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Solar Installations Drop After APS Assesses Charge to Solar Customers(Targeted News Service Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) PHOENIX, April 14 -- The Sierra Club issued the following news release: According to utility data found on arizonagoessolar.org, rooftop solar installations in Arizona Public Service (APS) territory saw a 40 percent drop in the first quarter of 2014 compared to the same quarter last year. This drop occurs immediately after the Arizona Corporation Commission's November decision to add a charge on new rooftop solar installations "It is no coincidence that this dramatic drop off in installations comes amid repeated APS attacks on rooftop solar and after the Arizona Corporation Commission gave way to the utility by increasing the monthly bill for those putting solar on their roofs," said Will Greene with Sierra Club's Beyond Coal Campaign. "What's scary is APS wanted to charge solar customers ten times more than the charge Commissioners adopted late last year." In November 2013, the Arizona Corporation Commission voted for a 70 cent per kilowatt charge on newly-built rooftop solar systems, amounting to a roughly $5 per month fee on the average size system. Hundreds attended the Commission hearing on the day of the vote, speaking overwhelmingly in favor of rooftop solar. The charge took effect on January 1st. The Commission made their decision after an unprecedented public relations effort conducted by APS, and to a lesser extent, the solar industry. The utility spent $3.7 million (http://www.azcentral.com/business/consumer/articles/20131106expense-solar-battle-millions.html) on two campaigns disparaging rooftop solar. APS initially denied involvement in the ads, but later admitted to funding the Washington, DC and Arizona-based public relations firms 60 Plus Association and Prosper. The millions spent by the monopoly utility on anti-rooftop solar TV, mail, and online advertising, originated from ratepayer pockets. APS has not stopped at the new charge, supporting proposals to weaken Arizona's renewable energy standard as well as efforts to apply a hefty property tax on leased rooftop solar systems. The new charge and the cumulative impact of repeated attacks from APS on rooftop solar are likely factors in the decrease in installations, while interest and support for clean solar energy remains strong among Arizonans of every political stripe. Data on the drop in solar installations was found on arizonagoessolar.org. TNS 24HariRad-140415 30FurigayJof-4703720 30FurigayJof (c) 2014 Targeted News Service |