By CARSON CITY, Nev. — A newly formed alliance has filed a referendum petition for the 2016 statewide ballot seeking to repeal new, devastating rates and charges imposed on Nevada solar net metering customers by the Nevada Public Utilities Commission (PUC).
“This referendum is about jobs, consumer choice and Nevada’s future. This alliance represents the people of Nevada, who overwhelmingly support bringing our rooftop solar back to the state,” said former Governor Bob List, a supporter of the referendum. “The Public Utilities Commission’s rules have been taxing on the rooftop solar industry and have already cost the state nearly 1,000 jobs in less than a month, with more job losses likely on the way. The rules fail the public the commission purports to represent, and are simply not reasonable, balanced policy.”
The alliance has also formed a new political action committee supported by Nevada businesses, not-for-profits, and outraged homeowners, working together to fight the Public Utilities Commission’s decision to add punitive new charges to rooftop solar customers.
The referendum, filed with the Nevada Secretary of State today, seeks to repeal newly-enacted portions of Statutes of Nevada Chapter 379 and return to the rules in effect in 2015 and before—the rules that rooftop solar owners relied on when they made the decision to go solar. Before January 1, 2016, the Nevada Public Utilities Commission treated net metering customers the same as standard residential customers, and credited them at retail rates for the excess electricity they produced.
Under the previous rules, the rooftop solar industry and Nevadans interested in a clean energy future brought nearly 6,000 well-paying jobs to the Silver State, making Nevada a leader in energy innovation and job creation. Thousands of Nevadans installed solar to take control of their energy bills and choose a cleaner, more affordable energy future.
The PUC’s new, punitive rules will reverse this progress, discourage new businesses from investing in Nevada, and harm the thousands of rooftop solar owners who placed their trust in Nevada as a state committed to promoting clean energy and reducing dependence on dirty fossil fuels.
If the referendum is successful, the new net metering rules will be repealed and all Nevada consumers can continue to benefit from clean energy at reasonable rates.
The No Solar Tax PAC is supported by Nevada citizens, homeowners, businesses, and not-for-profits, working together to bring back Nevada solar, clean energy jobs, and energy choice.
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