LARAMIE — An electrical utility serving parts of Wyoming, South Dakota and Montana has withdrawn its proposal for a rate increase for customers who have installed solar panels.
Wyoming Public Radio reports utilities in Arizona, Utah and Wisconsin have proposed similar surcharges. The purpose is to maintain revenue from customers who use less electricity from the grid because they’ve installed their own renewable energy.
Officials with South Dakota-based Black Hills Power say they haven’t ruled out revisiting their proposed solar use rate increase sometime in the future.
Deb Theriault of Casper-based Range Solar & Wind says even a surcharge of $5 to $20 a month could be a real disincentive for homeowners to install solar power.