“The times are a-changing,” and so are utility rates nationwide, especially for renewable energy. But all electricity ratepayers have a stake in upcoming regulatory decisions, including the rooftop solar ruling expected this summer by the Utah Public Service Commission (PSC).
In recent PSC testimony, solar advocates and state agencies alike recommended that Rocky Mountain Power’s (RMP) latest rooftop solar rate hike request be handled in a general rate case; not separately, as RMP prefers. This PSC decision has broader implications affecting all customers.
“Smart” energy technology renders the traditional utility rate-setting model obsolete. Home energy management apps on iPhones, smart solar inverters and energy storage mean that the number of low-use customers will increase, driving down energy consumption on which utility profits are based.