent public servant. Her duty is to evaluate the legal and policy issues raised in the value of solar and rate case dockets, and implement the ACC’s policy decisions. Read More
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