Rooftop solar is giving these monopolies
Solar advocates have argued that the program would be unfair because the utility is a regulated monopoly with guaranteed profits and it doesn’t have to worry about running a profitable solar enterprise because it can disperse costs among all rate payers and ask for rate increases to ensure their profit margins.
“The rooftop solar industry is made up of private businesses, not regulated monopolies,” writes Barry Goldwater JR, chairman of Tell Utilities Solar won’t be Killed, a conservative group that champions solar. “Rooftop solar is giving these monopolies the first competition they ever had and they don't like it.”
His organization values solar for the free market choice it creates and TUSK has argued against allowing utility companies to own and install distributed generation because it would pit the monopoly against free market businesses.
That has nothing to do with the staff recommendation to not allow APS to install distributed solar. Staff said the plan, which isn’t necessary to help the utility reach its portfolio standard, will cost $94.5 to $114 million to execute and it would saddle the utility with 30 years of 3,000 $30 monthly rooftop rental fees.
Staff suggested that instead the utility invest in $0.10 per watt incentives for home and business owners who want to install their own rooftop solar arrays. The utility would be able to get the same energy benefit with a $2 million investment that the $100 million project would cost.