Missoula County opposes HB 359: Revising net metering rates, up for hearing this afternoon in the House Energy, Technology and Federal Relations Committee.
This bill would change the rate structure for net metered customers. Rather than being compensated for the electricity they provide to the grid at the retail rate, they would be compensated at the much lower “avoided cost” rate developed for qualifying facilities (QFs). This would dramatically extend the payback period for rooftop solar systems and would likely decimate Montana’s solar industry. Moreover, the bill contains no grandfathering provisions to protect existing net metering customers who have made good-faith decisions to invest in solar under the terms of the existing net metering rules.
By effectively halting the rooftop solar industry in the state, this bill would make it more difficult for Missoula City and County to achieve our 100% clean electricity goal.
Sent Feb. 19:
ReplyDeleteRepresentatives Olsen and Sullivan,
Missoula County opposes HB 359: Revising net metering rates, up for hearing this afternoon in the House Energy, Technology and Federal Relations Committee.
This bill would change the rate structure for net metered customers. Rather than being compensated for the electricity they provide to the grid at the retail rate, they would be compensated at the much lower “avoided cost” rate developed for qualifying facilities (QFs). This would dramatically extend the payback period for rooftop solar systems and would likely decimate Montana’s solar industry. Moreover, the bill contains no grandfathering provisions to protect existing net metering customers who have made good-faith decisions to invest in solar under the terms of the existing net metering rules.
By effectively halting the rooftop solar industry in the state, this bill would make it more difficult for Missoula City and County to achieve our 100% clean electricity goal.
Please oppose HB 359.