A controversial bill (HB 741) sponsored in the Florida House by Plant City Republican Lawrence McClure that would alter the state’s existing net metering program is being met with fierce pushback from the solar power business community, who say it would devastate the industry in Florida.
What You Need To Know
- Rooftop solar customers in Florida have swelled to around 90,000 in the state of Florida, but that’s still only about 1% of the more than 8.5 million ratepaying customers in the Sunshine State
- Solar power company owners say changing the net metering rule would hurt the industry and result in the loss of thousands of jobs across the state
- The bill passed its first committee (Senate Regulated Industries) on a 6-2 vote on Tuesday
“I can tell you that with my 30 employees, I can see at least 70% of them being no longer employed with Tampa Bay Solar, because they’re just wouldn’t be a customer base,” said Steve Rutherford, the founder and President of Tampa Bay Solar.
Rutherford said that while those who invest in rooftop solar appreciate the fact that they’re using an alternative and cleaner energy source, the vast majority of his customers commit to it because it’s a financial investment.
“They know that within 10 years, they’re going to be able to get their money back from their investment and they’re going to be able to live with low energy bills for the rest of the life of their system,” he said.
Rooftop solar customers in Florida have swelled to around 90,000, but that’s still only about 1% of the more than 8.5 million ratepaying customers in the Sunshine State.
But advocates for a change in the net metering rule say that what made sense when the law was created in 2008 no longer does in 2022, and that it’s a matter of fairness. They contend that the growth in rooftop solar has resulted in “increased cross-subsidization” of the full cost of electric service onto the majority of ratepayers.
“When you overpay for the excess energy produced by rooftop solar customers, you force the remaining rate payers to share the infrastructure costs. This cost shift to non-solar customers is substantial, and will shortly approach a billion dollars,” said Orange Park Republican Senator Jennifer Bradley on Tuesday, when she introduced the bill (SB 1024) at the Senate Committee on Regulated Industries.
Former Public Service Commissioner (PSC) Lisa Edgar, who served on the agency when it advocated for the 2008 net metering rule, said that “much has changed” since, and that there are subsidies inherent in the rule.
“Subsidies are not meant to stay in perpetuity,” she said, calling on the Legislature to consider reducing that subsidy.
Former Tampa Republican state Rep. John Grant now represents Seniors Across America. He supports changing …….