January 27, 2016 | By Barbara Vergetis Lundin

A newly formed alliance, working under the auspices of the No Solar Tax Political Action Committee, has filed a referendum petition for the 2016 statewide ballot seeking to repeal new rates and charges by the Nevada Public Utilities Commission (PUC) the alliance claims would be devastating to Nevada solar net metering customers.

Credit: dan/freedigitalphotos.net

The No Solar Tax PAC is supported by Nevada citizens, homeowners, businesses, and not-for-profits.

"This referendum is about jobs, consumer choice and Nevada's future. This alliance represents the people of Nevada, who overwhelmingly support bringing our rooftop solar back to the state," said former Governor Bob List, a supporter of the referendum. "The Public Utilities Commission's rules have been taxing on the rooftop solar industry and have already cost the state nearly 1,000 jobs in less than a month, with more job losses likely on the way. The rules fail the public the commission purports to represent and are simply not reasonable, balanced policy."

Filed with the Nevada Secretary of State, the referendum seeks to repeal newly-enacted portions of Statutes of Nevada Chapter 379 and return to the rules in effect in 2015 and before. Before January 1, 2016, the Nevada Public Utilities Commission treated net metering customers the same as standard residential customers, and credited them at retail rates for the excess electricity they produced.

The alliance calls the PUC's new rules "punitive" and says they will "reverse progress, discourage new businesses from investing in Nevada, and harm the thousands of rooftop solar owners who placed their trust in Nevada as a state committed to promoting clean energy and reducing dependence on dirty fossil fuels."

A successful referendum would see the new net metering rules repealed, according to the PAC.

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http://www.smartgridnews.com/story/puc-vs-pac-theres-solar-fight-brewing-nevada/2016-01-27