Energy Utilities Trying To Stifle Growth of Solar Power

An anonymous reader writes: Incremental improvements have been slowly but surely pushing solar power toward mainstream viability for a few decades now. It's getting to the point where the established utilities are worried about the financial hit they're likely to take — and they're working to prevent it. "These solar households are now buying less and less electricity, but the utilities still have to manage the costs of connecting them to the grid. Indeed, a new study from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory argues that this trend could put utilities in dire financial straits. If rooftop solar were to grab 10 percent of the market over the next decade, utility earnings could decline as much as 41 percent." The utilities are throwing their weight behind political groups seeking to end subsidies for solar and make "net metering" policies go away. Studies suggest that if solar adoption continues growing at its current rate, incumbents will be forced to raise their prices, which will only persuade more people to switch to solar (PDF).

Comments

Re:So?

[Anonymous Coward]

Take away the government subsidies on solar purchase & installation and this problem doesn't even exist.

Take away the USA's $70 billion + fossil fuel subsidies at the same time. And drop a few of the wars they're fighting to ensure supply while you're at it.

Let me know if they'll save enough to put some cheap rooftop solar in.

Re:Fine. Legislate for externalities.

[swell]

you said "These companies are public utilities, that is government granted monopolies that the taxpayer has control over."

Here is the problem in my (USA) area-
The government and the profit-seeking utility are in collusion. The utility wants a rate increase ... they get it! The public is ignored. We once had a strong consumer advocate to counter the powerful utility lobby, but they have been emasculated. The utility is owned by a for-profit company with great resources. They can manipulate the media as well as elected and unelected officials. The taxpayer has no control over them.

Roads are built by government (taxpayers); utilities should be run by government (taxpayers) including water, power, communications and internet. These alliances with profit making companies who have the means to manipulate government cost everyone dearly.