On Jan. 18, the Mississippi Public Service Commission (PSC) released its updated Net Metering and Interconnection Rules. The new rules expand the net-metering program, improve total compensation rates for solar customers and prioritize solar adoption for low-to-moderate income (LMI) customers.
The net-metering compensation remains set at 2.5 cents/kWh, but now allows an unlimited number of low-income customers who are at or below 250% of the federal poverty line to receive an additional 2 cents/kWh for going solar.
The commission also put in place a new upfront rebate to remove more barriers to solar adoption. Each investor-owned utility must offer a one-time $3,000.00 upfront cash rebate to any retail residential customer purchasing a renewable distributed energy project sized between 3 kW and 6 kW and to be used, at least in part, for self-supply.
As far as larger-scale solar, the commission notes in the order that it intends to establish a separate rulemaking proceeding to jumpstart the state’s community solar market. It also initiates a program to help schools go solar through PPAs and other structures.
“We commend the Mississippi Public Service Commission for updating its net metering rules and expanding solar access in Mississippi. The net metering program now covers Mississippi households that are 250% of the federal poverty line and below, which will help even more Mississippians experience the cost-saving benefits of solar energy,” said Will Giese, Southeast regional director for SEIA, in a statement. “While we are disappointed that the Public Service Commission did not offer the full retail rate for net metering, the order will move Mississippi’s solar policy forward, and SEIA will continue to advocate for straightforward and smart polices that grow the solar industry.”
Franklin S Baxter says
There doesn’t seem to be any information in Northeast Mississippi on putting solar on your house I’m low income or no income yet I have to pay a power bill every month of outstanding rates for Alcorn county Power association a c e I was told last month when my power bill was $400 and it’s just me I’m single person living in a home running one heater in a refrigerator how that power jumped from 170 to 400 basically using the same amount of power I was told at the window when I couldn’t pay the whole bill if you can’t pay the bill we can just turn you off until you have the money is that not outrageous or what they don’t care if 17 or 117 they don’t seem to want to work with people at all any help that you can possibly give me on solar wind power anything I can do to get off 100% grid power thank you