CARSON CITY — The state Bureau of Consumer Protection has proposed that state regulators authorize a minimum of an additional 17.5 megawatts of net metering capacity so that the rooftop solar industry is not disrupted in Nevada. The filing with the state Public Utilities Commission says that allowing the additional capacity would resolve the issue of hitting the 235-megawatt cap on net metering as early as next month. The additional capacity would then allow the commission to craft a new rate structure for rooftop solar customers by Dec. 31. Net metering is a program where residents who install rooftop solar can receive a credit from the utility company for any excess energy generated. Rooftop solar officials say that without quick action by the PUC to address the cap, the industry could grind to a halt, affecting 6,000 jobs. NV Energy failed to properly assess the 17.5 megawatts of committed qualified net metering customer generation that was already in the pipeline, the filing says. Adding the capacity would address "what appears to have been a mistake regarding the amount of capacity for qualified customers," the filing says. For its part, NV Energy said it will propose a plan to transition to a new net metering rate structure in filings on July 31 that will ensure no interruption in the rooftop solar industry. The plan would allow net metering hookups under the current rules until the 235 megawatt limit is reached. The utility would continue to accept applications from customers for net metering after the cap is reached. A new rate structure to transition the industry will also be part of the filing. The utility would then begin billing customers under the new rate on an interim basis until the final rules are adopted by Dec. 31. "Under the proposal, customer-generators may continue to submit interconnection and net metering applications and the renewable distributed generation industry may continue to install such systems, without interruption," the filing says. NV Energy said the new rate will allow the rooftop solar industry to grow while ensuring that customers without the systems do not continue to subsidize net metering. The Alliance for Solar Choice has filed an emergency petition with the PUC to let net metering continue under current rules despite the likelihood of hitting the 235 megawatt cap next month. Rooftop solar companies fought hard in the 2015 session to raise the net metering cap to as high as 6 percent or more, but lawmakers rejected the proposal, asking the PUC to resolve the issue instead. Lawmakers want the PUC to help ensure rooftop solar remains economically viable without any subsidy from non-net metering customers. Contact Sean Whaley at swhaley@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3900. Find him on Twitter: @seanw801.
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