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Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Consumers who want to plug into the sun's power for energy to run their homes and businesses will be given another incentive if the Florida Public Service Commission passes a proposed rule today.
The PSC is scheduled to vote on a proposal for "net metering," a type of billing in which customers who have solar electric systems would receive billing credit for any excess power they send back to their utility. If the rule is approved, it would triple what consumers get back from their power companies, to 12 cents a kilowatt from 4 cents, said Bruce Kershner, executive director of the Florida Solar Energy Industries Association in Longwood
"People will see a quicker payback on their system," Kershner said.
The PSC's approval of the measure would create a more robust solar energy industry in the state, Kershner said. A growing number of commercial customers, such as the Ikea store in Orlando, have been joining the ranks of solar-equipped businesses, he said.
Last summer, Gov. Charlie Crist ordered the PSC to establish net-metering rules as part of his push to get Florida to use more alternative energy. About 40 states have similar rules, Kershner said.
"Florida, by taking the action we hope the PSC will take tomorrow, will move up in ranking with the rest of the states," he said. "Right now, we are probably an F."
Philip Fairey, deputy director of the Florida Solar Energy Center in Cocoa Beach, also said it would make solar energy more attractive.
A system that provides at least 2 kilowatts of peak photovoltaic power, the minimum to qualify for rebates, costs around $16,000, and the state provides $8,000 in rebates, he said.
Those rebates have caused an uptick in solar installations during the past couple years, he said.
"There are at least a few hundred solar energy electric systems and probably a few thousand hot water systems," Fairey said.
The proposal has the support of Florida Power & Light Co., the state's largest utility.
Spokesman Mayco Villafaña said Monday that FPL supports the proposed rule because it will spur the development of customer-owned renewable energy generation. The largest system under net metering could be 2 megawatts, far larger than the 10-kilowatt maximum now.
Denise Cunningham, government operations consultant at the Florida Energy Office, Tallahassee, said the state has given $3.5 million in rebates to more than 200 recipients for solar electric systems since July 1, exhausting funds. Additional appropriations are being sought.
A PSC spokeswoman said the panel's decision couldn't be predicted but that "a lot of the debate on this issue has already occurred."
"We are at the end of the process," Kirsten Olsen said.
Meanwhile, FPL was one of eight recipients last week of part of $12.5 million in renewable-energy grants from the state's agriculture and environmental protection departments.
FPL received $2.5 million for a wind-energy project in St. Lucie County, while another $2.5 million went to Fort Lauderdale-based Vecenergy for a biodiesel plant in Manatee County.
A third $2.5 million grant went to the Central Florida Regional Transit Authority for a biodiesel project.
