SC utility interests stop solar meeting

[jpak]

http://www.thestate.com/2013/08/23/2936205/sc-utility-interests-stop-solar.html

COLUMBIA, SC — South Carolina’s electric cooperatives have stopped a solar energy forum that was supposed to let people explain how the state can improve its sun power rules, which are among the least customer friendly in the country.

The S.C. Public Service Commission chose not to hold the Sept. 12 public workshop after receiving a request from the Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina, a state organization that represents rural power suppliers. The state Office of Regulatory Staff supported the cooperatives’ effort to put off the workshop.

The cooperatives, which have been cool to the idea of solar energy expansion, said it’s too soon to have a workshop since a legislative committee already is studying alternate energy issues in South Carolina. The Public Utilities Review Committee has commissioned a report to be completed by Dec. 31. The cooperatives are helping to develop the report.

But solar power advocates and a former state energy official said the PSC should have held the workshop anyway. There is no harm in a public meeting to discuss how state rules discourage sun power in South Carolina – regardless of when the legislative committee completes its report, they said.

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Where are the "free market" conservatives?

I know - feeding at the monopoly trough - oink oink.

Yup