Skip to main content

Hassan supports more net metering

Image
News Date
Body

On Wednesday, January 13 Gov. Maggie Hassan (D) submitted testimony in support of a bill to raise the state cap on net metering.

Under New Hampshire law residents and businesses who install solar panels are eligible for net metering, in which utilities credit customers for any excess energy the customers generate with solar panels. However, the law caps net metering at 50 megawatts statewide, and some utilities are approaching their share of that cap.

“New Hampshire's families and businesses have invested millions of dollars in our local economy by installing solar arrays and other renewable generation facilities that make us more independent and keep our money closer to home,” wrote Hassan. “This consumer-driven progress must continue, and I support efforts to lift the cap on net metering as soon as is possible.” 

SB 333, the bill Hassan supports, raises the net metering cap to 75 megawatts statewide and instructs the Public Utilities Commission to develop a new tariff system for solar customers. 

Opponents of raising the net metering cap point out that solar generating consumers do not pay for services they receive from the electric grid such as backup, balancing, and storage facilities.

Rick Labrecque of Eversource told NHPR that amounts to a solar subsidy between $3 and $4 million dollars. 

Do you think New Hampshire should raise the cap on net metering, or come up with an entirely different system? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Comments

Login or register to post comments

Thank you to our sponsors and donors