On November 24, the Virginia State Company Fee (SCC) issued its last order in Dominion Power’s Shared Solar minimum bill proceeding — delivering a long-awaited repair that can make this system much more workable for patrons. The ruling represents a serious enchancment for Virginians who will not be exempt from the minimal invoice and can assist increase entry to one of many state’s best instruments for decreasing power prices.
The Shared Photo voltaic program aligns with Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger’s Affordable Virginia Plan, making certain that every one Virginians can entry inexpensive, dependable power. Nevertheless, the Fee stopped in need of recognizing the total advantages that shared photo voltaic tasks deliver to the electrical grid, customers and in the end to the Commonwealth of Virginia.
The Shared Photo voltaic program was created in 2020 — and expanded once more in 2024 — to assist renters and households that may’t set up rooftop photo voltaic achieve entry to inexpensive clear power. Prospects subscribe to an area mission and obtain invoice credit that decrease their month-to-month energy prices. However when the SCC set an especially excessive “minimal invoice” in 2022, Shared Photo voltaic turned dearer — no more inexpensive — for many non-low-income contributors, stopping this system from working as supposed.
“Immediately’s order represents a major course correction and may assist extra clients entry considered one of Virginia’s best energy-affordability packages. The Fee made vital progress towards bettering Dominion’s Shared Photo voltaic Program on this ruling and we sit up for working with them subsequent yr to acknowledge the total vary of grid and ratepayer advantages these tasks ship so this system can function because the Basic Meeting supposed,” stated Charlie Coggeshall, Mid-Atlantic regional director for CCSA.
A key a part of yesterday’s ruling is that the Fee reversed the flawed methodology adopted in 2022 and aligned Dominion’s minimal invoice construction with the framework lately authorized for Appalachian Energy Firm’s Shared Photo voltaic program. Beneath the brand new construction, the minimal invoice acts as a easy ground — the bottom level a subscriber’s invoice can go — as a substitute of being added on prime of a buyer’s invoice.
For instance, if a buyer’s month-to-month Dominion invoice is $100 and the minimal invoice is $60, Shared Photo voltaic credit can now cut back that invoice to $60. Beneath the previous system, the shopper would have paid the $100 invoice plus the $60 minimal invoice, eliminating their financial savings completely.
Whereas the ruling is a serious step ahead, the Fee once more restricted the checklist of advantages that Shared Photo voltaic tasks are allowed to depend towards lowering the minimal invoice. The Fee acknowledged solely prevented technology and transmission prices for now, leaving out extra grid advantages — like prevented line losses and ancillary companies — that decrease system prices for all clients. Though regulators directed Dominion to review these advantages additional, they declined to incorporate them on this minimal invoice calculation. In addition they continued to deal with the broader financial and environmental advantages of shared photo voltaic as totally captured by renewable power certificates, regardless of proof on the contrary.
“CCSA stays dedicated to making sure that the total worth of shared photo voltaic — for patrons, the Commonwealth and the electrical grid — is mirrored in Virginia’s insurance policies. We sit up for working with the Fee, Dominion, APCo and stakeholders throughout the recalculation proceedings anticipated over the approaching months to make sure clients are being pretty compensated for the worth that’s being created,” stated Coggeshall.
Information merchandise from CCSA
