[KENTUCKY] After a four year battle, solar supporters are breathing a little easier after the Public Service Commission’s decision in a Kentucky Power case last week. Kentucky Power was seeking to devalue the credit received by solar users who feed excess power back on the grid by 75%, arguing that the value of solar electricity supplied to the grid was only $0.035 per kWh. The Public Service Commission instead found the value to be in excess of $0.09 per kWh confirming what solar advocates and industry representatives have been saying for years, distributed solar is a benefit not only to solar users but to the utility companies as well.
“Many of our clients are looking to solar as a way to afford their ever-increasing Kentucky Power bills. With this ruling, rooftop solar remains in reach – and it means that the growing solar industry can continue to provide good-paying jobs to folks in the region.” said Carrie Ray of the Mountain Association.
This is a major victory for renewable energy in Kentucky at a time when utility companies across the country are trying to phase out solar net metering (the system which allows solar producers to credit excess production against energy pulled from the grid when panels are not producing).
“This decision is a boost for solar owners who provide electricity to our Kentucky grid. We hope it will persuade the monopoly utilities who have spent a lot of money in attempting to suppress homeowner solar systems to now become more supportive of distributed renewable generation.” said Wallace McMullen, the chair of the KY Solar Energy Society.
In addition to ruling on the value of solar generation, the Public Service Commission set precedent for future cases by ruling that the avoided cost of distributed generation should not only include avoided fuel costs but also avoided distribution capacity costs, carbon costs, and environmental compliance costs. The Commission also established principles for utilities to follow when determining the value of solar generation, based on national best practices referenced by solar advocates during the hearings. This is the first time that a public agency in Kentucky has acknowledged the benefit of carbon reduction in terms of climate mitigation.
Cathy Clement, a member of Kentuckians For The Commonwealth in Lexington, stated, “We are so pleased that rooftop solar will remain an economic option for homeowners, non-profits, and small businesses in the Kentucky Power region who want to save on their energy bills, to rely on clean energy, and to support a growing clean energy economy in Kentucky. So many people worked hard to secure this good outcome. It’s wonderful that our voices were heard.”
Solar advocates, industry representatives and utility customers across the state are now waiting and hoping for a similar ruling in the Kentucky Utilities and Louisville Gas & Electric cases, which are expected to be announced later this year. The full ruling for Kentucky Power’s net metering case can be read here http://psc.ky.gov/pscscf/2020%20Cases/2020-00174/20210514_PSC_ORDER.pdf
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Media Contact: Cara Cooper
KY Solar Advocacy Network
859-242-6435
Theres no “victory” in solar energy as a stand alone because it’s so unreliable and limited. Liberals are h*llbent on eliminating fossil fuels and going strictly with green energy but that will never, ever work.
It’s one thing to have CHOICE when using energy, but to force it down the throats of the people as an only option will never work.
Just one example would be let’s say….the racing industry as well as the classic car market that could not survive without fossil fuels.
Would the radical environmental do-gooders want to destroy these american staples and other things that we love that can only survive with fossil fuels? Absolutely! They’d do it in a heartbeat and make you pay for it at the same time.
Elections have consequences folks. Never forget that.
How about the Horse and Buggy