Utility Management Group
Senior decision-makers come together to connect around strategies and business trends affecting utilities.
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Next stop for the solar industry vs. electric utilities battle? Kansas
The next battleground between utilities and solar arrays appears to be in Kansas, where the state's four major utilities are coming out against a bill that would allow larger energy users, such as schools, churches, and businesses, to install solar arrays or purchase solar electricity for a lower rate than available from the utilities.
As the solar industry has expanded and states have incentivized solar arrays, utilities have begun to view it as a threat to their bottom lines. A version of this played out in California where utilities wanted to decrease the financial incentives offered to private solar owners. How governments move forward with these policies will have a significant impact on how the solar and electric utility industries operate moving forward.
The heads of the larger electric utilities have called the legislation a "deregulation bill" for large customers. Kansas is only one of 7 states that prohibits electricity customers from signing thrid party energy production contracts for wind or solar power, despite being one of the 10 sunniest states in the U.S.
What does the larger electric industry think about these policies forbidding large energy users to sign third party contracts for clean energy? I would love to know your thoughts.
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- Next stop for the solar industry vs. electric utilities battle? Kansas
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