REMOTELY FROM TUCSON - Arizona Corporation Commissioner Lea Márquez Peterson applauded her fellow Commissioners last week for supporting an extension of time she proposed that will allow homeowners to lock-in a higher export rate for new rooftop solar systems installed through October 1, 2021. 

The decision came as the Commission was expected to reduce the value new rooftop solar customers could lock-in for the generation of excess power they sell back to the grid. Under the Commission’s existing policy, export rates do not change for existing rooftop solar customers, but for customers that have yet to install solar, the value is recalculated every year. Once locked-in, the rate remains the same for ten years. 

Due to the economic circumstances surrounding COVID-19, Commissioner Márquez Peterson offered an unexpected game changer for Arizonans that have been looking to install solar, proposing the Commission put a “pause” on the scheduled decrease for 2020 and give homeowners in APS, TEP, and UNS service areas an additional year to install new photovoltaic systems at the current export rate. With resounding support from the rooftop solar industry, the Commission passed Commissioner Márquez Peterson’s proposal by a majority vote. 

“Consider it a ‘do-over’ of 2020,” Commissioner Márquez Peterson said. “With the number of furloughs and unemployment claims that have occurred in 2020, I felt many Arizonans, who otherwise would have ‘gone solar’ in 2020, deserved a second-chance to install new solar systems at the current 2020 export rate,” she said. 

“This decision was not only a huge win for the rooftop solar industry as a whole, but also for the small businesses that install rooftop solar systems as their primary source of income,” said Márquez Peterson.

“By having my fellow commissioners’ support, I feel we have provided an appropriate response to the challenging circumstances surrounding the pandemic, which has rocked the clean energy industry and made it more challenging for independent contractors to compete on a level playing field,” said Márquez Peterson. 

“With over 100,000 home solar systems in the APS service territory alone, the value that solar provides to the grid must be reflected in the price APS pays back to the customer, as well as in the time of day that solar is generated. I encourage any APS customer to try to maximize their value by pairing their rooftop solar systems with at-home energy storage devices, which can help to retain the sun’s energy and deliver power, even after the sun has set.”

To complement the Commission’s decision and help future rooftop solar customers incorporate batteries in the Commission’s extension of time, the Commission also approved a new residential energy storage pilot program also proposed by Commission Márquez Peterson for APS, which will provide up to $2,500 toward the purchase of an at-home battery storage system. The pilot was adopted by a majority of the Commission in a 3-2 vote.

To view Commissioner Márquez Peterson’s amendments delaying the scheduled 10% step-down to utilities’ rooftop solar export rate, click here:

Commissioner Márquez Peterson’s Proposed Amendment No. 1 (APS)

Commissioner Márquez Peterson’s Proposed Amendment No. 1 (TEP)

Commissioner Márquez Peterson’s Proposed Amendment No. 1 (UNS)

To view Commissioner Márquez Peterson’s amendment proposing approval of the residential energy storage pilot program for APS customers, click here:

Commissioner Márquez Peterson’s Proposed Amendment No. 2 (APS Residential Energy Storage Pilot Program)