Grinstead notes that this represents much less value to customers. We are hopeful that compromise can be reached between stakeholders that allows solar to thrive again in the Upstate.ĭuke has explained that they will still honor electricity sold by customers back to the utility “at the same price the utility pays for electricity generated by large solar power plants.” It is disappointing to see Duke disregard lessons learned in states like Nevada, where utility self interest caused avoidable job loss. Sunrun Director of Public Policy Tyson Grinstead responded to the cap fulfillment, stating: From there, installers, especially small solar businesses, will be impacted. The affect will first come to workers in sales, with Sunrun estimating that as of August 1 will no longer be able to sell systems that qualify for net metering. Just a few weeks ago, Thad Culley, regional director for Vote Solar, told pv magazine that the reaching the net metering caps could put as many as 3,000 local jobs in jeopardy. It’s not just electricity customers that will feel the pressure. ![]() Without net metering credits and with the substantial overhead cost of installing solar, PV systems could become economically unviable. ![]() South Carolina already has the highest average electric bills in the country. This is a catastrophic hit to the distributed solar market in South Carolina, with the the anticipation that South Carolina Electric and Gas (SCE&G) will hit its cap in the coming weeks. As of July 9, 2018, in Duke Energy Carolinas territory, the total generation capacity of customers applying for net metering has reached the 2% limit established by Act 236. On Monday Duke Energy announced that it had hit the cap, and released a statement:Īs an important partner in our collective efforts to grow renewable energy for the benefit of our South Carolina customers, we want to provide you advance notice about a key milestone we have reached under Act 236. ![]() How long does it take for a utility to reach that 2% mark? About 189 days. Included in the season’s events or, in this case, the pre-season came the decision in the state’s House of Representatives to kill the proposed increase of net metering caps from 2% to 4% of peak capacity on the grid. It’s been a busy summer for Duke Energy, with South Carolina at the forefront.
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