UPDATE: Nevada regulators are denying requests to suspend controversial new rates for rooftop solar power customers.
ORIGINAL STORY:
Nevada regulators are set to vote on whether to suspend controversial new rates for rooftop solar power customers.
The Public Utilities Commission will consider requests Wednesday from solar company groups and the state consumer advocate to put a stay on the rate hike that took effect Jan. 1.
Actor Mark Ruffalo speaking at today's PUC meeting about the importance of solar energy & the difference between what's being done in Nevada compared to New York.
Posted by Yasmeen Hassan on Wednesday, January 13, 2016
I stand with the hundreds of Nevadans asking @nevada_puc to protect #NVsolar, jobs and investments in our clean energy future #WeAreSolar
— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) January 13, 2016
#Solar customers say they feel betrayed commissioners changed the net metering rates after they already invested. pic.twitter.com/nv7eXnS1iH
— Yasmeen Hassan (@YasmeenTV) January 13, 2016
Commissioners released a draft order indicating they oppose the requests and don't think the rate hike will cause the harm that solar companies say it will.
The commission unanimously approved a rate hike for customers with rooftop solar panels in December. Proponents say it corrects a cost-shift that has traditional energy customers subsidizing about 17,000 solar customers.
Rooftop solar companies say they've laid off hundreds of employees and stopped selling panels in Nevada because of the hike.
