{"id":45247,"date":"2016-05-06T13:15:53","date_gmt":"2016-05-06T17:15:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/planetsave.com\/?p=45247"},"modified":"2016-05-07T10:21:00","modified_gmt":"2016-05-07T14:21:00","slug":"arizona-corporation-commission","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/planetsave.com\/articles\/arizona-corporation-commission\/","title":{"rendered":"ACC Approves Tucson Electric Power’s Bid To Increase Renewable Energy, Sans Utility-Owned Solar"},"content":{"rendered":"

Following the ongoing and sometimes bitter confrontation between solar advocates and utilities, the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC<\/a>) has approved a proposal from Tucson Electric Power\u00a0(TEP)\u00a0to boost investments in renewable energy and deploy two 10\u00a0MW (5 MWh) energy storage pilot projects.<\/p>\n

However, the issue of this utility owning the renewables it distributes remains undecided, pending further ACC review.<\/p>\n

\"Arizona<\/p>\n

\"AZCC_logo\"As reported by UtilityDIVE<\/em><\/a>, the ACC approved a $56.6 million budget for the TEP renewables program<\/a>,\u00a0which would raise the typical residential customer surcharge for the program from\u00a0$3.22 to $4.02 per month. $9.4\u00a0million will be allocated for large-scale,\u00a0utility-owned renewables.<\/p>\n

Regulators did not approve a request to expand TEP’s\u00a0utility-owned rooftop solar and community solar programs. TEP says it will pursue approval as a part of its general rate case, but the commission staff has already recommended against expanding the rooftop program over concerns about its cost-effectiveness.<\/p>\n

TEP CEO David Hutchens has stated his utility requested an expansion of its subscription-based rooftop solar program due to high customer demand.<\/p>\n

The program, launched in 2015, allows 600 customers in selected areas to host solar systems averaging 6 kW\u00a0on their roofs. In return for a $250 application fee and allowing the utility to use the electricity generated on their rooftops, customers receive a fixed electricity bill for 25 years.<\/p>\n

“The rooftop and community solar programs the utility sought to expand are the first steps toward a “full suite” of distributed energy resources that could be offered by the utility, Hutchens said at the time, which would\u00a0eventually include\u00a0battery storage and other technologies.<\/em><\/p>\n

“That vision makes many third-party energy providers nervous. Although Hutchens said the utility would be glad to partner with names like Tesla and SolarCity\u00a0to offer\u00a0DERs, independent providers\u00a0expressed concern\u00a0the utility could use its market power and existing customer relationships to force them out of the market<\/em>.”<\/p>\n

The renewables gold rush<\/h3>\n

TEP’s proposals\u00a0will now be extended to the utility’s general rate case<\/a>, as hearings commence in August.\u00a0Although the ACC staff have recommended against expanding the rooftop solar program over cost concerns, a TEP spokesperson said the company will keep pushing for approval. That rate case\u00a0includes proposals<\/a> to reduce net metering credits and increase charges for solar customers.<\/p>\n

On April 13th, fighting to maintain net metering in Arizona, Technicians for Sustainability<\/a>\u00a0has posted this perspective on its website:<\/p>\n

It is asking this of the ACC:<\/strong><\/p>\n