Utility abandons fee for customers with solar panels, windmills

"Individuals have the right to invest in small-scale wind or solar on their property without needless barriers."

The utility had argued that a fee was necessary to recover costs of proving on-demand service to customers who, because of home solar panels or wind turbines, didn’t always need the power MDU delivered. The company withdrew the fee this week from a bigger proposal to increase electricity rates 21 percent. The fee was $1.50 per kilowatt of demand.

By TOM LUTEY [email protected]

Full Story: http://billingsgazette.com/news/utility-abandons-fee-for-customers-with-solar-panels-windmills/article_9670e9e1-dd41-500a-baee-5d808fe078e1.html