For six months we’ve been asking solar customers and allies to join us in the fight to protect the value of solar. Thousands of you have answered that call loud and clear. We’ve heard from solar homeowners, from school administrators, farmers, entire church congregations, our friends at the IBEW, and folks who hope to go solar one day down the road. You’ve submitted comments, sent emails, written op-eds, and attended rallies. You’ve kept showing up and speaking out!

We entered this debate focused on protecting families from utility overreach and committed to the idea that people should be paid a fair value for their solar electricity. We set out to protect the 400 Appalachian families that make their living from solar. We asked for fair rates–rates backed by real math– not just for families, but for factories and farms, grocery stores and schools, libraries, and every other West Virginian organization. Because our state will be stronger if we can all be paid fairly and if we keep doing what we’ve always done: producing energy.

In the past 6 months, thousands of us banded together and we’ve changed the future of solar in West Virginia by establishing a degree of fairness that didn’t exist before. With this new approach, we’ve leveled the playing field. We’ve protected West Virginian families by giving them another window of time to go solar at full retail rates, and by ensuring that future rates are supported by facts and math. We’ve set the stage for years of incredible growth of solar on farms and food banks and small businesses. Growth that will not just create jobs, but build wealth. And this time that wealth will remain here in our mountains.  

What are the key points of this agreement?

1. Existing customers keep 1 to 1 net metering for the next 25 years.
2. That rate is attached to the system, not the person.
3. Buying batteries later does not impact the net metering rate.
4. Expanding your system up to 10% or 1 kW (whichever is greater) does not impact the net metering rate.
5. Future customers will qualify for full 1 to 1 net metering as long as they apply for interconnection on or before December 31, 2024.
   1. Residential systems must be installed by December 31, 2025.
   2. Commercial systems must be installed by June 30, 2026.
6. A new rate of $.09343/kWh will be applied to excess energy produced by customers applying for interconnection on or after January 1, 2025.
7. That rate applies to both residential and commercial customers.

 

While no compromise is perfect, we’re pleased with the outcome of this negotiation and we’re grateful the Commissioners agree it’s in West Virginia’s best interest. 

Now that we have this settlement in place, we’ve reopened our doors for FirstEnergy customers.  Give us a call today to see if solar can work for you, and get in line so that we can get your family in under the existing program.

Click to read the final agreement