Southern Arizona to learn about solar incentives

Residential solar and storage advocates are waiting to learn about changes to incentives for new distributed resources customers in Southern Arizona. The Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) could vote on "Phase 2" proposals from Tucson Electric Power (TEP) and its sister-utility UniSource Energy Services (UES) for new rooftop solar as soon as their meeting in September.

Rate proposal on solar batteries

The commissioners might also incorporate an administrative law judge order from April, which suggested a special rate proposal for solar customers with home battery storage systems. The recommendation, flagged once more by the Arizona Daily Star, was proposed by solar-industry groups and is similar to Arizona Public Service's (APS) pilot rate plan for behind-the-meter load controllers such as batteries. TEP and UES would need to respond and file a proposal on a solar-plus-storage rate if asked by the ACC. The utilities value the load management potential of the technology for their customers, according to TEP spokesman Joseph Barrios.
"We haven’t gotten so far as to solidify a proposal, it’s something we're exploring internally right now," Barrios told Utility Dive.

ACC has plenty of other priorities

Before the ACC votes on the judge's recommendation, the commissioners must decide to consider it among their many other priorities. The ACC is working through a lot of large items, including a docket focused on transactive energy that the commission opened in July and Commissioner Andy Tobin's Arizona Energy Modernization Plan which seeks to supply the state with 80% renewable or nuclear power by 2050. In light of the triple meltdowns at the Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan, this seems incredibly ignorant. When asked about the ACC's agenda and priorities of a solar-plus-storage rate for TEP/UES customers, ACC communications director Holly Ward said Chairman Thomas Forese will set the agenda for the monthly meetings — which will "typically be posted within week or two ahead of the meeting date."
"The Commissioners will make their intent clear in the docket or in an Open Meeting directly addressing this item," Ward said in an email. The next ACC open meeting is scheduled for Sept. 11-12.

Solar advocates still encouraged

Advocates for rooftop solar were encouraged when Tobin pulled the TEP/UES rate proceedings item from consideration at the June meeting, allowing for further analysis of how the rates would affect rooftop solar possibilities for the region. Net Zero Solar's engineering director and owner Louis Woofenden told Utility Dive he felt "pretty positive that that discussion is continuing" with Tobin.

It's all about solar energy

While ACC could ask for something different from the judge's recommendations, any changes to the incentive for solar-plus-storage customers may pale in comparison to the changes expected for potential rooftop solar owners. Residential storage is fairly new to TEP/UES customers. Barrios estimated only 30 to 40 customers currently have home battery systems.

Solar power is here to stay, and the sooner you explore how much you can save, the sooner you can enjoy the benefits of residential solar power. Go to HahaSmart.com and try our price checker tool. It tells you how much solar power you need, and how much you can save.

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