Clean Energy Group Says It Will Sue to Block We Energies’ Solar Rate Hikes

[hue]

http://expressmilwaukee.com/mobile/articles/articleView/id:24399

No justification for new ‘solar tax’

A pro-solar group is poised to sue the state Public Service Commission (PSC) for approving new fees for clean energy system owners in We Energies’ territory, saying the utility provided no evidence that the new “solar tax” on solar-owning homeowners is necessary.

In a nutshell, the PSC is penalizing those trying to lower their use of highly polluting fossil fuel by installing solar energy panels, raising rates for residential and small business customers while keeping rates flat for larger businesses and, most importantly, making sure that We Energies has an annual rate of profit greater than 10%.

“We Energies got what they wanted and we will sue and win on appeal,” Bryan Miller, co-chair of the Alliance for Solar Choice, told the Shepherd on Friday, shortly after the PSC’s 2-1 vote in favor of the new rates. “This decision will not stand.”

The two Scott Walker-appointed PSC members—chair Phil Montgomery, previously a Republican legislator, and Ellen Nowak, a former school voucher lobbyist—supported We Energies’ rate hikes, balking only at the monopoly utility’s attempt to ban solar system leases through its rate request. They both said the matter was best left to the state Legislature.

The solar lease issue seemed to be the only area of agreement the Republican commissioners shared with Eric Callisto, appointed to the PSC in 2008 by Jim Doyle, a Democrat.

Callisto consistently voted against the various rate increases We Energies sought to impose on its customers. His term is scheduled to end in March 2015, when Walker will be able to appoint a new commissioner and the PSC will be completely captured by his allies.

The GOP-dominated PSC voted on Friday to:

■ Raise the fixed charges on all We Energies’ residential customers’ monthly bills from $9 to $16

■ Increase rates for residential and small business customers 2.5% over the next two years

■ Keep the rates paid by businesses flat, with less than 1% increase over the next two years

■ Impose new fees on homeowners with solar systems

■ Guarantee We Energies a 10.2% profit in 2015 and 2016

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[Scuba]

1. The Walker raping of our state and citizens continues.

[riversedge]

2. So glad to hear this. Thanks for post