In a few states, utilities have launched solar subscription services for which customers can pay extra on top of their electric bills to receive solar powered energy. In California, Senate bill No. 43 required utilities serving 100,000 customers or more to expand access to renewable energy resources to ratepayers currently unable to access the benefits of onsite generation.
NV Energy started a solar subscription program that would allow residential, and eventually business, customers the option to meet up to 100% of their energy needs with solar power.
Nevada solar installer Sol-Up USA’s former chief technical officer Tu Anh Tran is skeptical of NV Energy’s intentions, given its track record.
Tran said NV Energy has taken a neutral position whenever there’s a new solar bill in the state. She said if the company really wants solar to grow, it will need to walk the talk and support solar growth throughout the state. She is concerned NV Energy cares more about its bottom line than increasing access to solar for Nevadans.
In California, PG&E launched a similar “solar choice” program in which, according to a press release, “For a modest monthly charge, residential and business customers can go solar by purchasing up to 100% of their electricity from solar-generated energy.”
Local installers are similarly conflicted about the program, at once glad to see more solar energy in the state yet unsure if the service makes financial sense for consumers.
According to the Solar Market Insight Report 2016, utility PV is expected to account for 66% of the projected 13.2 GWdc of new PV installations in 2017.
Similar programs will likely continue to pop up as states require utilities to make renewable options available.