On Friday we told you about the press release from the Solar Industry Alliance asking for BEL and the PUC to, quote, "allow solar producers, homeowners to return excess solar power to the grid at fair and reasonable prices."
They're making a strong push to force a change in recently enacted legislation to regulate solar sales. And while they want to modify what is known as the demand charge - they are also asking for long term clarity in the rates being charged. Jeremiah Allen told us more:
Jules Vasquez
"One of the criticisms you all do make in your letter to the PUC is that there is no clarity on the term of how long these rates will apply. And it's hard to to make an investment, especially if you're not a multimillion dollar corporation with no certainty about what the future will be or that the goalposts are fixed."
Jeremiah Allen, BELIZE SOLAR INDUSTRY ALLIANCE
"We need some sort of certainty that they're not going to change things to make it even a worse proposition for investors who are looking at and investing their hard earned capital."
Jules Vasquez
"How do you answer the criticism that this entire release is just about the industry trying to maximize its earnings while not thinking about the others involved in that energy infrastructure?"
Jeremiah Allen, BELIZE SOLAR INDUSTRY ALLIANCE
"Well, I would say that we are not we are not requesting to drop the legislation. I understand the importance for regulation within this sector. And we have provided a a comprehensive plan that we are recommending that we adopt as this new legislation that we believe is mutually mutually beneficial for the individual investors as well as for the national grid."
The Solar Alliance claims their members participated in the PUC feedback process dating back to September, 2023 but they say they were not taken seriously.
