HartfordBusiness.com
December 1, 2014
By: Brad Kane
A conflict between Connecticut electric utilities and business and residential customers who install renewable energy systems on their properties is coming to a head, and national and local industry leaders are meeting this week to discuss ways to avert a crisis threatening both the stability of the power grid and solar/fuel cell/hydro installers.
The Renewable Energy & Efficiency Business Association will convene a group of thought leaders from around the country Dec. 4 at the Sheraton in Rocky Hill to discuss how utilities can maintain a safe, reliable grid as more customers use less electricity, while at the same time not disincentivizing customers from installing renewable systems and making their businesses and homes more energy efficient.
The heart of the conflict stems from how utilities charge customers to be connected to and use power from the grid vs. how customers with renewable installations benefit from that rate structure.
“Changes to how the rate design is done in Connecticut could have a profound impact on the savings promised by the installation of renewable energy to customers,” said Paul Michaud, REEBA’s executive director. “It eliminates the price savings that the customer enjoys under the current rate structure.” For full article