Back to the BYU Cougars Newsfeed

Commentary: Utility bills become a political tool to save jobs

In the recent Rocky Mountain Power net-metering settlement (a closed-door, back-room deal) the big winners are roof-top solar companies, Rocky Mountain Power and roof-top solar customers. Residential and small business customers lost and it is far more than just the extra charges on your electric bills.

Rocky Mountain Power argued valiantly that they were only trying to protect their customers who don’t have roof-top solar, right up to the moment the deal allowed them to pass those costs directly to your utility bill. Their great concern for their non-solar customers quickly evaporated when those costs were not coming out of Rocky Mountain Powers’ pocket

The settlement sets up a three-year transition period to study the true cost of roof-top solar customers.