Utahns who want to go solar aren’t getting a fair deal for the solar energy they send to our shared energy grid. The current bill credit Rocky Mountain Power gives Utah’s solar owners (called the Export Credit Rate) is too low and unpredictable. This is not only confusing to consumers, but it also makes it difficult to lower your electricity bills by investing in homegrown rooftop solar.
To keep the future of solar bright for all Utahns, Senator Wayne Harper (R-Taylorsville) has proposed S.B. 189 Net Metering Energy Amendments. The modest changes to solar policy will help make the solar export credit fair, straightforward, and predictable by guaranteeing that residential and small commercial solar customers served by Rocky Mountain Power receive a bill credit that is at least 84% of the actual customer cost (see below for details).
Ask Your Senator to Vote YES on S.B. 189
The opportunity to make rooftop solar fair and predictable for Utahns is now before members of the Utah Senate. Call, text, or email your senator today and let them know that rooftop solar is good for Utah!
It is vital that members of the Utah Senate hear from their constituents that Utahns support solar. If you’re not sure who your State Senator is, you can find out here. A short simple text or call is all it takes to make a difference!
More Details About This Bill
We encourage legislators to support S.B. 189 Net Metering Energy Amendments because:
SOLAR BENEFITS EVERYONE
- Rooftop solar is a local, clean, and cost-effective energy solution to help meet Utah’s ever-growing energy demand while reducing emissions.
- This bill is a pragmatic approach, providing a fair and stable Solar Export Credit to ensure all Utahns can reap the benefits of rooftop solar.
- Rooftop solar helps Utahns become more energy independent. It reduces electricity bills, cuts carbon emissions, and protects against rising electricity costs.
- Rooftop solar allows homeowners and businesses to invest in local energy resources that benefit them, and combined with battery storage, helps support a more resilient and stable electricity grid.
UTAHNS DESERVE A FAIR CREDIT FOR SOLAR
- Solar owners that are served by Rocky Mountain Power receive a credit on their monthly bill in exchange for the excess solar they export to the grid. This is called the Solar Export Credit.
- While customers paid Rocky Mountain Power an average of about 10 cents per kilowatt-hour in 2023, Rocky Mountain Power credited solar customers only about 5 cents per kilowatt-hour of solar energy exported to the grid during 2023. This means that any solar energy a customer exports to the grid is worth less than half as much as a customer would pay for that electricity.
- Furthermore, the current solar export credit is based on a complicated calculation, and it varies annually. For example, the export credit rate was just over 5 cents per kilowatt-hour in 2023. In 2022, it was about 4 cents per kilowatt-hour, and in 2024 the credit will change again to about 7 cents per kilowatt-hour. This variability makes it impossible for solar owners to make an informed decision when investing in a solar system.
- S.B. 189 would fix the solar export credit at 84% of average electricity retail rates, which would provide consistency, predictability, and greater value to solar installations.
PREDICTABLE CREDITS ARE ESSENTIAL TO GO SOLAR
- The Solar Export Credit rate can currently be changed every year, causing uncertainty. This bill proposes to end the annual update.
- A fair predictable bill credit will allow Utahns to make an informed decision when investing in a solar system. A consistent policy will also protect solar adopters from being susceptible to the rollercoaster of rate changes allowed by the current system.
